America Through My Eyes
THE HONOLULU – OAHU ISLAND PART -1
Telugu Original : Dr K.Geeta
English Translation: V.Vijaya Kumar
In the evening, we said goodbye to the Big Island and took an hour’s flight to Honolulu, the capital city of Oahu Island.
When it was getting dark, two or three more islands also appeared like silhouettes under the cloudy sky. Along the shores of Oahu, the bright lights of Honolulu shine as tangible evidence of civilization.
I stepped in, looking incredulous like a space creature that had come to visit the island from the sky.
As soon as we landed at the Honolulu International Airport, the children were as excited as they were when they arrived in San Francisco. Who are exclusive to the miracles of civilization, comfort, the internet, and cell phones!
Although we took a jeep on the Big Island, we preferred a car here to move around the city during our two-day trip.
Oahu is the third largest island. Two-thirds of Hawaii’s population lives here as the capital of Hawaii, Honolulu, is located on this island. We planned to stay on this island for two days. A day is devoted to visiting the main places around the city and a day to local places like “Pearl Harbour”.
Our hotel is within walking distance of the beach. It is a very huge one and with the same dazzling lamp lights below. We felt like we were in the sky at sixteen stories high.
We came out for lunch in an hour. We always look for Indian food wherever we go. There was no Indian hotel on the Big Island. Hopefully in Honolulu. We found two to three Indian restaurants within five miles of the hotel. But they may not be available as it was almost closing time. We reached there quickly. The restaurant had no parking area. We parked the car in the adjacent supermarket building and walked to the restaurant. When we arrived at the elevator, I noticed that though we locked our car the lights were still on. As we hurried up to reach the restaurant we neglected it. There were no tables in the restaurant. There is half an hour waiting. I remembered that the lights in our car didn’t turn off and I went back. The car parking area was deserted. I turned off the lights of the car and rushed back. When I returned, suddenly it started raining. Satya was picking up Siri who was falling asleep. Varu was also tired. Then I remembered that in Hawaii, it rains suddenly in that season. The tables in the hotel were empty and they called in. Being a North Indian restaurant, we order roti and curries. The name of the restaurant is “Cafe Maharani”. The walled paintings were unique with royal dignity.
On the Big Island, the children played in the sun from morning to evening in the sea, and when they got to bed, they fell asleep. I longed to go to the beach. But because the time was three hours back, everyone was sleepy when it was nine o’clock in Hawaii. It was already half past ten. I postponed my wish to go to the beach the next day. Moreover, Satya booked a 7 am snorkeling tour the next morning. We had to get up at half past five and get ready.
The next morning at six o’clock, we packed suitable clothes for swimming and came to the lobby of the hotel. I waited in the lobby as the kids were still asleep. All the table lamps there were very beautiful in the shape of pineapple. After having some coffee in the cafe, Satya went downstairs to wait for the tour bus. He didn’t come back for half an hour. I sent Varu. Satya said that the bus will not come here but to the next hotel. We picked up Siri and started walking during the day break. It was another street indeed. We reached the seashore and stood there for some time where the bus would arrive. There, in the beautiful rows of trees on the shore, while the pleasant morning breeze beckoned us, we wandered here and there on the road looking for the bus.
After two more alleys from there, except in the alley behind the hotels, we did not notice the fact that the tourist buses wouldn’t stop around that area.
That was China’s tourist service. The lady driver, who had informed us, showed us the first seats on the bus. We couldn’t dare see the impatient faces of those who were already on the bus.
The tour guides not only take us to the snorkeling park and bring us back but also provide us with all the necessary snorkeling equipment. They were all part of the ticket itself.
Our bus stopped at a small shop after traveling for about half an hour on the sea coast. After another half hour there to get a bag of snorkeling equipment according to our sizes, another small bus came and picked us up, and we reached “Hanauma Bay” in another ten minutes. The equipment provided in the bag includes an air tube mask for the face to allow breathing underwater, duck feet gloves for the legs, safety coats to prevent accidental drowning in the water, etc.
No matter how hard I tried, I did not feel comfortable wearing the equipment on my face. It was difficult to breathe while it was pressing the nose. And to Siri, it was more difficult. She wore nothing but a safety coat. Only Satya and Varu could wear them all the time like armor shields.
We got off the bus at Hanauma Bay Hill and bought tickets at the ticket counter. Seven and a half dollars a day for one. Free for children below twelve years.
We need not rent equipment there in advance. Many people were taking on a rent basis, and it was not necessary to buy the equipment for everyone. If it was for a group, it is better to take them to one person, whatever equipment is needed, and then they may be made use of by the other members.
A small instructional lesson is given for precautions before going down concerned about the need to protect the natural aquatic life and corals there. They instructed the visitors not to touch the corals or walk on them and to watch the aquatic life away as far as possible.
There were small trams to reach the bottom of the hill. A $2 per person ticket will work both times. Easily accessible by foot. We preferred the tram as it is difficult with Siri.
By then it was almost half past nine. We had to come back at midnight and catch our bus in the parking lot. People were flocked everywhere. The beautiful view from the top before going down the hill on the tram is unforgettable.
Hanauma Bay is a crescent-shaped indented beach between two naturally formed hills. A volcanic peak is hidden deep in the ocean. A lake-like shore of white sand is seen most clearly underwater with very thin waves as far as the eye can see. It’s like Visakhapatnam Rishikonda’s shallow beach.
If we want to go waist-deep in that water, we have to walk a little further into the sea. This coast is famous for beautiful colorful fishes and corals underwater.
Varu and I could go knee deep but we could see nothing but white sand. Satya and Varu went a long way ahead and took advantage of all the equipment. Siri and I built a temple in the sand on the beach using the socks as water bowls. The face masks went safely back into the bags. Siri enjoyed the game of hiding everything in the sand. I enjoyed swimming in the shallows here and there along the shore. The sun was shining bright.
Satya came twice in the middle and said he would see Siri and sent me to the waters. Varu and I went inside a bit and came out. I wore the mask only up to the eyes instead of covering the entire face. It is said that because of the mask glasses, everything in the water looks bigger as if seen through a magnifying glass. I saw our feet, but no fish or corals. Unexpectedly my eardrop fell into the water as I was about to take off my mask. I looked down and immediately found it. But the light waves covered the sand in an instant. Immediately I picked the sand with my two palms cupped together and held it firmly. If I open my hands, it will go into the water. It is not possible to search in water then. Needing someone else’s help, I sent Varu back, who was with me, to call Satya. I let go of my fingers a little and told him to put on a mask and search. He did not find it. I put on the mask and put my head in the water to hold it with my hands. What a beautiful sight! The sun shines brightly on the water. The beautiful white sand was sparkling with light. The sand was not too soft and so clean that within a minute my eardrop appeared like a pearl just born out of the water. I sighed in relief, got out of the water, and put the eardrops in Satya’s purse, as I didn’t bring my purse that day. We carried glasses and cell phones in our hands.
By then it was eleven. We were supposed to catch our bus on the hill at noon. Satya went back to the sea to see it last time.
When I started to pack up I could not find Varu’s shoes and Satya’s expensive spectacles. Remembering that Siri played a game of hiding in the sand, Varu and I dug in the sand. Varu’s sandals were found in the sand at two different locations. But the spectacles were not. I thought Satya might be wearing spectacles under the mask, but he didn’t. We searched in the sand with our feet around but in vain. We turned back as the bus was running out of time.
I felt strange how the glasses were missing like that. In America, they never touch others’ belongings. I never give up hope until I find it. I can’t sleep until it’s recovered.
There was a long line for the tram. After coming upstairs and still having ten minutes left, as the kids asked for something to eat, I bought and began my search at the Lost & Found corner.
Satya said that he would call us when the bus comes. The Lost & Found system works very well in America. If the missing item is found, they send it to your home for a $10 postage charge.
I filled out the form and came back. Satya said that the bus had already left. We must be ready at the bus station exactly when the bus comes every hour. They don’t wait more than two minutes. We were told earlier that if we missed the bus, we would be charged $50 to board another bus.
The security man behind the counter at the tram station recognized me, and without charging an extra amount, he took me with him down on his tram carriage. He inquired on the walkie-talkie whether the glasses traced in other counters at the downhill.
I thanked him and came back to where we were sitting and looked for another round. I searched here and there along the coast for some distance and returned without finding it. I came back and asked at the Lost & Found counter. This time the counter crew brought a big bag of glasses, about a hundred. I was surprised to learn so many people have dropped their glasses! I came to know that this beach is visited by millions of people every year, not as innocent as it seemed which we read online. Most people usually lose their rings.
Then I realized that the spectacles would not have fallen on the shore, but surely in the water. In the hurry to find my earring, he would’ve his spectacles in his pocket that might fall into the water. The episode of our trip to Hanauma Bay ended bitterly with the loss of expensive spectacles.
We caught the 1.00 clock bus and returned. I convinced them not to charge extra while depositing our equipment.
After returning to the hotel, we took a bath and fell asleep.
*****
(to be continued)
A post graduate in English literature and language and in Economics. A few of my translations were published. I translated the poems of Dr. Andesri , Denchanala, Ayila Saida Chary and Urmila from Telugu to English. I write articles and reviews to magazines and news papers. To the field of poetry I am rather a new face.