Last day in Waikiki. Next stop Pũpũkea

On 13.02. we change our hostel for the first time. The next hostel is just around the corner. Here you get a bracelet that serves as a key and allows you to enter the room.

After we moved, we spend two hours at the beach. The first time sunbathing. The first time going into the sea. We are in a separate area specifically for swimmers, so there are no big waves. Unfortunately, the water is not very deep here, so we can only stand in waist-deep water.

There is a restaurant with a bar opposite. No matter which restaurant you go to, you have to wait to be seated. You can't choose your own seat. Unfortunately, we forgot our ID, so we leave without a drink. Back at the hostel, we meet our first roommates. They are three Swiss people. Based on their recommendation, we go - showered and this time with our ID - to a Hawaiian brewery. They have so many different types of beer! But they are not brewed according to the German purity law. ;-) For example, pineapple was added during the brewing process.

I would like to have a Radler. Since I don't know the word, Julian describes it: 'Half bear, half Sprite.' The waiter looks confused and wants to bring me a small glass of Sprite. 'No. Mixed in one glass.' The waiter is still confused, but brings me the drink I ordered, which is called Shandy in English.

Later at the hostel, we meet Mark, a New Yorker. He tells us that Radler is not known in America. We go out to eat together and chat for the evening. He is an English teacher... This makes me uncomfortable right away. But he is very nice.

My first night in an eight-bed dormitory is very good. Except for the constant squeaking of the bed above me when Julian turns over.

The next morning we wake up early and have breakfast. Julian watches the BVB game and I have time to read for the first time. I brought three books for the flight and now I finally manage to read a few pages.

After checking out of this hostel after just one night, we walk to the car rental with our backpacks. We reserved a small car with two doors, but we actually get a fancy new Toyota that has only been driven a few miles. It is a really nice car and we are excited as we head to our third hostel.

The new hostel is in Pũpũkea. On the way there, we take a detour to the beach. The waves on the north coast are much higher and it is windier. When we arrive at the hostel, we settle into our four-bed dorm. Here, there are three rooms in one shared house with a kitchen, a living room, and two bathrooms. We borrow snorkels and goggles and go to the sea. Even though we snorkel right on the beach, there are many fish to see here! Unfortunately, my snorkel has a hole. Julian has the idea to walk over the rocks and stones in the water to another water hole. This action turns out to be a half hike and soon our feet start to hurt from the sharp rocks. Julian steps on a coral and gets a small wound. Also, there are sea urchins everywhere on the rocks. After this 'dangerous hike', I am glad when we are out of the water and heading towards the hostel.

In the evening, we go shopping at Foodland. This is a very big supermarket. Afterwards, we eat our first shrimp at a shrimp truck. Not so easy! Because they are cooked with their shells on, we have to peel them. But they are very delicious!

In the hostel, we join some others. There is even a German person. The first night is very loud because we sleep in a room with an Asian guy who snores loudly.

The next morning starts with a hike to a waterfall.

The path there is very easy, so we go to Sunset Beach afterwards, which is a surfer hotspot. The championships were held here a few days ago. The waves are so high that they are incredibly loud when they break. When I see the surfers here, I feel uneasy about trying to surf myself. We drive to another beach that was recommended to us because it is suitable for beginners. And it is! The waves are much smaller and the sea is not as wild as at the first beach. I watch a surf school and consider whether I really want to surf myself. While watching, I notice a surfer who has his dog on the surfboard with him. Even the dog dares to try!

We drive back to the hostel and plan the next day. After that, we want to take a quick swim in the sea. But at the beach opposite our hostel, the waves are too big and too wild. You can't swim here. So we just stand at the beach and let the waves wash over our feet.

At 8 o'clock, we go to Foodland again. We heard that the fresh food is reduced in price at that time. And it's true! So we buy something to eat, sit by the sea, and eat for the first time with our sporks. But it's already so dark that the sea is black and gloomy. Only when the waves break, the wave briefly lights up bright in the moonlight.

Today we woke up early because we want to go on a hike. We drove from the north coast to the south coast by car. The hike is called Koko Crater Trail. It is a 1.8 mile long, really steep path that used to be used by a train. You walk up over 1000 steps made from the old train tracks. A small section doesn't even have a solid surface, so you have to walk over a kind of gorge on the train tracks. I try to go up three steps. But since you look directly into the abyss, I have to go back. Unfortunately, I am not that free from vertigo! Instead, I continue to the right. Here, I only have to climb a little. Julian bravely takes the other path and we meet again after a short time when the paths come together again. The last quarter is so steep that I think I won't make it up. After 50 minutes, I reach the top and I am even prouder that I made it! The view is beautiful. But I'm already dreading the way back. You have to keep your balance particularly well to not fall between the worn-out tracks or twist your ankle. Although the descent is difficult, it works quite well and I even dare to walk over the abyss... Not just on my feet...

Back at the car, we continue to explore the southeast of the island.

We drive to a beach where the sand is really white and fine. Julian even goes swimming while I still try to rest my tired legs. Only after Julian comes out of the water, he sees a jellyfish lying on the beach. A few meters further, there is even a warning about jellyfish and stingrays. Lucky us: nothing happens. This beach is also known for having many homeless people living in tents. This tent city looks really creepy.

We continue to a viewpoint on a mountain. This viewpoint is called Nu'ūanu Pali Lookout. It is incredibly windy here, so windy that it even pushes me as I walk.

After taking a few pictures, we continue to Kualoa Ranch. Many movies and TV shows like Lost, Jurassic Park, Godzilla, or - for the romantics - 50 First Dates were filmed in this 4000 hectare private nature reserve in the valley around a mountain.

We want to take a tour here on Tuesday to explore the filming locations. In the sea in front of the ranch is the rock Mokoli'i in the water, which looks like a hat. That's why it is colloquially called 'Chinaman's Hat'. We book a tour to paddle there by canoe on Tuesday.

In the evening, we go to the shrimp truck again. This time, the peeling works better.

Tomorrow, we will rent a surfboard. Julian wants to show me how to surf. I'm really excited and greet all of you with the shaka gesture. Good wave!