Thanksgiving trip to Honolulu

While many of you were feasting with family and friends on turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes I was 37,000 ft in the sky on my way to Honolulu. A welcomed trip to balmy Waikiki Beach and a relaxing day in the sun.

Diamond Head is seen here from the shores of Waikiki; it is really breathtaking to see it on the approach when landing in HonoluluA walk on the beach along the shoreline--ah this is something to be "thankful" for...and the best part, I am getting paid to relax on the beach a sip a Mai-Tai

The International Market Place is a fun place with all sorts of vendors and traditional island items.



This is a huge banyon tree with a waterfall in the center of the market place. It is surrounded by beautiful foliage, ginger, orchids, and plumeria flowers. At the base of the falls is a pond filled with gold giant ornamental carp.

Duke Kamehameha welcomes all to Waikiki Beach. The Duke was a famous island surfer and an icon among the island and surfer communities alike. No trip is complete without at least one picture of this statue.




A FuNny Christmas Tree of Sand?

Who says you can't have a Christmas tree anywhere?

A sand castle tree in the lobby of one of the hotels, it is surrounded by natives playing ukes and beautiful Christmas pointsettias.



The famous Royal Hawaiian Hotel. One of the oldest hotels in Waikiki, it has an awesome breakfast buffet on the beach terrace.

One of the most beautiful hotels in all of Waikiki is the Moana, with it's majestic portico drive and rocking chairs on the front porch it is just fun to walk through the lobby and the gardens.

At Christmas a giant gingerbread village is set up in the lobby along with several ornate trees ( they had not done the decorating yet).

The Moana is also the site of many weddings or receptions. It is not unusual to see several bridal couples arrive and depart from the hotel on any day of the week. As the bridal couple walks up the stairway into the hotel lobby the doormen, and valets give the couple a round of applause.

I was able to get a glimpse of one bridal couple--4 couples arrived and /or departed from the Moana Hotel within 15 minutes.

Honolulu is always beautiful, one of the many things that I have to be thankful for each and every year I continue to fly--the vast variety of cities that I have the opportunity to layover in and best of all--get paid to do so.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!