Aloha Friday

Each day it gets easier to wake up at 2:30 am and work east coast hours. But today was a half day because we had lots planned. Friyay!

After some toasted bread with kaya jam courtesy of the Singaporeans, we were off to our hike at Diamond Head which is a famous state park with a crater and beautiful views of the coastline.

The ascent wasn’t too strenuous, but you definitely bake in the sun and our entry was 10 am. The hike was about an hour total and brings you to the summit. Photos of the trek and beautiful views:





















After the hike we stopped by a convenience store and bought jerky and sausage and spam musubi to snack on, as if we weren’t Team Musubi….:



We then headed to Pearl Harbor for our 1 pm entry. I had specifically asked to include this on our trip and to visit the USS Arizona Memorial. I had learned about and seen so many images of this memorial over the years when heads of state of the US and Japan have paid their respects.

Over 1,000 lives were lost when Japan attacked the United States on December 7, 1941 and the attack led the United States to enter the Second World War. What was also interesting to me is that survivors of the attack have chosen to have their ashes brought here to rejoin their fallen brothers and those who had served on the USS Arizona, but were not survivors, have chosen to have their ashes spread here. Some photos of the solemn experience:



















Our original plan was to head to the beach, but we ended up at SALT, a shopping area which our co-host likened to Chelsea Market. We bought a few items and enjoyed some gelato and waffles.



Afterwards some wanted to go back to our happy place of Ala Moana mall and I headed to the building pool to rinse off the efforts of today.

Team Musubi got dressed up for the first time tonight as we had reservations at Prime Steakhouse. We enjoyed the local fireworks which occurs every Friday night and we feasted on steak, butter fish, scallops, and many sides paired with delicious wine:



After dinner we had grand plans to walk around Waikiki, but ended up at home eating mango and kiwi, as some of us were very tired. Nonetheless, we were happy it was Friday and like how we say Friyay, here they call it Aloha Friday!