Dec. 4 – Day 2 in Honolulu



MV Explorer at Aloha Towers Pier - Honolulu



We took our time this morning having nothing in particular that needed to be accomplished.  About mid-morning we decided to ride the bus to the Ala Moana shopping mall to see if we could finish up some last minute Christmas shopping before we left town.  I visited this mall for the first time in 1968.  It has gone through significant growth since then as have the rest of the areas between Honolulu and Waikiki.  We might as well have been in Northgate or Bellevue malls in Seattle – lots of people wondering around, but we did not find anything we could not live without.



Dave and his Friend in Honolulu



About 1 ½ hours of the mall scene, was enough for both of us and we headed back to downtown Honolulu.  We realized that today was Saturday and most of the businesses and restaurants were closed.  We found a Vietnamese restaurant near the University of the Pacific, had lunch and headed back towards the ship when we passed a Verizon store. When I retired I gave up my company cell phone and had cancelled Julie’s cell phone before we left on the voyage.  Having time to kill we decided to investigate Verizon as our new cell phone provider.  An hour later we were equipped with new cell phones and Julie was interested in trying hers out to call family that we have not talked to, other than through email, for almost 4 months.  We had coffee near the ship while Julie call the kids and had a wonderful time catching briefly catching up with everyone she could get a hold of.

We had to be onboard the ship by 6:00 PM to be ready to sail for Hilo at 8:00.  Two ports to go and we will be home.

Saying Goodbuy to Honolulu