17. Aloha Hawaii! May-June 2020

We arrived at Ko Olina Marina, Oahu, Hawaii on May 12, 2020. We were happy to be back in the USA! The COVID-19 pandemic had the state of Hawaii still mostly closed up and we were required to wear masks in public. The Ko Olina resort was quiet and deserted.

Getting the boat back in order and recuperating

We had a long list of chores to complete. But we tried to take advantage of the beautiful resort where we were staying. We walked along the shore and around to the golf course nearly every evening at sunset, and we saw very few people out and about. Initially we were compelled to complete 2 weeks of quarantine but the officials in charge decided to accept our time at sea (15 days) as official quarantine.

SV JAN docked in Ko Olina Marina, Oahu, Hawaii.

Giorgio also had the job of cleaning the anchor. After 5 weeks in the mud of Taiohae Bay in Nuku Hiva, rust formed on the stainless steel when it was buried in the mud, due to the lack of oxygen. It was a painful restoration project requiring lots of ‘elbow grease’ but he did a great job!

Going around the island

While most of the stores were still closed, some were starting to open one by one. Our first priority was to get our computer repaired. The Apple Store was still closed but there was another Apple repair center on the other side of the island which had just reopened. We rented a car and drove over some beautiful mountains on the other side of the island to reach it. The mountains were simply beautiful.

The mountains that grace the Pali Highway captivated us as we drove to take our computer to be repaired.

Massive construction of the Honolulu Rail Rapid Transit Project along the highway near the airport..

Properly masked and picking up a few groceries at the local Safeway after 15 days at sea!

Visiting Cousin Betsy

The first highlight of our trip was to see my cousin Betsy Weatherford! She has been living and working in Honolulu over the past 30 years.

Betsy and I social distancing in front of a mural.

It was great fun to spend time with Betsy. She is always ready for a good hike (she is a long-time member of the Sierra Club) or a walk around the city. The first place we walked was to see the Kakaako murals in Honolulu. Every year local artists compete to win a space to paint on a building. As we walked around looking at the murals, the streets were deserted. The city was so quiet, surely unlike its pre-COVID-19 vibrant rhythm.

Class of 2020: a local high school student by himself.

Makapu’u Point Lighthouse

We hiked the 4 mile trail at the Makapu’u Point Lighthouse at the southeastern point of Oahu. With Betsy, her friend Isaac and their dogs Macky and Kindee. They even brought some Spanish Cava so that we could have a toast along the trail.

Appropriately masked, Isaac, Betsy and their dogs pose for a pic.

Unmasked: time for a toast of Spanish Cava.

Views of Makapu’u lighthouse and the surrounding area.

Mākua Beach

We spent a few night anchored in a bay off Mākua Beach. During World War II, the area was used for bombing practice. We watched and listened to US Army helicopters practice and train onshore and overhead for several hours each day.

One of the many helicopters we watched training in the bay.

The Ualaka’a Trail Hike

The Ualakaa’a Trail wound through a forest of giant trees and lush, green ferns.

One afternoon, Betsy took us to the Ulaka’a Trail in a beautiful forest in the hills outside Honolulu. The forest had many huge, wonderful trees and the vegetation was lush and rich: lots of ferns, moss and lichens.

Majestic trees of the forest. Most of these trees were probably planted by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) in the 1930s which was part of President Roosevelt’s New Deal.

Giorgio walking under the roots of a giant tree.

View of harbors and International Airport west of Honolulu from the top of the hill.

View of Diamond Head and downtown Honolulu.

O’ahu Cemetery

One afternoon Betsy took me to the Oahu Cemetery.

Japanese Sanju Pagoda, adjacent to the cemetery.

The Kalawahine Trail Hike

We enjoyed yet another hike through the forest above Honolulu on the Kalawahine Trail.

Bamboo patches lining our trail. The sound of the stalks clinking against each other was musical.

Blue Marble seeds that eventually turn brown

Giorgio’s onboard PROJECTS

Giorgio has a hard time sitting still which is often a good thing. The boat is giving him time and opportunity to learn many new skills. One of his projects was to get all of his lures in order. He also is becoming quite good at making them, too!

Giorgio’s handmade fishing lures. Notice the one on the right is from a beef jerky package.

It Was a Great Day!

Another one of Giorgio’s projects was changing the oil, filters and impellers of both engines. It was a very proud and important day for him when he successfully completed his tasks in both the engine and the generator.

Giorgio changing the oil in the Volvo D3-110 engine and the Whisper generator

A look of satisfaction: Giorgio in his happy place!

Ko Olina Marina Images

View of the marina and one of the many birds from the golf course.

A very fragrant flower used in lei (Hawaiian flower necklaces) making.

The Locals do Catch Fish!

Two Mahi-Mahi and two Marlins caught by some local fishermen from the marina.

The Honolulu Docks

One of our favorite places in Honolulu turned out to be the dock area in Honolulu. There is a restaurant called Nico’s Pier 38 which has a fish market that sells the most beautiful and delicious fresh fish. Poke (pronounced pokey) is a dish of cubes of fresh, raw fish mixed with different sauces. Delicious!