DATE: Monday, January 2, 2023

Last full day in Hawaii today! Not too many solid plans today. Sonya was recommended that we see the Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens near Kaneohe. So that’s where we’re started today. If I read correctly, it was an Army Corps of Engineers project to prevent erosion from rapidly running rainwater. It highlights several tropical plants. Not being a botanist, I can’t speak with any authority on the subject. I can just say that it was pretty. We experienced a little rain in that area. No doubt the tropical rains on that part of the island contribute to the beautiful plant life.

Afterward, it was a non-memorable lunch at Burger King and back to the AirBnB. While prepping for our next stop, we had some fun with some birds on the balcony.

We had wanted to have some family pictures done while we were here. But we weren’t successful in lining up anyone to do that for us. We figured that it would be difficult to make that happen during the end of year holiday season. So we headed to the Sandy Beach area for an impromptu photo shoot. Here are some of those shots. We think they turned out pretty good!

Tonight, we sorta all split up and did our own thing as far as dinner, shopping, taking pictures, and walking around Honolulu. We all regrouped at the AirBnB to do some preliminary packing in preparation to return home the next night.

While planning for the trip, I got in contact with one of the guys that I served with on the USS Louisville, a Los Angeles class fast attack submarine. We were able to get together for dinner at a place called MAC 24/7 and catch up. He ended up retiring after 30 years in the Navy. He and his wife, who is from Maui, married in 2005. Although he’s from North Dakota originally, he’s lived in Hawaii since the mid-90s. It was really good to see him again. We had a lot of fun together back then.

Tomorrow’s our last day on Oahu, and we’ll fly out in the evening.