A day of culture

This morning we decided to visit the Bishop Museum, a good 1 1/2 hours away by bus. Our plan was to get there at 10am for the first tour. We left on time but on the way we came across by accident an amazing market near Diamond Head in the parking lot of a community college. It was too good to pass up. There were crowds of people and vendors selling only food, flowers and vegetables. 

Norm could not resist the temptation of spam. Here is his breakfast of French Toast, scambled eggs and fried spam! 

Is that happiness or what? 

So needless to say we didn't make it by 10 to the museum but still got there in plenty of time to tour the Hawaiian Hall, learn about the early beginnings of the Hawaiian people, their gods, their royal chiefs, and their way of life. A special exhibit gave a rare glimpse into the shell leis from the island of Ni'ihau, next door to Kauai, our next stop. We later saw a shell lei in the gift shop for $12,000! We had just enough time to tour the native Hawaiian gardens before watching a planetarium show on Wayfinders: Waves, Winds and Stars. I now know how to sail from Tahiti to Hawaii using the night sky. 

Norm hiding in the garden and checking out the bread fruit tree below.

Time to get back on the bus for Chinatown. Celebrating the Year of the Horse meant excitement on the streets there. We managed to have an excellent and tasty meal of Wonton soup and Gee (pot stickers) soup. Ate it before we remember to take a photo but you can see the passion orange drink and the action happening near by. 

We continued on through Chinatown catching the parade as we travelled. I decided to experience a truly Chinese cultural taste and had a Jin Dui, a deep fried coconut, brown sugar and chop suey dumpling like item. One was enough. And I passed on the sushi spam, musubi. 

But the parade was great fun.

Leaving Chinatown we headed for the next party scene, Kalakaua street along Waikiki where the Pro Bowl street party was setting up. What a crazy happening. Many people, seven stages with rock bands, vendors everywhere and lots of action. We passed right on through and walked home to relax and put our feet up.