Grey-Bruce Boomers Spring 2023

TRAVEL
by Jill Ellis-Worthington
often-rocky path to the island’s famous summit and
the most amazing view of Honolulu and the ocean.
This is a popular destination for tourists and requires
you to make online reservations ahead of time. It’s
only a $5 fee but the limited parking is extra. We took
an Uber from the hotel and were dropped off at the
gate. This allowed us to walk across the crater and
get a panoramic view before our ascent. It opens at
6 a.m. so being one of the first on the often-narrow
trail is a good idea, as it gets much busier as the day
wears on and gets hotter.
Providing a properly somber atmosphere, it rained
the day we visited Pearl Harbor. There’s no cost to
experience the exhibits that detail events leading up
to the attack, but the on-site museums do charge
admission. It is also free to take the boat over to
the Arizona Memorial. Reservations are strongly
recommended as the walk-up line was long; there
is a $1 reservation fee for a timed ticket. The boat
is operated by the navy and manned by uniformed
sailors.
Travel writer Jill Ellis-Worthington and her husband
Ralph Lembcke awaiting the luau, shown below,
which celebrates the islands in music and dance.
A part of American history less familiar to many
will be the story of Hawaiian royalty, so a trip to
Iolani Palace is a great way to learn a lot. Built by
King Kalakaua (Kamehameha III), this beautifully
restored American Florentine-style building houses
period furniture and royal garb. Guided and audio
tours are available.
Ko Olina
A resort area about 30 minutes from Honolulu, Ko
Olina offers several lodging options. We chose the
Marriott’s Beach Club, where you can book directly
through the hotel or save some dough by renting
one of the spacious condo suites through an owner.
Suzanne Kelly, from Grand Bend, has been staying
there as a Vacation Owner for 12 years.
“I’ve visited most of the islands, and I love the crosssection
of cultures because it’s in the middle of the