Oahu April 13-16

After spending the night at J-Rod's parents (thanks again J & J!) we head off to Oahu via Vancouver aboard Air Carnage. Man, I dislike Air Canada! This was the third flight we were booked on, as AC decided to f*** around with their schedule several times and piss me off royally. NEVER AGAIN! But, I digress. That's fodder for another posting entirely.
Landed in Oahu at night and cabbed to our hotel, the Waikiki Sand Villa. Checked in and immediately headed down to the lounge for some light refreshment ~ or two. They make excellent cocktails there, and the waitress was fun to bug.
Up early the next day (I'm not kidding, like before 7am) took photos of the beautiful view from our balcony, and made plans with the tour guide located right in the lobby of the hotel. Very handy, and she was very good at her job. Wandered around Waikiki a bit then boarded our tour bus for Pearl Harbour. Puffy Kracker was like a kid in a candy store on allowance day! The history was interesting and all, but I'm just not that into boats. Or American Rah-Rah propaganda. It's funny (funny strange, not funny haha) how they go into great detail on certain things, but fail to mention that they were selling arms to Japan (along with the oil and gas they admit to) before the strike on Pearl Harbour. Ah well, history is written by the victor, right?
Anywoo, when the tour was done we went out for a nice meal at an all-you-can-eat place ~Betty, what was it called? ~ then back to hotel for a nightcap (or two) and bed.
Up early the next day (like, before 8am) and had breakfast at hotel. Wandered around Waikiki again, then caught our bus to take us to the Polynesian Cultural Center. Boys and girls, if you EVER get to Oahu, you MUST go here. It is an all-day thing, and amazing! Built by the Mormon church as a way for the students at the nearby Brigham Young University to work their way through college by sharing their island heritage with visitors, all the people working there are current or former students of BYU Hawaii.Many South Pacific nations are represented at the PCC, where recreated villages, exhibits and hands-on activities highlight eight of them. Had a great HUGE buffet meal in a classy dining room, then enjoyed the show. Back to the hotel around 10:30 pm, a nightcap? or two? then bed.
Last day on Waikiki, up early (like before 6:30 am) and walked to the beach where there was an Easter Sunday ecumenical sunrise service. Then loaded up, checked out and off to the airport for our next island adventure!