There is something quite comforting about going to a restaurant a second time.  The first time you go, there is always that sense of uncertainty.  How do I order?  Where do I wait?  Do I get my drink first?  This is just a partial list of all the complications that come from going to a new place.  Not today, my friends.  Returning to our successful breakfast stop from yesterday we again visited Ted’s.  This time, I went with the Denver omelet and had great success.  Lucy and Ethel split a 3 egg and rice combo with a side of bacon.  The main difference this time, is that we ate on the way to Pearl Harbor.

Ever since I knew about this trip to Hawaii, I decided that visiting Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial was at the top of any Oahu to-do list.  I started checking on getting reservations for the Arizona back in February.  While I had to wait a bit longer, it definitely paid off.  You can reserve the tickets for a nominal fee at the Park Service web site and I highly recommend this.  The stand-by line was crazy long at 8:30 in the morning.  I also splurged for the audio tour which was worth it, I think.  The only drawback to the audio tour was I don’t really believe that they give you enough time on the Arizona to hear all of the parts of the audio tour.  Also, we were only permitted about 15 minutes on the Arizona herself and I believe that I could have spent more time.  Being in a place of such immense importance and solemnity was powerful.  Lucy and Ethel had good questions and if they only remember a small portion of the visit, then it was time well spent.  When in Oahu, you must visit Pearl and the USS Arizona.

After leaving Pearl, we headed towards Iolani Palace, home of the Hawaiian monarchs.  When we arrived near the palace, we saw some filming going on for the current reboot of Hawaii Five-O.  Even though we didn’t see any of the primary players, it was still interesting and Lucy and Ethel got to see just how many folks it takes to make a single scene of television.  Another benefit of visiting the palace was seeing the King Kamehameha statue.  I’ve seen the one in the US Capitol and while that was cool, seeing the original in its intended setting was even better.  I do believe that if you come to Hawaii, it is important to brush up a bit on the history so the importance of the person on the pedestal is clear.

Once we had our fill of Iolani and the King (not Elvis), we ventured over to the Aloha Tower.  Once the tallest building in Hawaii, it now seems to be lost in time.  There were lots of vacant shops in the area and the whole of the Marketplace seems to have fallen on harder times.  I will say, though, that a visit to the tower itself is worth the trip.  The ride to the top is free and even though it is not all that high, the vistas are great and it might be the only thing you can do for free in Honolulu.  It is also a great way to pass an hour or so until you return to the airport for your flight to…Kauai!!!

The approach to the Garden Isle is spectacular.  On our arrival the mountains were on the left and although we were on the other side of the plane, it was awesome.  The ride form Lihue to Princeville was beautiful and I can’t wait until tomorrow to get out and explore some of this island.  For dinner the family visited Frederico’s, a Mexican restaurant.  Most of the items were not gluten friendly and I thought I had hit on a salad until I saw them warming flour tortillas on the griddle with the grilled chicken.  I let the family eat and I headed to the grocery store for some food I could eat.  I knew Kauai was going to be pricey, but wow.  On the bright side, I know that I can get up in the morning and have a solid breakfast as we set out for Waimea Canyon.  I can’t wait.