Hawaii
11 February 2026
Good morning from Honolulu, Hawaii, where it’s currently 73F/23C with a predicted high today of 75F/24C. 10% chance of rain. And the bad news, it’s overcast with winds 20-24 mph/32-39 km/h. We’re now 4 hours behind Pocahontas time.
David and I have been here before, but it’s Linda’s first visit to the Aloha State.
This morning we’ll meet a Hawaii resident, Tony. He’s David’s navy buddy from the 1970’s and I know Tony from his several visits to Pocahontas in recent years. We spent a week together, a few years ago, when several of us with Pocahontas connections took a 7-night Mississippi River steamboat cruise from New Orleans to Memphis.
Tony was waiting for us when we got off the ship, and he took us to the largest mall I’ve ever seen. Linda had a shopping list. Only thing on my list was macadamia nuts, for which Hawaii is famous. We were in a big drug store, and I went down the aisle that said “Nuts and Chips.” I found cashews, almonds, peanuts, every nut but macadamia. I asked Tony about it and he said, oh you need to go to the tourist aisle. Sure enough, the aisle he took me to had Hawaii refrigerator magnets and macadamia nuts!
Next he drove us about 30 minutes to an arts and crafts store where David and Linda could get some watercolor supplies. They take classes on the ship every day, and they’re both really talented. Talent. That’s why I don’t go to the watercolor classes!
Next, Tony drove us to his favorite restaurant, for lunch. It’s outside of downtown in a beautiful park-like setting, in a former WMCA (female version of a YMCA) and some sort of church mission, but it has been a popular restaurant here since the 1920s. Delicious food in a delicious setting.
Next he drove us to the top of an extinct volcano, where the city’s main cemetery is located. It has a wonderful view of Honolulu. Finally, we visited Nu’uanu Pali Lookout. It offers panoramic, high-elevation views of Hawaii’s windward coast. I was there years ago, when I was in town for the national dental convention. The cold wind blew me away then, and it did again today.
The Nuʻuanu Pali is a famous, historically significant mountain pass and lookout on the island of Oahu, sitting 1,120 feet above sea level. Offering sweeping panoramic views of the Windward Coast, it is famous for its powerful, howling trade winds.
In 1795, the site was the location of the Battle of Nuʻuanu, one of the bloodiest engagements in Hawaiian history. King Kamehameha I forced the defenders of Oʻahu off the sheer cliffs, ultimately securing his victory and unifying the Hawaiian Islands.
LINDA’S VIDEO AT NUʻUANU PALI
12 February 2026
I didn’t believe it possible, but this morning at breakfast I decided I’m tired of eggs and hashbrowns! I’d usually have oatmeal on my no-egg day, but I’m tired of that too. Instead, I had dry cereal for the first time in years. I picked some sort of bran flakes with dried banana slices and raisins. I added sugar and half and half from the coffee area. Delicious. I may do this more often!
QM2 arrived Kona, Hawaii about 6:00 a.m. Today was our first day to use “tenders” rather than walking off the boat onto a dock. Kona doesn’t have a harbor deep enough for us to dock at shore, so we “parked” a couple of miles from the shore, with anchors lowered to hold us in place. A tender is a smaller boat that tends to the needs of a larger boat. In this case, it’s a few of QM2’s own lifeboats which were lowered to the water.
Four large doors (large enough to drive a car through) opened in the side of the ship just above water level. They swing down horizontally to create a deck about a foot above the waterline. They call it a “pontoon,” and the tenders pull up to each of them so passengers can step into the tender/lifeboat from the ship. It’s comforting to know they take the lifeboats off the ship and use them occasionally, making sure they work as intended!
We really liked Kona. It’s about 18,000 people, so much more comfortable for Pocahontas people, compared to huge, busy Honolulu. We didn’t make any plans for Kona, other than to have a cup of coffee, since that’s what Kona is known for. We Ubered to Walmart for a few essential supplies, then asked our next Uber driver for a lunch recommendation. He took us to a great little restaurant right on the seashore where enjoying drinks and a delicious meal.
Then we Ubered to a coffee shop across the street from where we would board the tender back to the ship. I was going to have a mocha, but then I saw the cream cheese Danishes, so opted for regular black coffee to have with the pastry. It was a really good decision. Best tasting coffee I’ve had in years. I don’t know why we can’t get coffee that good for home!
WONDERFUL LUNCH IN KONA Video
Tonight we “hit the road” again, with 5 days at sea, headed due south to Tahiti. It’s already fairly hot by the afternoon in Hawaii, and we’re still in the “winter” of the northern hemisphere. In Tahiti we’ll be in the southern hemisphere, where it’s currently summer. Unlike Linda, David and I are both hoping for a big storm to sail through. We want to see how this big ship handles it!