OAHU - SECOND FULL DAY - AQUARIUM - DOLE PINEAPPLE - SHOPPING

It was drizzling in the morning so we decided to walk to the Honolulu Aquarium - less than a mile from our hotel.  Glenn and Krysty really know their stuff!  

Walled swimming along Waikiki 

Common myna - seen all over Oahu 

Pacific Golden Plover - again - very common on Oahu

The aquarium is small but very informative.  They explained how the managed to keep jellyfish and sea horses alive in their tanks.  Cool bit of info - jellyfish tanks are rounded - I guess so the jellyfish won't get stuck?  break apart?

We had lunch at Marukame Udon.  We had avoided it the night before because of the lone line to get in.  The line is worth it.  They hand make the udon noodles, you have a choice of different kinds of soups or salads (with udon of course).  They also had various toppings, a few sushis (we tried spam - it is Hawaii), and some tempura.  Really a great place.  Only in Japan and Hawaii - too bad.

After lunch we drove out to the Dole Pineapple Plantation to see what was there.  The first, and best thing, was a little steam train - the Pineapple Express - that drove around a bit on the plantation explaining the history and some of the plants.  We also walked around a garden with explanations on a phone-like device. Then into their shop.  What a nightmare.  It reminded me of the old Casa de Fruta in Pacheco Pass.  You could buy pineapples and have them shipped back to the States for $70 - great.  You could buy Dole T shirts, magnets, swimsuits, candy, and on and on.  

the Pineapple Express

Pretty Hawaiian trees and red soil - pineapples like iron

Rainbow gum tree from the garden at Dole Plantation

Pretty habiscus from the garden

Brazilian Red Capped Cardinal - it was hopping around the Dole parking lot

We went back to the Ala Moana center and had a coffee.  Then back to the hotel.  That night's dinner - Cheeseburgers in Paradise - we only ate at the finest of establishments.