Oahu- v. 73

At Doug and Deb's house on the Big Island, we learned that Founder's Day ( the West Point annual dinner affair) was to be celebrated the day after we arrived in Oahu.  Quick adjustment of plans- we're there!  We were guests of the Adams', and Walt (a Marine Veteran) and Georgia were guests of ours.  Now we want a couple of those nifty  Army/West Point Hawaiian shirts!  We represented the class of 1980, and Bob met up with one other 1978 grad.  1979 grad Lt. Gen. Francis Wiercinski delivered a speech that acknowledged old hurts and touched my heart.  I don't remember ever meeting him before, and I will probably never see him again, but I will always be thankful for the piece of my soul that he mended.

Deb and Doug Adams, Becca, Jan, and Bob

The kids had to go back home and Bob had to go back to work.  Not Becca and I!  We stayed with my friend and classmate Donna Wright, and her husband, Joe.  Thanks Donna and Joe!  

We explored the North Shore with the help of the Metzler's.  

And... we climbed stairs and tunnels and more stairs to the top of Diamond Head!

Many, many stairs!

and tunnels!

Honolulu and us from the top of Diamond Head

The lighthouse from Diamond Head

I pushed for hiking Diamond Head.  If you go to Oahu, you have to climb the crater!! The hike ends at a WWII bunker that was supposed to be used to direct artillery fire. Thanks, Walt for hosting us at the Elk's club afterward.  Becca got some kid time in the pool, and Donna and I and Walt got some gab time on the deck.  

Farewell to Hawaii- on to the Grand Canyon!