After the 3rd day, we noticed that we are waking up later part of the day. Today we are up by 6 am, the sun has risen which is a good indication that we are getting used to Pacific Time.
We tried to pack a lot of sightseeing and ready to see much of inland Oahu. Our first stop is Pearl Harbor, then a lunch at Genki Sushi at the Waikele Outlet then to the Valley of the Temple then end the day on a swim to Lanikai Beach.
Pearl Harbor
There were a couple of places to visit in Pearl Harbor, some have entrance fees but the Arizona Memorial is free. Either way, you have to go in line which can be another half hour wait to pick up a ticket. You would be given a designated time to come back and line up to watch a half hour screening about Pearl Harbor. It is an educational video on what happened during the Japanese invasion. After screening, you are lead to the front door to the ferry to take you on the USS Arizona Memorial. We were given a 3 pm appointment; it would be enough time to go to the Valley of the Temples and a quick lunch.
Byodo-In Temple
Located at the Valley of Temples, the Byodo-In Temple built in the 1960’s by the Japanese immigrants is a replica that can be found in Japan.
Surprisingly, it is one of the highlights of our trip. It is a perfect location for a photo op, it is serene and one of the most beautiful structures in Oahu. Parking is free but there is a suggested donation of $3 per person.
The bottom sign suggests one chime for good luck.
Genki Sushi
This is one of our favorite places for sushi. It is cheap with reliable food. Joe loves this place for its conveyor belt sushi. You help yourself to a pre-made sushi and at the end of the meal; the server counts the plates to add up the bill. They have a couple of locations, at Waikele Outlet and at the Ala Moana Mall.
Lanikai Beach
I am more than excited to show this location to my sisters and it did not fail the expectations. They love this beach. Vicky’s boyfriend, Justin, even suggested that we go here again first thing tomorrow morning. He will mention this again on the following days.
By the way, I wrote about finding a dream house on this beach. The house is still on sale. I wonder if it the owner slashed the original asking price which is about in the $10 million range. It is probably waiting for me to win the lottery.
We tried to pack a lot of sightseeing and ready to see much of inland Oahu. Our first stop is Pearl Harbor, then a lunch at Genki Sushi at the Waikele Outlet then to the Valley of the Temple then end the day on a swim to Lanikai Beach.
Pearl Harbor
There were a couple of places to visit in Pearl Harbor, some have entrance fees but the Arizona Memorial is free. Either way, you have to go in line which can be another half hour wait to pick up a ticket. You would be given a designated time to come back and line up to watch a half hour screening about Pearl Harbor. It is an educational video on what happened during the Japanese invasion. After screening, you are lead to the front door to the ferry to take you on the USS Arizona Memorial. We were given a 3 pm appointment; it would be enough time to go to the Valley of the Temples and a quick lunch.
Byodo-In Temple
Located at the Valley of Temples, the Byodo-In Temple built in the 1960’s by the Japanese immigrants is a replica that can be found in Japan.
Surprisingly, it is one of the highlights of our trip. It is a perfect location for a photo op, it is serene and one of the most beautiful structures in Oahu. Parking is free but there is a suggested donation of $3 per person.
The bottom sign suggests one chime for good luck.
We went on and pay our respects inside the temple. We took off our shoes and sat crossed legged on the floor and try to feel the energy through silence. Well, the silence did not last long till Madison decided to take off on the other side.
On our way to the gift shop, we noticed a giant fish pond filled with koi fishes. You are allowed to feed the fishes; the gift shop sells fish food for $1. It is amazing to watch those fishes fight their way to get their share. The small fishes tend to jump up to get their share faster than the larger ones. It is obvious that those fishes are all well fed.
Genki Sushi
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| From Corner Turn |
This is one of our favorite places for sushi. It is cheap with reliable food. Joe loves this place for its conveyor belt sushi. You help yourself to a pre-made sushi and at the end of the meal; the server counts the plates to add up the bill. They have a couple of locations, at Waikele Outlet and at the Ala Moana Mall.
Lanikai Beach
It is located on the residential area next to Kailua Beach. It is a bit tricky to get here since the beach is all lined up with pricey houses. Look for 2 yellow poles, it is the public access to one of the best beach in Oahu. The great thing about this location is less touristy and the downside was finding parking and no facilities available.
I am more than excited to show this location to my sisters and it did not fail the expectations. They love this beach. Vicky’s boyfriend, Justin, even suggested that we go here again first thing tomorrow morning. He will mention this again on the following days.
By the way, I wrote about finding a dream house on this beach. The house is still on sale. I wonder if it the owner slashed the original asking price which is about in the $10 million range. It is probably waiting for me to win the lottery.
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