Dine. Drift. Dream.

I’m a horrible snorkler.  Basically, I am afraid of everything under the water, which includes mostly tiny colorful fish and reef.  Neither of which were out to kill me and are probably slightly more scared of me…  slightly.  It’s a far cry from diving with Great White sharks in Cape Town, but I really think if they put me in a cage with the tiny fish, I would be fine. 

Hanuama Bay seemed to be the go-to spot for snorkeling on our drive up the east side of Oahu.  (Another recommendation from the plane and friends.)  We turned in when we noticed the sign for the park, saw the crowds, and asked the lady at the parking booth to let us leave.  “It’s $1, go take a picture.  As long as you’re out in 15 minutes you don’t pay.”  Famous last words.  My pictures do no justice to the views we saw and immediately I had to get down to the beach.  The fee for entry is fairly high, I think close to $15 per person and the the snorkeling gear rental is a no better deal.  But it was everything I imagined a beach in Hawaii would be before I came.  That parking attendant knew exactly what would happen.

After 20 minutes of terrifying snorkeling with fish the size of my size 6 feet, we spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing on the beach. 

There are two things I cannot get enough of in general:
1.  Coastal drives
2.  The sound of ocean waves
Given that Oahu has only a few major roads, one of which circles the island, I never went a moment without either of these things.

We visited Lanakei beach later with sandwiches in hand and then cruised up the coast to our new digs at Turtle Bay.  Dinner was a quick walk to their own Ola Restaurant, which was pretty good, convenience factor excluded. 

Hanuama Bay Nature Preserve. 7455 Kalanianaole Highway. Honolulu, HI

Kalapawai Market. 306 South Kalaheo Ave.  Kailua, HI. 

Lanekai Beach.  Mokulua Dr.  Kailua, HI.