Tuesday the 7th of July, was our first full day on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. We were picked up at our hotel, the Ohana East, in the morning by a tour van operated by thePolynesian Cultural Center and taken on a 4 hour tour of the island.
One stop on the tour was the scenic Halona Blowhole Overlook. From the overlook you peer down over the black rock cliffs, out to the blue-green waters on the windward side of Oahu and down onto the Halona Blowhole and Eternity Beach made famous by Burt Lancaster and Debra Kerr in the 1953 movie "From here to Eternity".
Path leading to the Halona Blowhole Overlook
view from the Halona Blowhole Overlook
view from the Halona Blowhole Overlook
view from the Halona Blowhole Overlook
view from the Halona Blowhole Overlook
Halona Blowhole
Halona Blowhole
Eternity Beach
Eternity Beach
Eternity Beach
Also visible from the overlook isPele's Chair, the mythical throne of Hawaii's volcano and fire Goddess Pele.
Pele's Chair, mythical throne of the Goddess Pele
After leaving the Halona Blowhole Overlook our tour bus took us to one of the most windiest places on planet Earth, the Nu'uanu Pali Lookout State Park. The picture below really don't capture how lush and green or how windy this place was. The scenery was gorgeous (including the chickens) and the wind was so strong that at one point it nearly knocked me off my feet!
Nu'uanu Pali Lookout - one of the windiest places on earth
Hawaiian chickens at Nu'uanu Pali Lookout park
Even more chickens at Nu'uanu Pali Lookout Park
Nu'uanu Pali Lookout Park
view of the valley below Nu'uanu Pali Lookout Park
After leaving the park our tour driver cut across the Island and headed towards the North Shore. the North Shore is world famous for many things but mostly for it's surfing. We didn't see any surfers that day but we did stop long enough to get a picture of the famous Hale'iwa sign.
World famous welcoming sign to the North Shore
After passing the sign, our van whisked us north to spend the rest of the day at the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) where we enjoyed a delightful afternoon exploring the center and it's 6 authentically recreated Polynesian villages of Tonga, Tahiti, Marquesa, Hawaii, Fiji, Aotearoa,and Samoa before enjoying an authentic Hawaiian Luau.
Hula demonstration at the Polynesian Cultural Center
Canoe pageant at the Polynesian Cultural Center
Canoe Pageant at the Polynesian Cultural Center
Canoe Pageant at the Polynesian Cultural Center
After the Canoe Pageant it was time to prepare for our luau and the star of the luau was the succulent imu roasted pig. An imu is a pit dug into the ground that is lined with hot lava rocks and used for roasting pigs.To prepare the imu a large fire is built over the lava rocks and when the fire burns down a pig is wrapped in banana leaves, placed over the hot rocks and then covered in wet burlap. the pig is left to roast for upwards of 12 hours before it is uncovered and presented to guests.
Our feast roasting in the Imu pit
Undressing the Imu
The pig is revealed
The roasted pig is presented to the guests
After the roasted pig is presented it's time for the luau feats which included dishes like Kalua pig, Teryaki beef, chicken, assorted salads and Hawaiian specialties that consisted of tropical fish, Poke' and Poi. As the luau guests were eating they were entertained with a Hula show that was MC'd and stared a fellow named Nohea. Nohea explained to us that his name meaned "Handsome" in Hawaiian and that we should feel free to call him Handsome. he and the show were very entertaining!
"Handsome" and Hula Girl at the Polynesian Cultural Center
Hula Girl & Hula Boy at the Polynesian Cultural Center
"Handsome" & his girls at the Polynesian Cultural Center
Hula dancers during Luau at the Polynesian Cultural Center
After dinner was over we had about an hour before the evening show, Hā: BREATH OF LIFE, was to be performed. We could take pictures or a recording of the show but believe me, it was pretty good! I particularly enjoyed the music.
The below preview of the show was put together by Hawaiian Airlines a few years ago, it gives you an idea of what the show was about. If you ever make it to Hawaii you have to see this show.
When the show was over we headed back to our hotel in Honolulu. It was a long day, we got in about 10 pm and collapsed in our bed.
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