Tuesday was saying goodbye to Maui and aloha to Honolulu day. We had an exhausting 25-minute flight (We arrive an hour and 30 minutes before the flight to drop off the car and check the bags…so all in the wait at the airport was 3 x the flight time) after deciding we liked Colleen’s so much we would eat breakfast there once more. My relative, Carol, (what do you call you mom’s first cousin’s granddaughter?) graciously picked us up at the airport and deposited us at the New Otani hotel just past the end of the craziness of Waikiki.

The plan was to take it easy, maybe wander around and get the lay of the land. Well, that lasted about a minute until we got the idea that we should hike up Diamond Head. We unpacked and off we went. From the hotel, it was 3. 2 miles to the visitor’s center and then another 0.8 to the top. I counted 250 stairs once we got past the switchbacks, but I could be off a couple. You can avoid a steep 91 steps by going up a concrete ramp, but that’s no fun. Up we climbed. Steven is a little nervous about heights, so he didn’t go all the way to the tiptop, but he didn’t miss much except people jockeying for a better photo op.

The 1.6-mile round trip took us about 50 minutes. When you get back down, stop at the drink stand at the visitor center and get a delicious smoothie or fresh-cut pineapple. The view is definitely worth the hike, but it’s not necessary to walk from your hotel. There are cabs and tourist trolleys–we’re just a little stubborn. Yum! So our easy day in Honolulu started with an 8-mile stroll.

We’re not completely crazy, though. We were pretty hungry and tired so we caved in and took a Lyft to Waikiki Brewing Company for refreshments. It was OK, but good enough for two tired travelers and if you like spicy, try the jalapeño pineapple margarita. Of course, we walked the 1.7 miles back along the strip. For you Chicagoans, it’s just like the Mag Mile except warm. Not our scene, but if you like shopping, it’s the place for you.