USA 2004

Hanauma Bay and a bit of Waikiki

Today, we’re planning to visit Hanauma Bay and Sea Life Park. We’re leaving extra early so we don’t arrive at a crowded beach. We arrive at the beach around 8:30 a.m., have to sit through an orientation and a film explaining what you can and cannot do on the reef, and then head straight into the water.

We both agree: based on what we’ve read and how the reef is managed here, we expected more - both more fish and a more beautiful reef. Compared to my vacation in Egypt, I have to say that the reefs we visited there were much more beautiful, and the variety of fish easily rivals what’s here. Admittedly, there are some very nice-looking fish, but the reef is unfortunately not particularly well-preserved. Furthermore, because the water is very shallow and the surf is quite strong, the water isn’t necessarily clear. On the day we were there, underwater visibility was further reduced by the fact that the sun rarely broke through (it was raining again when we left), so the reef wasn’t well lit either. All in all, it was nice to have been there, but the snorkeling experience was only mediocre.

After Hanauma Beach (which, by the way, costs $5 per person for admission and $1 for parking), we planned to visit Sea Life Park, which is located right next door. We decided to save the $3 for parking and drove back to the beach across the street, where parking is free. We walk the two minutes to the park and are greeted by an admissions attendant. The price list shows that admission alone costs $25 per person. Included in that is seeing dolphins, Hawaiian monk seals (which we’d already seen in the wild), penguins, and a few fish tanks. Everything else comes with unbelievable surcharges ranging from $15 (behind-the-scenes tour) to nearly $100 for swimming with dolphins… We decide not to go into the park, since the price simply isn’t justified for what you ultimately get to see.

We head back to the hotel and decide to check out Waikiki Beach.
We don’t get very far, though, because the beach volleyball courts are just too tempting again. I start by playing with a retired Californian named Mike, who’s been living in Hawaii for three years and now spends his time playing sports - I’m actually a little jealous of that lifestyle ?. We play against two Austrians, a girl and a guy, and win pretty easily. Unfortunately, Mike can’t keep playing after that because he has some kind of blockage in his spine and it’s starting to hurt again. I play with Law, again against a mixed team, but both of them are very good. My stamina fails me after just the first few points - full sun, not a cloud in sight, no wind, the sand so hot you can’t even stand still, and then having to move and jump around on a 9x9-meter court. With the score at 18-17 against us, I start thinking that if we win, we’ll have to keep playing the next set against the next team… we lose 21-19. The first time playing beach volleyball that I just wanted to get off the court as fast as possible. I burned my feet and just had to get into the water right away. We stay in the water for a few more minutes; Andy mentions that the beach is getting even rockier than it already is - Waikiki - the beach is just overrated, because we’ve seen plenty of better beaches on the island.

We have dinner again at Buzz’s Restaurant. I order the Hawaii Ono Steak again, and this time Andy does too - it’s delicious!
Afterward, we head to the town festival taking place here today. We get caught in the rain twice, once quite heavily - but that’s no big deal here; you’re dry again in no time. The festival and the people are great- lots of young people and lots of pretty girls.