Hawaii part 3: Honolulu

Alice had to work again, so I was on my own for one more day. Started the morning off at McDonald's again-- sure, my last-minute flight ticket cost an obscene amount, but I had a coupon for a free chicken biscuit that I wasn't about to let expire!!!

Hopped on the bus for Bishop Museum. I guess I'll leave out the part of the story where I get lost and get rained on and skip ahead to the museum. There was plenty to see (they claim to have millions of artifacts, relics, and documents from Hawaii and other Pacific Islands, and I believe it.) Among other things, I learned that natives of the Santa Cruz Islands still use woven feather rings as currency, and in fact is their primary method of purchasing brides. There was also a lava show (mostly for kids) and some full-size whale sculptures at the science center.

Hopped back on the bus to downtown Honolulu. Ended up on Fort St, around the campus of Hawaii Pacific University. I was looking for a ramen shop, but settled for awesome garlic chicken pad thai from a Thai place. After eating, I saw 'Iolani Palace, which is the only official state residence of royalty in the US:

And the gilded statue of King Kamehameha:

Then went up the Aloha Tower for some views of the city and beyond:



Hopped back on the bus for Waikiki and spent the remaining few hours hanging out on the beach. Dinner was at Cheeseburger in Paradise. Next stop: Kaua'i.