Tuesday 4/7/09 11:00pm HST (3 hours earlier than PDT)

Speed: 0 kts – Docked, Temp: 72 degrees, Humidity 87.2%

20 degrees 17’ N 155 degrees 34’ W

Sailed 2353.0 nautical miles from LA

Sailed 211.4 miles from Hilo

99.5 nautical miles to Nawiliwili, Kauai

Seas: 4.0 – 7.5ft moderate, wind: Force 1 light breeze

We made our way into Honolulu guided by the first light of the day. The rays of sun outlined the coastline as the ship headed towards the pier. The skyline was gorgeous and held the promise of a wonderful day ahead. Honolulu is the capital of Hawaii, and on the laceType w:st="on">islandlaceType> of laceName w:st="on">OahulaceName> and is home of the most famous beach in the world – Waikiki and also the infamous Pearl Harbor attack that took place on December 7, 1941. Honolulu is the biggest city in the world. It’s boundaries reach across 540,000 square miles of the Pacific, most of it is underwater. Kim was up early to watch the sun as it rose over Diamond Head. Marlene and Bonnie were up early getting ready for their excursion to the USS Arizona Memorial. Kathy and Kim had plans to spend most of the day at laceName w:st="on">WaikikilaceName> laceType w:st="on">BeachlaceType> soaking up rays. The tour guide on the bus to the USS Arizona Memorial was well educated on the events surrounding Pearl Harbor. He provided a wealth of information as the bus made it’s way to the memorial. Once there, you are provided with a ticket that is time stamped for your entry into the actual memorial at the Arizona. We were there by 9:00 and our entry time was 11:15am. There are many exhibits you can walk through and plenty of history to read as you wait, as well as a bookstore that also had a couple of  veterans who survived the attack on Pearl Harbor and available to answer questions. We were guided into a theater to watch a short documentary related to the events leading up to and the day of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. We were also counseled on what to expect once we were on the memorial. We boarded a small boat that took us out to the memorial that looked to be floating above the final resting place of the Arizona. Once there, the normal chit-chat noise has disappeared and is replaced by a silence of respect and reverence by all. We saw what was left above water of the Arizona and could see the shadows of the rest of the ship as it lay on the ground below us. At the end of the memorial is a marble wall that has the names of all who were lost during the attack. Looking across the water, the USS Missouri is berthed just a few hundred yards away. The Missouri is where the signing of the article of surrender by the Japanese took place. “Mighty Mo”, aka USS Missouri, was stationed in Bremerton for many years. The experience is something one takes into one’s heart and soul and remembers that it’s the actions of others that allow us to be where we are today, and hopefully, our children’s children as well. A moment of time to always remember. We headed out for a bit of a city tour taking in a visit to The Punchbowl, cemetery for WWII and Korean and Vietnam War soldiers. We took in the scenic view from Paili lookout that overlooked the windward side of the coast. We saw the laceName w:st="on">IolanilaceName> laceType w:st="on">PalacelaceType>, the last residence of Hawaii’s monarchs. It was about 2:30pm when Marlene and Bonnie’s tour finished up and were back to the Golden Princess. Kim and Kathy had been at the beach enjoying the sun and the sights. Kim was in the water and out again. There was something about the 49^th wave that hit the beach and got both Kathy and Kim wet as well as their beachbags, but who ever heard of a 49^th wave, Uncle Harold? They finally stated to make their way back from the beach to meet up and then we were to go ashore for dinner on the beach. For good or bad, Kathy and Kim had their own little tour adventure by taking a public bus that passed right by the ship’s pier and headed on into town further and further away! They figured out how to get back and were ready to head out for dinner, but not on a public bus. We went to the Hula Grill for dinner, right on the beach and watched the people surfing and the sun start to set. It was a warm evening that was complete with tikki torches and ukulele music. A little of bit window shopping, a cab ride back to the pier and then, gelato for dessert made for a great day. We set sail around 10:30pm with the lights of Honolulu blinking saying “aloha for now, come back soon”.