We were keen to make the most of our time in Honolulu, which involved an early breakfast and exit from the ship. Some eggs, croissant, juice, chicken and apple sausage, and a smoothie, and we were on our way. Complicating things this morning were the 2,600 passengers disembarking.
We’re on a back-to-back cruise. Today was the last day of the ten day cruise, Vancouver to Honolulu, and the first day of the 18 day cruise, Honolulu to Sydney. So for us it was just another port day. But for 2,600 others it was time to disembark, and for 2,400 folks it was time to embark, well, not just yet, but from around midday. So the port was a bit hectic.
As we made our way to the gangway, disembarking passengers were clogging the lifts and walkways, chatting about their holiday, arranging transport for their next destination. Most were flying back to the USA. There was lots of chatter and banging of suitcases, and as we emerged from the port hundreds of people were lined up in the snake line for waiting cabs. Others were dotted around the port peering at licence plates looking for their Ubers. It was both chaotic and ordered at the same time. We weaved our way through the throng, deciding to move away from the melee to grab an Uber away from the crowd. We walk for about ten minutes, find a main road and a bus stop, and call an Uber. Uber informs us it’s a period of high demand right now, so we sit in the shade of the bus stop and wait. It seems other passengers have similar ideas, as there are a number of folks around us. About 20 minutes later the Uber arrives and we start our day proper.
Our first stop is Fabric Mart. Mardi has really found joy in sewing again, a lifelong interest, but she now has the time and space to really get into it. Much of what she’s wearing on this trip she made herself. I’m also enjoying a number of shirts she made for me.
Ten minutes in the Uber and we arrive. A large store, two levels of fabric to suit any taste. I even find some new designs for a couple of shirts. Mardi wanders and picks a few designs. We then head off to the next location.
Another ten minute wait for an Uber has us avoiding a swarm of bees. Mardi describes them as a ball floating just ahead of us, so we wander about 100 metres down the road. Interestingly, the swarm is on the road, and as cars drive through it, it simply moulds around the car then reforms. As our Uber arrives, we dive in. No stings, and we’re off to Waikiki.
The driver is very informative as we get into Waikiki proper. He shows us the main street, the shopping area, and the way to the beach. We thank him and emerge into the humidity once again. There’s a small fabric store in a shopping arcade nearby, a quick visit, nothing more to carry, and we head out onto the street for a walk around. The sidewalks are wide, mostly cobbled stone winding paths that wend through palm trees and seats. The late morning crowd is out in force as we pop into shops. Hawaiian shirts line the fronts of most shops. We buy some biscuits, a few gifts, and explore the streets and shops. We start to think about lunch, it’s just on midday. Yesterday, as we planned our day with the help of AI (I refuse to call it SI, super intelligence), Claude suggested a nice place overlooking the beach. We search for the Hula Grill, it’s a six minute walk, so we head off in search.
Oh, another cookie store. Yum. More cookies, for later.
We wander for a few more minutes, Mardi spots a sign for the Hula Grill, and we enter a labyrinth of tunnels. It seems there’s a lot of construction going on, most shops on the ground floor are boarded up, so we wend our way, go upstairs, and after a few turns find the restaurant. We’re greeted and shown to a beautiful table overlooking the beach. Palm trees, blue umbrellas, and cabanas line the beach, and just like the bees earlier today, people swarm around, moving from umbrella to the water in a constant ebb and flow of a delightful day on the beach. Some people are more daring and opt for no umbrella, perhaps inviting the big C later in life. We take in the sights and sounds, the noise of children in a pool below us, the crashing of waves on the beach, and the hustle and bustle inside the restaurant. The idyllic scene is interrupted from time to time by the sound of construction work.
We order Mai Tais, raw tuna tacos, and a lobster and crab roll. Delicious. We sit and enjoy the vista as we sip our drinks. We then wander to the beach. I take a paddle at the shoreline, my fear of sharks stops me from going more than knee deep. The water is warm as I bury my feet into the sand, enjoying the push and pull of the waves as they crash into the shore. Hurricane Nolo’s winds are serving up perfect conditions for those game enough to surf.
We leave the beach, I shower my legs to remove the sand, and we head back to the street.
Ouch, the cobbled stones are hot. I sit down and put my shoes back on.
Oh, another cookie store. Yum.
Then comes the great Uber search, a bit of a calamity. We book an Uber, it’s only a four minute wait, but the pick-up looks to be ten minutes from where we’re standing. We hurry to try and reach the location, but as we approach the pick-up point moves, or my map is glitching, or, as Mardi said, I’m going the wrong way. I’m pretty good with maps. Anyway, the Uber disappears and another car accepts the job with another pick-up point, this time he’s 12 minutes away. So we take stock of where we are and eventually work out that where we are in town has a specific location for Uber pick-ups. It’s also under a building, so the GPS isn’t entirely accurate. Mardi spots a sign and we wait there. Our car arrives a few minutes later. We’re a bit hot and bothered and enjoy the rest in the cool of the car.
Next stop, The Calico Cat, our third fabric store stop. We’re dropped off and look around for the store, missing it at first. The complex looks deserted. The store only opens after 1.30pm a few days a week, so it should be here. After hunting around, Mardi spots it. It’s a cramped space, but busy, with lots of nice fabric and Mardi finds five fabrics she likes, including a cool black cat print for a shirt for me. The shopkeeper is very chatty and friendly, and it takes a while to cut, fold, and price the fabric, in between stories of travel, hurricanes, and island life. She carefully tallies everything up in her carbon-copy receipt book. No high tech in this store. We bid her farewell and order an Uber for our final stop of the day.
The wait for an Uber is 16 minutes. Are we a little spoiled in Canberra? I rarely wait longer than five minutes for an Uber. The car arrives and we head for DeStash Fabric. It’s close to the pier, so in essence we’ve done a pretty good loop for the day, taking in four fabric stores and a great time downtown. The drive this time is difficult, taking over half an hour. Cars are bumper to bumper on the freeway before we hear a siren behind us. Drivers try to get out of the way as the ambulance snakes its way between the cars, edging to the shoulder. It’s slow going. We finally arrive at the last stop, Mardi finds one last fabric she likes. It’s now about 4pm. It’s been a long and enjoyable day.
We leave the last store and walk back to the pier, about a 15 minute walk, but hot and humid. The backpack that was empty this morning is now full of fabric that will give Mardi hours of sewing time. We also have a stash of cookies, yum, and some gifts and a few other bits and pieces.
We board the ship, this morning’s chaos has gone, the pier is almost empty. Most people who were boarding today are on board exploring. We breeze back on and head to our room. I’m in need of a swim, so I go to the Retreat deck while Mardi goes to the lounge. I relax in the pool for a while and then enjoy a quick dip in the hot tub.
We meet up an hour or so later, I’m freshly showered and ready for dinner. Mardi freshens up and changes for dinner. We enjoy tea-cured salmon, tomato soup, and burrata.
We have an early night. We’ve had two big days in Honolulu, lots of walking in hot, humid conditions. Tonight we set sail for French Polynesia. Five days of relaxed cruising lie ahead.
