I have been remiss and I extend an apology to you. We returned from our 3-week journey in Hawaii with Road Scholar on February 9th and my last post concluded with pictures and narrative only through February 2nd. That post was published on February 24th.
In the interim we have not been idle. Before finishing this post with concluding pictures and limited narrative about Hawaii I wish to detail some of our recent engagements:
I took 3 of the grandsons to Colorado for a week of skiing… and yes, I still ski (but not well).
We celebrated 2 high school graduations:
Grandson, Kane Cook is seen here with me, Christine, his 2 siblings, and 4 of his cousins. Kane, along with 40 classmates, graduated from Academy Lafayette International High School (ALIHS). A small multicultural institution (elementary through high school) that he and his twin siblings, Phoenix and Paisely, have attended since kindergarten. The primary grades are taught exclusively in French. Phoenix and Paisely will graduate next year.
Granddaughter, Audrey Schloss, is seen here with her mother (Niki Smith), our son Peter, and her younger brother (also Peter).
In contrast to the small graduating class at ALIHS, Audrey graduated in a class of 440 at North Kansas City High School.
It has a remarkably diverse student body that includes students representing at least a dozen foreign countries. We and Audry’s parents were beyond proud to witness her at the podium in Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center Arena delivering the commencement address.
Christine and I have been consumed with putting the final details in place for a remarkable 6-week journey that begins in one week. Details will be revealed in a post which will shortly follow this one.
Hawaii:
Waimea Canyon was stunningly beautiful. It is the site of not only the final battle in the unification of the Hawaiian Islands, but the world record for a non-powered glider flight. Set in 1931, William Cocle, Jr. piloted (solo) his glider airplane for 21 hours and 34 minutes.
The battle of Nu’Uanu Pali occurred in 1795. The forces of King Kamehameha I confronted an opposing army fighting for control of O’ahu. His army was victorious after backing the enemy troops to the cliff edge and forcing an estimated 400 of the enemy combatants (men and women) to plunge to their death.
There were also the Waimea Valley Falls and Botanical Gardens.
We visited Kilauea Lighthouse and National Wildlife Refuge, the northernmost point of Hawaii.
Kalihiwai Beach was alive with surging surf and surfers.
The Bishop Museum is a remarkable and expansive facility spread over acres of ground and divided among several older and newer buildings. It details the geological, biological and anthropological history of the Islands.
We attended a classic Lu’au at the Hale Koa Hotel. The food and entertainment were classic and absorbing.
One day was dedicated to an “exploration” of the modern and historical Hawaiian governments. It is one of two States, the other being Texas, that were independent countries before being admitted to the Union. Our visit included:
The ultra-modern State Capitol, which is designed as a metaphor of a volcano.
The Hawaii Supreme Court.
Iolani Palace, the residence of Hawaii’s last ruling king and queen. King Kalakaua who ruled from 1874 until his death in 1891, and his sister, Queen Lili’uokalani who reigned from 1891 until she was overthrown by the United States government in 1893.
She was kept in her palace under house arrest and threat of execution until she signed her formal abdication. She remained a fierce advocate for Hawaiian independence until her death in 1917.
What visit to Hawaii would be complete without a tour of the Pearl Harbor National Memorial and the USS Arizona Memorial.
Finally, we were treated to an Aloha Dinner at the “First Lady of Waikiki”, the Moana (Surfrider) Hotel which opened its doors as Waikiki’s first hotel in 1901.
In all our 3-week excursion with Road Scholar was a remarkable and in-depth exploration of the Hawaiian Islands. At times exhausting, but always informative and fascinating, we highly recommend Road Scholar as a means of discovering the Islands.
Perhaps when the world calms down we will book one of their tours of Ancient Egypt and the Nile River.
Peace Everyone. Pete
PS. We leave May 28th… more about that in the next post!