My 2000 Summer Vacation: Oahu, Hawaii

My 2000 summer vacation was spent on the fair island of Oahu, Hawaii. Once again this was a vacation combining site-seeing and a trip to a science fiction convention (in this case the 2000 Westercon).
 

	A picture of Waikiki beach from my hotel room balcony. It's paradise, over-run by beach-goers. But then again, the beach here is composed of imported sand. In this distace is Diamond Head.
	Picture from the Waikiki Aquarium.
	Ditto.
	A picture pointing back to my hotel, the Sheraton Waikiki.
	A statue of Duke Kahanamoku, "Hawaii's most famous athlete, also known as the father of modern surfing." He was also an Olympic swimming medalist.
	One of the events held at the 2000 Westercon (also known as Conolulu). This was a lightly attended convention, which is understandable given the location. I spent almost as much money for 9 nights in Oahu as I spent for 14 nights in Australia.
	The next three pictures are from the US Army Museum at Fort DeRussy.
	Another picture.
	From the roof.
	The Aloha Tower. Built in 1926, it was the first sight many saw when entering Honolulu Harbor and help popularize the word "aloha" (which means both "hello" and "farewell").
	Moored next to the Hawaii Maritime Center is the Falls of Clyde, the world's only remaining fully rigged, four-masted ship. The small boat to the right of the Falls of Clyde is the Hokule'a, a 60-foot Polynesian canoe.
	And on the other side of the Center is the Navatek I, a modern ship.
	A picture from aboard the Falls of Clyde.
	A picture from a tower in the Hawaii Maritime Center. You can see the entrance to Honolulu Harbor.
	A skeleton of a blue whale. The Center has exhibits on whaling, surfing, tatooing, and other maritime history.
	The day after the convention ended, I rented a car and took a spin around the island. The next 10 pictures were taken from various points along that drive.
	Hill.
	Waves.
	Rocky shore.
	Little islands visible from Makapuu State Park.
	Mountains inland.
	Mangroves.
	Ditto.
	I'm not entirely sure, but I think this island is one of the Mokuluas, seabird sanctuaries visible from Lanikai Beach (although this picture is not from Lanikai Beach).
	A pretty park.
	Back at the hotel outside the lobby there is a sculpture of sea turtles. This is apropos because sea turtles can sometimes be seen swimming at Waikiki beach. A turtle actually surfaced within 10 feet of me during one of my swims!
	This is a picture of Hanauma Bay where I did some snorkling.
	The entrance to Hanauma Bay.
	The next set of pictures are from the USS Arizona Memorial. A model of the World War II Japanese aircraft carrier Akagi.
	A actual (unexploded) torpedo from the attack on Pearl Harbor.
	A naval ceremony that was being held at the Memorial.
	A picture of a part of the Arizona still above the water.
	Section of the Arizona visible underwater.
	Markers showing the locations of other ships that were harbored at Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941.
	Another bit of the Arizona visible underwater.
	It was stunned to see that an "A. Pearce, Jr." had died on the Arizona. His full name is Alonzo Pearce, Jr., S1c. And that's all I know. His home state isn't even listed in the casualty list, unlike others.
	A more complete view of the list of departed.
	This little extra list is composed of those who survived the attack on the Arizona, but opted to be interred with their comrades when they died. This is a special burial option only avaiable to veterans who were Arizona crewmen.
	All battleships were named after states. This and the next picture show the state flags representing those battleships that were at Pearl Harbor on that fateful day.
	More flags.
	A shot back towards the Memorial building from the structure that stands over the Arizona...
	...and a picture of that structure from one of the Navy launches that takes visitors to the Arizona.
	A picture of that same structure back at the Memorial building.
	A model of the USS Arizona.
	Next to the USS Arizona Memorial is the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum. This picture is a model of the Bowfin, which is one of only 15 surviving World War II submarines.
	The next 7 pictures are of the Bowfin, inside and out.
	Bowfin picture.
	Bowfin picture.
	Bowfin picture.
	Bowfin picture.
	Bowfin picture.
	Bowfin picture.
	Obviously, after seeing the Arizona and Bowfin you have to visit the battleship USS Missouri. The last US battleship ever built, it was the site of the signing of the Japanese surrender on September 2, 1945. The ship was decommissioned in 1955, but was brought back into service in 1986 and fought in the Persian Gulf War. It was decommissioned again in 1992 and brought to Pearl Harbor in 1998. This is a picture of me in front of the ship.
	The next 5 pictures are from the inside and out of the Missouri.
	Missouri picture.
	Missouri picture.
	Missouri picture.
	Missouri picture.
	Entrance to the Polynesian Cultural Center. Located on the north side of Oahu, this highly entertaining establishment provides capsule summaries of various Polynesian cultures. The Center is run by the Mormans and sits next to the Hawaii chapter of Brigham Young University. Many of the employees and entertainers at the Center are actual BYU students who are actually Polynesian. And don't expect to find any caffinated drinks during meals :)
	The next 6 pictures are from the Polynesian Cultural Center.
	Polynesian Cultural Center picture.
	Polynesian Cultural Center picture.
	Polynesian Cultural Center picture.
	Polynesian Cultural Center picture.
	Polynesian Cultural Center picture.
	Back at the hotel, a shot of the hotel's pool.
	My last picture from Oahu, taken (along with the previous one) from the hotel's convention center. Nice view, huh? Aloha!