Hello!
Friday we spent the day in downtown Honolulu. We visited the Hawaii State Art Museum which featured their Triennial show telling the story of how the majority of Hawaiian ancestors did not want to be a part of the United States. The poetry, photography and artwork were eye-opening. We also did a historic building walking tour, this included the Iolani Palace, adjacent barracks and coronation bandstand. We both found the history between the British and the Hawaiian interesting. Hawaii once had a King and Queen just like England. They mirrored many traditions after them, including using the British flag as a part of the Hawaiian flag. King Kalakau even attended Queen Victoria’s Jubilee. Trevor and I both thought about the long boat rides in that day, between the United Kingdom and Hawaii.
Before heading to Friday night’s Royal Hawaiian Band concert, we made two more Honolulu stops. The first was the National Pacific Fleet Cemetery. This is where the first Unknown Soldier from December 7, 1941 is buried. We expected the stark white grave markers like on the mainland, but in this Memorial Cemetery they are flat markers. The cemetery is located in the Punch Bowl Crater. The crater formed after volcanic eruption more than one thousand years ago. The inner streets are lined with the most beautiful Banyan Trees.
Next we drove through the Pali Tunnels to the Nuuanu lookout. Panoramic views of the ocean and the Ko’olau cliffs, and we caught a few surfers in the distance. The Nuuanu area is a historic marker for a battle during King Kamehameha’s reign as well.
As if we needed to pack more into our day, tonight was the big Royal Hawaiian Band concert. We had hoped to catch their free Friday concert while here, and it just so happened the Friday we were in Honolulu their concert was a special one. We went to the historic Hawaii Theater for the event. Reminded me of the Folly in the KC. A full band, plenty of hula dancers, famous Hawaii performers singing and their iconic children’s choir who sang a Lilo and Stitch song they recorded for Disney. What a treat!
Your friend, B
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