Oahu, Hawaii - Round 2

Not only is my Mom trying to complete the Minnesota State Park Hiking Club - she is also trying to visit all 50 states. She isn't quite as actively pursuing the latter. Two years ago when I took my niece to Hawaii my Mom adamantly said she didn't want to go (I think the believed she would ruin our adventures because of her disability), fast forward we are starting year 2 of the Covid pandemic and everyone is stir crazy - Hawaii gets brought back up and shortly there after I am trying to navigate the new world of travel that requires vaccines and heath checks...

This was our first trip since the pandemic shut down the world in March of 2020. Hawaii was the farthest we could go, as American's still weren't allowed to enter most other countries. Hawaii had way less tourists as their borders were only open to American's after negatived Covid tests and a health check at the airport. Definitely a different way to travel, but definitely worth it.

My mom, her friend Pat, my niece and I fully masked boarded a direct flight to Honolulu June 11th, 2021. We would again stay on Waikiki beach, this time renting a car for part of the time. Travel is always interesting with my Mom - as you know she is visually impaired, but that doesn't stop us from adventuring.

Highlights of this trip: Climbing Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor, My Mom and Pat's first time swimming in the ocean (I still find this hard to believe as they are in their late 60's - they both said they have waded in before but never swam), Paradise Cove Luau, The Dole Plantation, A Raptor Tour at Kualoa Ranch, Stopping at random beaches to swim and explore, Nu'uanu Pali Lookout, Leonards Bakery, Ho'omaluhia Botanical Gardens, Byodo-in Temple, and snorkeling at Hanauma Bay (the clearest I have ever seen it - the pandemic did wonders for the reef).