Iolani Palace

Saturday, 9^th January 2016

Diamond Head Lighthouse

Diamond Head Beach and early surfers

Outside rim of crater

Inside crater

Fire engine No 1

Tunnel through the rim

Grey and cloudy skies

Our trolley

Ala Wai Canal and Country Club

Museum Art School

State Legislature Building

Replica of the Liberty Bell

Father Damien of Molokai (google him)

Iolani Palace

Guide beside grand staircase

Lamps

Blue Room with portrait of Queen Victoria

Dining Room

King's bedroom

Music room

Queen's bed - and bathroom

Throne Room

Chandelier

Final queen's diamond butterfly clip

We had a rather cloudy and windy start to the day – breakfast on the verandah was a little breezy and cooler than usual.  We decided to make use of our “free” trolley pass today; the trolley which is exclusive to Outrigger guests but does not go to Ala Moana Shopping Centre.  The complete circuit takes nearly two hours and the first leg took us around Diamond Head, with views of the lighthouse (and a Qantas jet arriving) and Diamond Head Beach before we passed through the tunnel into the crater.  We had a quick stop for a photo and then a longer stop as two fire engines arrived.  In the case of a medical emergency here, the first response vehicle is a fire engine with a big, long ladder.  After the firemen have dealt with the emergency, the ambulance arrives!  The tour continued to Kahala and then returned to the Ali Wai Canal and back to Waikiki before heading downtown.  We alighted at the state parliament building and walked through it to the Iolani Palace.  The guided tour was very good and we had an excellent volunteer guide, who was very easy to understand.  After donning our special bootees, we were shown through the various rooms, which included the blue room, dining room, throne room and bedrooms.  Our tour concluded in the basement, or kitchen/servants’ level, where we were able to wander at leisure and view the crown jewels and awards.  Amazingly, the trolley were caught back to Waikiki had the same driver – we still have decided if the driver was a he, a she, or had had the operation.  Anyway, he/she was very entertaining, even if we couldn’t understand the majority of the commentary.

We decided to have our main meal in the early afternoon (being a bit late arriving back) and it having been strongly recommended, we dined at the Cheesecake Factory.  We now know why this restaurant is so popular, usually with long lines of patrons clutching pagers and menus each evening.  The food was very good and reasonably priced, the service just as good and a large variety of cheesecakes available for dessert.  Dinner will not be required this evening …