Germaine's Luau, Pearl Harbor and finally boarding The Pride Of America

No trip to Hawaii would be complete without a luau.  So dressed in our Hawaiian attire, we joined a tour bus that drove us across the island to Germaine's Luau, an open air experience set on a secluded beach.  The food was served buffet style, and I was impressed with the ease in which they got us all through the line.  Always feeling the need to participate in authentic experiences, I decided to be brave and taste the poi, a Polynesian staple made from the Taro plant, which does not necessarily receive complimentary reviews.  Others who describe this pasty dish as tasting like glue may have been a bit harsh, but I do understand where they're coming from.  Sipping Blue Hawaiians and Mai Tais at our tables, we were entertained with a show that incorporated the history and culture of Hawaii.  I think most would agree that the fire handlers were the most impressive to watch.

The next morning we woke up at an early 5 a.m. to another beautiful morning in paradise.  The early rising was not too difficult considering our body clocks know the true time at home.  Robert's Hawaii provided our Pearl Harbor / USS Arizona and City Tour.  We were lucky to have Kevin as our tour guide, a transplanted main-lander who had been in Hawaii since the 70's.  He was a wealth of knowledge about the history of Pearl Harbor and Hawaii in general.

The number of people we met along this trip who had visited Hawaii decades ago and decided to make it their home was intriguing.  At the luau we met a woman from Wisconsin who had grown up on a dairy farm.  After completing an internship on the islands as an Occupational Therapist, she never lived on the mainland again.  We heard these stories over and over as people explained how they fell in love with this oasis in the sea.

The grounds of Pearl Harbor are a tranquil and beautiful resting place for the young men who had their lives so violently taken from them on December 7, 1941.  The short film shown before you board a boat to be taken to the Arizona Memorial is often described as "moving".  I can't think of a better descriptor, so I'll leave it at that.  We saw footage we had never seen before, and it made me think about what it must have really been like for my Great Aunt who was stationed there with her husband.  I'll never forget her description of the bomber who flew over her home as she was hanging clothes out to dry that day.  I had heard the story many times of how the Japanese flew in so low that she could actually see his face behind the cockpit glass.  Pearl Harbor is an experience for which anyone who visits Hawaii should make time.

After visiting Pearl Harbor, Kevin, our tour guide extraordinaire, completed our day in Honolulu with a city tour that ended with a drop off at Hilo Hattie - Hawaii's one-stop shop spot.  Matching Hawaiian shirts and two pineapple swirls later we're off to board our ship, how appropriate it was to end the day stepping onboard a ship named The Pride of America after beginning our day at Pearl Harbor.

Reflections on Oahu:  Hawaii's climate is just about perfect.  Warm but not hot, no humidity, gentle breezes.  It calms you, cools you and warms you all at the same time.

As we enter Norwegian Cruise Line's terminal in Honolulu, I am struck by how it differs from those on the mainland.  It's not as high tech as many of the others, but because of that, it gives you a more personal feel.  We were greeted with a fresh flower lei and the Aloha spirit!

We're feeling pretty welcome and at home in our floating resort on the sea, but fatigue is setting in.  Tonight we'll stick with the buffet and drag ourselves to the Welcome Aboard Show.  The comedian was so funny he kept our eyes from slamming shut.  What a full day!

Tips Upon Boarding:  Make specialty dining reservations for the week early on that first day if you did not prebook them.  Teppanyaki is our favorite NCL specialty dining and it books up fast! Pride of America is a pretty little ship with all kinds of nooks and crannies to be discovered.