Day 4:

It was a great day for sightseeing in Hawaii.  We rented another "economy car" from the VIP across the street.  We upgraded to air conditioning and a later model but not an upgrade on performance.  It is probably our last experience with wrecks.

We slept in until 7 so we didn't get the early start to Diamond Head that we had thought.  The climb up the mountain (hill compared to Rockies) is 1.5 miles up hill and 1.5 down the hill.  The trail is very well maintained but very uneven with many stairs on the last part of the climb.  It was 92 degrees so needless to say we were sweating by the time we got to the top but we had no problems making the climb.  Thanks to the every day treadmill and step exercise.

Ted At The Start Of The Trail - Pavement Ended Shortly!

Heading Into Tunnel Near The Top - Part Of The Trail

Sharing The View From The Top Of Diamond Head

From The Top -  How Clear The Water Is

View Of Honolulu From Top

The Crater - Extinct For 150,000 Years

Other Climbers Ahead Of Us

I did it!

Ted - Successful Climb or Touchdown?

After we cooled off a bit, we headed to Dole Plantation.  The plantation is a working farm where 100,000 pineapple and other fruits are grown each year.  We did learn that it takes 20 months to grow the first pineapple then 15 months for the second.  Each plant only produces 2 fruit and then the fields are cultivated down and the process starts again.  The farm workers are native Hawaiians.

Pineapple Field

The second tour was of the plantation's garden.  It was disappointing because it is spring and the cleanup is just starting and the plants were not blossoming.  Just like home.

Plants Native To Hawaii

Fun Roosters!

We did have fresh fruits from the farm papaya, sugar cane, coconut and mango.  The sugar cane is a chew and spit treat.  It was not my favorite.

After leaving the plantation, we drove towards the North Shore which is very beautiful.  The shore is more of what I would have expected of the Pacific - more like Laguna Beach.  Our destination was Turtle Beach and the only directions that we had "look for the white fence".  Our friend, Clinton, was spot on.  Right next to the white fence was parking along the road.  You couldn't miss it as there were dozens of cars already there.

When we got there, there was on giant turtle laying on the beach.

The Turtle That Was Beached When We Arrived

Turtle Watching - Beautiful Shore

Second Turtle Coming Ashore - Took Him A Long Time To Beach

Two Turtles On The Beach

Ranger Would Let You Within 3-4 Feet 

The turtles are Hawaiian Green Turtles.  This turtle was estimated to weigh between 250 - 260 pounds and about 39 - 40 years old.  They typically live to about 90, I guess.

It rained very hard on the drive back to Waikiki and dripped most of the evening.  We had quick dinner and called it a day.  Tomorrow is beach and luau day!