Flat Lucy Day 11 Punchbowl

Day 11 - Monday, March 24:

NATIONAL MEMORIAL CEMETERY of the PACIFIC

(Punchbowl Cemetery)

 

National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, known locally as “Punchbowl Cemetery” occupies much of Punchbowl Crater. It has a small chapel and a tribute to the battles fought in the Pacific. It honors the men and women who served in the United States Armed Forces.

 

    

Entrance to the Cemetery and view over Honolulu

 

 

 

      

 

             

 

IN THESE GARDENS ARE RECORDED

THE NAMES OF AMERICANS

WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES

IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY

AND WHOSE EARTHLY RESTING PLACE

IS KNOWN ONLY TO GOD

  

 

 

 

The statue of Lady Columbia is also known as Lady Liberty, or Justice. She stands 30 feet high.

 

The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) Visitors Log is next to the Chapel.

                                                  We signed it: Gail & Mary for the 2nd Grade, Rogers, MN

 

  

 Diamond Head in the background 

 USA and POW/MIA flags

Layout of the Honolulu Memorial 

Auntie took me to Barefoot Beach Cafe for a surprise treat. I sat at a picnic table while she placed her order at the window. When she came back, she had something real big in her hands. We both laughed because my surprise was the biggest Shave Ice ever. It was almost bigger than me. The flavor was Coconut. We took an hour to eat the whole thing. It was delicious.

 

Across the street at Ala Moana Beach Park, we walked over a neat foot bridge. I stopped to watch a duck at the edge of a large pond. Soon another duck joined it, then two more. One duck started to quack real loud like it was scolding the other ducks for getting so close to me. They waddled away before I could say I wouldn’t hurt them.

 

    

 

   

 

People were walking around the park. I was too tired to walk anymore so we went home.

Flat Rose Day 10 Polynesian Cultural Center

 

Day 10 - Sunday, March 23:

Polynesian Cultural Center: Water Show, Luau and Hula Show

 

The King, and his court bearing yellow and red feather standards

The Polynesian Cultural Center is on the Windward (east) side of Oˋahu. Six Pacific isle villages are on display: Tahiti, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Aotearoa (New Zealand), and Hawaii. Exhibits for Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and Marquesas are there, too. I didn’t have time to see all the displays before the water show started. Auntie didn’t want me to miss any of the show.

 

 

   

 

 

The dancers on the canoes all wore colorful costumes. I liked the red and yellow cape of the king on the main float best. It looked just like one of the capes in the glass cabinets at the Bishop Museum. The floats represent the different Polynesian Islands.

 

After the water show was over, we listened to a big man play the drums. I think he is from Samoa. He asked for someone from the audience to come on stage and play music with him. I didn’t raise my hand. But I clapped real loud after he played the drums.

 

   

When we stood in line for the luau, I got scared. I was never at a luau before. What if I did something wrong? I told Auntie I was afraid. She said it was normal for me to feel nervous in new situations. Then she told me things about a luau.

For a luau, people dig a hole in the ground and put in rocks and leaves and twigs. They light a fire so the rocks get hot. It is like an oven, only it is called an imu. A whole pig is roasted inside the imu. When the pig is cooked enough to eat, strong men remove it from the hole.

 

 

  

 

We stood close to the imu and watched as men lifted the pig out of the ground. They wore a cloth around their waist called a lava lava. The men showed us the pig before carrying it away.

Everyone walked over to a row of tables and sat down. There was a lot of food for us to eat. On the table were slices of pineapple, papaya, and mango; macaroni salad, rice, and buns; kalua pig and poi. Some people had a drink called a Mai Tai. I asked for milk. Auntie had diet cola. I thought maybe we would have Shave Ice for dessert. But they brought trays of little square cakes and something that looked like white jello. It was called haupia. It tasted like coconut.

 

The hula show was fun to watch. I was very tired though. Auntie said the warm weather probably made me tired. I fell asleep on TheBus and didn’t wake up until we were home. I can sleep late tomorrow morning while Auntie does some work.

*****