Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum

On Oahu, we visited the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum. It was our second visit to the Smithsonian Affiliate. The museum's website does a far better job of describing their exhibits than I ever could. The exhibits are impressive. They especially do a good job with the backgrounds in Hanger 37. Hanger 79 has been left in much of its original state, bullet holes from December 7th included.

Japanese Zero

I think one of the stories that intrigued me this time was how the Robinson family had used a tractor to furrow the island of Niihau to keep it from being used by enemy aircraft. They finished the project prior to December 7th and Niihau was never used as a base of operations.

Cletrac Tractor and the only crashed Zero on Niihau

They had recently opened the Above and Beyond Exhibit, a highly interactive exhibit. That exhibit was part of our reason for going. I had to grin when I saw Harold flapping his arms, trying to stay in V-formation.

Flying Tigers

Canyon Trail Hike

While we had been to Waimea Canyon on previous trips, this was our first hike. We went with my cousin Steve, his wife, Junelle, and his former boss and his spouse. Harold ended up not going because of a sore foot. I don't think he minded the extra nap and quiet time.

We were told that the Canyon Trail to Waipo'o Falls was an easy hike, family friendly. When we got back I noticed that The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook called it a moderately strenuous hike, four miles round trip. I think I agree with that description. It was a little more than I had expected, but the stretches that I would deem moderately strenuous were not that long, just a little steep. Keep in mind that I'm not an avid hiker. Steve's former boss, who is 70, had no problems and set the pace for the hike.

Giant mud puddles and slick slopes were prevalent. I was glad I had on old athletic sandals. I ended up just wading through a couple of the puddles. I just knew that if I tried to balance on the unstable tree branch someone had laid down, I'd end up with more than wet shoes!

You can see the Waipo'o Falls from the first lookout. At the end of the hike, you just see the very top of the first drop. If it hadn't rained recently, I might have been tempted to soak my feet. As it was, I wasn't even considering it.

By the way, there is a $5.00 daily parking fee for Waimea Canyon. It's definitely worth it.

Waipo'o Falls from the first lookout (from Dec 2018)

Another distant viewpoint (Dec 2018)

Steve and me

Canyon viewpoint

Canyon viewpoint

Almost there

About all of that magnificient falls that you see

Palms and Pumpkins

So, in trying to think of some different things to do on Oahu this trip, I stumbled across the mention of sunflower fields. It turns out that Pioneer Dupont has a sunflower seed farm on the north shore side of the island.

We decided to head out that way to see if we could get a couple of snapshots. We had driven past sunflower fields in Kansas, and I thought it would be fun to see a field up close. We should have called first. The season had already ended.

However, I noticed a photo on a Facebook post from my friend Dan who lives on the island. I asked him about it when we met him and his family for church and brunch.

Aloun Farms has a pumpkin patch, a taro patch, and some sunflower fields. We decided to check it out too. Yeah! They still had sunflowers. It was the last weekend of their pumpkin patch. Essentially, it was a sort of fall festival, complete with kiddie rides, carnival games, petting zoo, pony rides, live music, vendor booths, and food.

Taro - a Hawaiian staple

Iolani Palace

Iolani Palace is the only palace in the United States. Sure, there are other larger, fancier homes, such as Biltmore, but none are truly royal. Iolani was the home of the Hawaiian monarchy. The monarchy was overthrown by United States in 1959, making it the 50^th state.

The architecture and woodwork are amazing. The Grand staircase, made of koa wood, is beautifully maintained. The doors all had bronzed, decorated hinges. The floors were polished wood. 

The Grand Staircase

Dining Room

The door hinges

Glass Etchings

The throne room was impressive, although I was more intrigued by the dress designed to look like peacock feathers. 

The king was very well traveled and well-read. He welcomed technology. The palace had electricity four years before the White House did. Telephones were brought in early on as well as things we take for granted like flushing toilets and hot and cold water.

I know I didn’t take the time to read about all the exhibits that Iolani deserves. We were a little concerned about parking. We did the audio tour, which lasts about 45 minutes, but you can go at your own pace.

Ready to tour

How We Found the Gravesites of Johnny & June Cash

Still on east coast time, I walked into the hotel lobby early, before breakfast hours, looking for coffee. Immediately, a lone, older lady sitting at the counter struck up a conversation. We chatted a few minutes, and she mentioned that she had been on the road with Johnny and June Cash. I was kind of wondering if everyone in Nashville was a name dropper, and I wasn't really sure I believed her. A few more minutes of polite conversation, and I headed back to the room with my coffee.

I mentioned the conversation to Harold, not knowing that he too had encountered her on his trip to the lobby for coffee. He mentioned that she was right in one thing. Johnny and June Cash were indeed buried in the cemetery about half a block up the street.

A bit later, we headed to the lobby for breakfast. She was still there. She was chatting with the staff. Apparently, she spends a lot of time in that lobby.  She invited us to sit with her at the counter. A little hesitant, we decided to join her. She told us her name, Peggy, and volunteered that she lived a few blocks away, that Nashville had changed a lot, and that she hardly ever went downtown anymore.

Eventually, she went to her car and brought back one of the books she had written. We glanced through it, noting that the inside jacket cover described her as someone who never met a stranger. We certainly agreed with that assessment.

After breakfast, with a little time to kill, we walked over to the Hendersonville Memory Gardens Cemetery. We never would have known had we not met Peggy in the lobby.