Hawaii

Touring the Dole Plantation via the Pineapple Express Train

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Nestled in the middle of the island of Oahu, with the breathtaking mountains in the background, is a reminder of an industry that was once a major provider of pineapples to the world. The Dole Plantation, is located about 40 minutes outside of Waikiki at 64-1550 Kamehameha Highway. We had two main goals when visiting the Dole Plantation, ride the Pineapple Express train and eat Dole Whip.

01-120615 Oahu Dole Plantation Sign

The first thing we did, due to the time of the day and our impending hunger, was to get some Dole Whip. The frozen dessert, made from pineapple juice, is delectable, especially amidst the heat. Our time enjoying the treats though was short lived as the boys were really excited to head to the train.

09-120615 Oahu Dole Plantation Tour Summary Board 10-120615 Oahu Dole Plantation Price Board

Per the summary board, the Pineapple Express Train Tour is explained as follows:

This two-mile, 20-minute, fully narrated train tour is educational and informative. Along the route, you’ll learn about the history of pineapple and hear the story of James Dole, who pioneered the pineapple industry in Hawaii. You’ll travel through a working pineapple plantation, and see a variety of other crops, often including plants in early stages of growth and fields under preparation for planting. Enjoy scenic views of the Tanada reservoir and the Waianae mountain range, while being serenaded by local Hawaii musicians. The audio narration is available in English, Japanese, Korean, and Mandarin.

After purchasing our tickets, we had a little bit of time to wait until boarding the train, and walked around the gardens. Pineapple plants and other tropical foliage are beautifully presented in the gardens.

02-120615 Oahu Dole Plantation Pineapples

03-120615 Oahu Dole Plantation Pineapples

The Pineapple Variety Garden was excellent for viewing varieties of pineapples up close. “Varieties such as Ruby, Queen, Pernambuco, Malaya, Philippines, Pakse, and Sugarloaf are used for commercial planting in other parts of the world. However, in Hawaii, Smooth Cayenne and its clones are the only variety used for commercial planting. Other varieties, though not used commercially, are important to plant breeding, landscaping, and ornamental planting.”

04-120615 Oahu Dole Plantation Pineapples Variety Garden

05-120615 Oahu Dole Plantation Distance Pole

06-120615 Oahu Dole Plantation Gardens

07-120615 Oahu Dole Plantation Gardens

08-120615 Oahu Dole Plantation Painted Bark Tree

It is almost like Disney Imagineers painted the landscaping.

Before long, it was our turn to make our way towards the Pineapple Express train. The 24: gauge, diesel trains can accommodate 84 adults and up to 28 kids with her four coaches. The ride is along relatively flat contours. Just in case anything falls off the train, there are markers along the track. Remember what number your item (or child) fell off the train, and an employee with retrieve them for you. We were fortunate that both our kids stayed seated and did not de-board the train.

11-120615 Dole Plantation This Way to Train

12-120615 Dole Plantation Pineapple Express Sign

13-120615 Oahu Dole Plantation Backup Train

The Lady Liberty is the backup train to the Pineapple Express.

14-120615 Oahu Dole Plantation Pineapple Express Train

The train ride was an informative and entertaining journey through the Dole plantation. Listening back at the video, below, I have to laugh because you can hear Lan-Shark (1) singing choo-choo almost the entire time. The sound quality on the video did not turn out as good as I would have liked due to the wind, but you can still hear most of the narration, history, and enjoy the gorgeous scenery.

I love the red soil of Wahiawa, which is caused by decomposing volcanic ash that fills the soil with oxidized iron. Pineapples thrive in the soil, and respond by growing big and sweet.

The Dole Plantation also features a garden walking tour and pineapple maze, both of which we did not do.

The gift shop sells a wide assortment of everything imaginable with pineapple. We might have considered purchasing something, but I believe the airline industry is slowly killing the tourism industry by charging for luggage. While I can not find any hard statistics supporting my theory, and paired with the poor economy, I would bet purchases from places such as the Dole Plantation have declined due to having little place in luggage to bring it home.

Regardless, with our boys content with their train experience, my father-in-law and I returned for a second round of Dole Whip before venturing on our way. Mmm, belly fully of Dole Whip.

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Oahu Hawaii: Waikiki Beach and the $20 Sand Toys

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120613 Waikiki Beach Panoramic

The name Waikīkī means spouting water in the Hawaiian language, for springs and streams that fed wetlands that once separated Waikīkī from the interior.

120624 Waikiki Stone Walkway

When I visited Hawaii alone in 2006, I barely even paid Waikiki Beach a glance, let alone a moment of my time on the sand. I had little interest in being around the crowds and was more intrigued to get out of the City and explore all the other parts of Oahu. However, quite a bit has changed in my life over 6 years, making a visit to Waikiki Beach all the more likely.

Now I am married to the same girl I started dating when I came to Hawaii the first time. Plus we now have the two most amazing little boys who came along to start some new adventures. So planning a week on Oahu had a totally different appeal than when I was alone. Now all of a sudden the appeal of spending some time on the beach with the boys sounded like a delightful experience. What has happened to me?

Our family stayed at the Holiday Inn Beachcomber for free because of Priority Club reward points. So we were located right in the heart of the city compared to when I stayed in Aiea with a friend on my previous trip. The city of Honolulu is far from the beautiful, ideal image most people have of Hawaii. So there is that side of you that naturally pulls you to the ocean, and conveniently, it was located across the street from our hotel.

120613 Waikiki Beach 1 120613 Waikiki Beach 5 120613 Waikiki Beach 2

We quickly learned that Waikiki Beach, while definitely a popular tourist location, was great beach and water access for the boys. We spent several small trips at Waikiki Beach when we were ready to just relax and not travel to another destination.

It was also convenient to be so closely located to shops and restaurants surrounding Waikiki Beach. We could wake up in the morning, go to Hula Grill for breakfast, then head to the beach a couple hours. However, being so close to tourist traps comes with its own share of issues.

Convenience comes with a price in Honolulu. We learned that lesson twice on our first full day on Oahu. We wanted to purchase the boys some sand shovels and pails that we could use throughout the trip. We went in a small boutique shop and the boys picked out the most expensive sand toys I have ever seen, $20 worth. Ouch. At least the cost went towards our new credit card minimum spend.

At several points throughout the trip we were trying to manage what was in our suitcases, and you better bet those sand toys came along for the ride after having to shell out an Andrew Jackson. If they had been cheap $1 toys, I would have just left them behind and bought new ones where we needed them, but the convenience fee we paid made me want to hang onto them.

120613 Waikiki Beach 4 Jelly Fish Sign 120613 Waikiki Beach Palm Trees
120616 Wakiki Beach Outrigger Hotel 120616 Waikiki Beach Outrigger Canoe

The second convenience fee came after being in the water of Waikiki Beach for five minutes, and I stepped on a sea urchin, getting the spines stuck in my heel. So I hobbled across the street to purchase a $7 piece of tweezers. It was sad to see the same items at Walmart later in the week for a couple bucks, but you pay what you have to when within the tourist area.

120613 Waikiki Beach 3

Above is one of my favorite pictures taken on Waikiki Beach (that did not include the boys). However, the boats were one of the most disturbing practices that we witnessed on Waikiki Beach. Several of the boats purposely beach themselves so people can charter them. They also take up quite a bit of beach real estate and do not appear to be operated the most safely to clear away swimmers.

While the boys did not go into the ocean much, I could see parents really having to pay attention if their kids were swimming in the vicinity of the boats.

Overall, I have to say that my preconceived notations about Waikiki Beach were easily dispelled. We really enjoyed the beach, especially with kids. In addition, the crowds were low, making it easy to find a spot on the sand wide enough for our gear, the boys, and some toys to building sand castles.

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A Chocolate Crime Scene at the Holiday Inn Waikiki Beachcomber

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We were excited to kick off our Hawaiian vacation and stay at the Holiday Inn Beachcomber located near Waikiki (2300 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815). After checking in and heading up the room, my wife and I were quickly getting things unpacked and ready for our stay, as well as getting all of us ready to head over to lunch and Waikiki Beach. What we did not realize was that a horrible crime scene had happened in our room. Lets put on our Super Sleuth hats and get this crime solved!

The Evidence and Crime Scene

At around 4:45 PM, we noticed are hotel bed was covered in chocolate. Within minutes, the trail of cocoa powder drool had made its way to the floor and furniture. Upon closer inspection of the crime scene, we even located pieces of chewed up macadamia nuts on the bed. By the looks of the crime scene, it appeared there was plenty of evidence, but where were the criminals and what was the weapon of choice?

120612 Holiday Inn Beachcomber Chocolate Bed 1

Crime Scene Photo 1

120612 Holiday Inn Beachcomber Chocolate Bed 2

Crime Scene Photo 2

120612 Holiday Inn Beachcomber Chocolate Bed 3

Crime Scene Photo 3

The above pictures were taken early in the investigation, and within minutes, the trail of chocolate had spread further.

The Crime Scene Weapon

120612 Holiday Inn Beachcomber Welcome Macadamia Nuts

The Weapon

Upon entering our room, we were surprised to see a complimentary box of chocolate covered macadamia nuts (my favorite) sitting on the counter, as well as a welcome card due to our Platinum status with Priority Club. In the aftermath of getting ready to go to the beach, the wicked evil doers appeared to have ramshackled my box of chocolates. What an interesting choice of crime scene weapon.

The Crooked Criminals Are Caught

Two perpetrators were identified leaving the crime scene, clearly with the weapon of choice on their faces and hands. Upon capturing of the two suspects, we identified that felon number 1 (age 3) had broken into the sacred case of chocolate covered macadamia nuts and proceeded to stuff his face with a piece of candy. As suspect number 2 (age 1) approached his partner in crime, he was handed his own piece of confection. As suspect #1 chewed the weapon, he determined he did not like the nutty center, and spit it out on the bed and on his hands. In the meantime suspect #2 squirreled away his candy in his chipmunk cheeks, and as he processed the weapon, slowly dribbled it down his chin, onto his clothes, and hands, and subsequently onto the bed, furniture, and carpet.

When the two suspects were apprehended at the scene, #1 was quickly cleaned and booked for processing. Suspect #2 was also booked, and was required to empty his mouth of the weapon. Suspect #2 was temporarily released as further investigation of the scene was conducted. However, it was discovered that suspect #2 was storing additional weapon in his chipmunk cheeks, and had further positively identified a match to the chocolate trail.

The two assailants identities are being protected until proven guilty in a court of mommy and daddy law.

Following quarantining, the dad officer, first to arrive on the scene, had to strip one of the beds so the lab could process the evidence. Officer Dad also had to put on his HAZMAT suit to continue gathering evidence and cleaning the scene.

The following day, all guests heads hung low as they exited the room, walking past housekeeping, and hoping they were not permanently banned from the hotel less than 24-hours after arriving on the island.

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