Carl & Judy's Ultimate Adventure

If Mo’orea was Tahiti frozen in time somewhere in the 18th century, Papeete is what that island would look like in the 20th/21st century.   Where Mo’orea does not want development, Papeete looks to constructive development. Located on the northwest coast of the island most identified as Tahiti, it is the largest cruise port in French Polynesia.   Very different from Mo’orea, in Papeete we docked in a modern pier with easy access to town.   Walking just outside the port gate, cross the street, and you are in a lovely, well-maintained urban shopping district.   Colorful buildings, well stocked busy store-fronts, friendly people. We can afford just a short walk through the shopping district as we head to meet our excursion ... a dive trip.   Finally!   A short boat ride from the cruise pier to the main Marina where the dive shop is located for the usual liability waivers, showing certifications, etc.   Finally, in our gear, on the boat and on our way to t...

  We have arrived in Paradise, Mo’orea, the “Magical Island.” Mo’orea is part of the Society Island archipelago, part of 118 islands and atolls that make up French Polynesia .... or, as it is more commonly called, the Islands of Tahiti.   It’s a wonder explorer ever found the islands given how small many of these islands are; Mo’orea is only 16 mi (26 km) long and 11 mi (18 km) wide.   The island formed as a volcano somewhere between 1.5-2.5 million years ago. The Polynesians established themselves on the islands around 800 AD and had these Gardens of Eden to themselves until the first Europeans arrived in 1767.   It was Cape James Cook in 1769 who named the islands the “Society Islands” after the Royal Society who had sponsored his scientific expedition.   The French took control of the islands in 1842 (sorry, it’s a whole book writing about that transfer!); it is maintained as a French territory to this day. Arriving in Mo’orea, the island is visually the stuf...

Pearl Harbor.   The Arizona.   If you have served in the naval services, those words carry solemn meanings.   It is an early day; the all-aboard is 1:30 with the ship departing at 2:00. Our excursion is technically to the Missouri, the Mighty Mo!   We are hopeful to get to the Arizona.   But .... there is just something about battleships that sets the heart pounding.   As we arrive at Pearl, the first disappointment.   To have scored tickets to the Arizona we would have had to obtained them weeks/months ago.   The best we could do is go on a stand-by list ... with no certainty we could both get on.   We sadly proceed to the Missouri. The last of the Iowa class battleship marks two significant accomplishments.   First, she was the last battleship on the planet to be retired from active commissioned service and join her sisters as museums.   And ... it was aboard her decks, in Tokyo Bay in 1944 that the Articles of Japan’s surrender w...

There are three things that Judy and I have always had on our bucket list when discussing a visit to Hawaii:   (1) the Kona Aggressor, (2) the Arizona Memorial, and (3) Diamond Head volcano. OK, (1) isn’t happening since it’s currently out of service ... and we don’t have 7-10 days anyway.   But both (2) and (3) are both in Honolulu ... and so are we!   For 2 days. The nickname for Oahu is “The Gathering Place” and this leeward side of the island certainly is.   In Polynesian Honolulu translates to “sheltered harbor,” a very apt description for the place.   It was settled over 2,000 years ago and became the capital city of the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1850, it continues as the state capital today. Despite 2 days, it is apparent that we could not see a fraction of what we would like to see if we were staying for a week.   So this visit will need to be ab appetizer for a longer visit in the future.   So what to do and see?   Well, back to our bucket lis...

As has become the norm, you go to bed in one place and magically awaken in another.   We are on the other side of the Big Island, at port in Kailua Kona. Here, on the leeward side of the island, they get over 300 days of sun as opposed to Hilo where it rains regularly.   It is also known for its calm and clear waters.   Hawaii is the largest island in the U.S., is geographically diverse and big enough that it boasts eleven of the world’s thirteen climate zones in its 4,000 square miles.   Kailua itself is located at the foot of the Hualalai volcano.   For many years it has been the home of the Ironman Triathlon, although the island is ‘encouraging’ the triathlon to relocate somewhere else.   Apparently, participants don’t really spend   money on the island, so it costs the island money in lost revenue from other tourism (which do spend money!) as well as the security costs to hold the event. It is believed that the Kona coast was discovered by Polynesi...

After 5 days at sea, the big island of Hawaii is just off the bow.   Originally, the first stop was supposed to be Maui, but because of the devastating fires the itinerary was changed to Hilo instead.   The big island of Hawaii is simply referred to as “the Big Island.” A small quiet town on the island’s windward side, the vibe in Hilo is definitely Old Hawaii.   The windward side is the side that gets more moisture, hence the lush, green, tropical beauty evident everywhere. The downtown features centuries-old storefronts and galleries.   Because it’s expensive to build in Hawaii as almost everything is imported into the island(s), they take care of the buildings and continually renovate them rather than knocking them down as we do on the mainland.   Hilo is the oldest city in the Hawaiian Islands.   The city began in 1100 AD when inhabitants arrived from Polynesia.   It was the political center during the time of King Kamehameha who unified the island...