On Saturday, the activity was a bus tour of the island, starting with the Dole Pineapple Plantation. Cousin Bob picked us up and drove us out to the site. It was quite a commercial venture, with pineapple carving demos, lots of things to buy (AK got talked into buying 4 pearls, at a very reasonable price. Then they started talking settings. Ouch! Bubb and I have been down this path before. In Raro, they will give you the pearl if you will buy the setting).



I know I have photographed these before, but I am always intrigued by growing pineapples. Maybe because all of my ohana (family) love them so much.



Bubb and I decided to take the Pineapple Express on a tour of the Dole Plantation. Here is Bubb and T, the son of my friend Debbie who invites me to play golf in the Thunderbird classic each year. He is very fourteen.



This is the Pineapple Express as it was chugging into the station. We enjoyed our little tour of the fields and gardens. I guess Mr. Dole really had a strangle hold on Hawaiian agriculture during the 50's and 60's. They closed the Dole cannery in 1991, and Hawaii no longer exports pineapple. What is grown in Hawaii is consumed here, mostly by tourists. Every afternoon, a guy slices up pineapple in the hotel lobby, for example, and we all stand around like vultures waiting for a fresh piece. It is dewlicious, in fact it's dole-icious.



I couldn't resist including this photo taken from the train. Those are star fruit. Who knew that was how they grew?



After a box lunch, we left the Plantation and drove along the rainy, and stormy North Shore. We passed Sunset Beach and Waimea, famous surfing spots. However, there is a jellyfish warning in effect, and the water was silty and cloudy due to recent rain in the area. We didn't even stop.

We did stop in Laie, at the temple grounds. The temple is under renovation, but the grounds and VC were glorious. We enjoyed this stop very much.



You all know I can't resist photos of tropical flowers, so . . . This is a bird of paradise that was perfect and growing on the grounds.



These yellow hibiscus were lining the outer fence and were equally breathtaking.



From Laie, we drove along the east shore to the southeast corner of the island. We were running out of time, so we didn't stop at Hanauma Bay (it would have been pointless with the surf and water conditions).

We did stop for a quick photo at the Blow Hole. You can see the spray issuing from the hole in the rock each time a wave crashes on the undercut beach.

Bubb wanted fish for dinner. She was willing to do nearly anything to get it. We asked the concierge, and he recommended several options, including Duke's, which is what we chose. Bubb got her fish, and it was most delicious. The fish was new to us, locally called opah or moonfish. I had a seafood macadamia nut pesto on pasta, UP had a skewer of beef which he really enjoyed, and AK had some chicken which wasn't up to much. The salad bar was very, very good, and included a fresh made Cesear and yummy taro rolls.

It was a great day, and we had lots-o-fun.

Buboppy