Saturday, 27th September 2014 - Honolulu, Hawaii.

Following last night's spectacular sunset, we were treated to another light show at 7.45 pm. Although I had known there were fireworks on a Friday I had thought they were off the main beach and we would miss them as we do not overlook Waikiki itself. However it turns out they are the climax to a Friday evening dinner show at the Hilton Hawaiian Village directly opposite our unit. So for once we were in a prime position. Sadly my fireworks photo taking skills do not measure up to those of my brothers as can be seen below. (I must try and work out how to use the zoom. I'm sure there is a zoom there somewhere).

So lots of entertainment and, going by the noise drifting up from the streets below, lots of revelry around, just like Manly on a Friday night.
This morning we woke to leaden skies, but the overnight rains do seem to have taken some of the humidity out of the air. The clouds gradually dispersed through the morning, the bands and marching teams came out in full force to celebrate the Aloha Flower Festival and the "trumpets" ( or should that be "trumpers"?) resumed their positions lolling around the pool in the Trump Hotel just opposite.

             Trumpets lolling around the pool (middle right) at the Trump Hotel.

Geoff had always wanted to go to the pink palace (I think it is the Royal Hawaiian) on Waikiki so we headed there for lunch. Interestingly it is very similar to the Grand Pacific in Fiji in that old colonial way but with nothing to recommend it beyond that.
Still we had a pleasant enough lunch peering through hundreds of  beach umbrellas to the sea.
Obviously the sea was the afternoon drawcard and after that we decided to return to the Shore Bird (thank you Hamish) for a final farewell drink.

 So what are our thoughts? This is actually quite important/interesting if you were dying to go to Hawaii for a holiday.
Don't.
The Gold Coast, Maloolooba, Fiji

and heaps more places in Oz are just as nice/much better and oh so much cheaper.
But we always wanted to come back and we are glad we did. We won't need to again.
We have enjoyed our stay here - it's a lovely apartment - and tomorrow we move on.

Americans seem to anticipate Halloween as far in advance as Australians do for Christmas.



We have visited the hotel of 27 years ago and checked out all the lifts but no sign of Glop.
Glop is gone.
Farewell Glop!