2022 Oahu Adventure Day 2

  One of things I love to do on vacation is try all the "must eat" places. So I spent 4 months scouring Pinterest and compiling a list of unique Oahu food finds, and tried to hit at least 1 a day.  One day I hit 3!!!  We started our 2nd day with a trip to the World Famous LEONARDS. This place is at the top of every "must eat" list, and has been a Honolulu institution since 1952. 

Leonards is famous for the Malasadas, a deep fried Portuguese Sweet Bread type donut.   There is always a line, and always a wait...but apparently always worth it.

When we hit Leonards the parking was non existent, and there was a line of people out the door and down to the street. However the donut gods smiled upon us as we rounded again to find parking on the street, we saw a newly vacant space right in their little parking lot!! it was meant to be. The wait was about 20 minutes, but that first bite into the bouncy, fluffy, steaming hot fried dough , and the sweet and slightly crunchy sugar was heaven. Get 'em while they're hot, it's the best way to eat them!  We got a dozen mixed: Original and filled.  Our filled included macadamia, guava, chocolate, coconut and custard.   The original and the custard were my favorites. Make sure you get plenty of napkins, and I dont recommend eating them in the car. That sugar gets EVERYWHERE. It's like beach sand.

And they come in the recognizable pretty pink box!

Of course being a teenager, Finn was quite irritated when he saw the long line and lack of parking and was REALLY mad when we said we were waiting 20 minutes.  After a few complaints we had to say " Either go wait in the car and you dont get any, orbe quiet and just enjoy.  These are on every Foodies Must do list, we are doing them with or without you kid!"  (SIGH and eye roll:  but It's just a donut! )

let me just say that AFTER he ate "just a donut" he knew he had been unreasonable and we didnt hear another waiting in line complaint the rest of the trip.

After Leonards we head over to Pearl Harbor and its surrounding museums. Due to poor planning on my part, I forgot to secure tickets to the Arizona Memorial a day ahead of time.  The tickets get released at 3pm the previous day, and if you arent on the website and ready to go at 3, they are gone very quickly  or all you are left with is end of day times.   HERE is the site to get your tickets. Make sure you have an account and are logged in ready to go at 3pm(Hawaii time)  ON THE DOT the day before you wish to visit.

HOWEVER if you arent lucky enough to snag the tickets to the Arizona, there is still PLENTY to do!!

We decided to do the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum and the USS Bowfin Submarine Tour.  

The PHAM is located over the bridge and  you have to take their shuttle, which runs about every 15-20 minutes. You cannot go across the bridge in your own car, as it is government base and property.  The Aviation Museum tickets are 26$ per person for adults.  The museum is housed in a WWII era hangar (HANGAR 37)  and tells the story of America's involvement in the war, starting with the Attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.  They have an original Japanese plane that was shot down, a portion of one of the battleships that sunk, and even have artifacts from the Ni'ihau Zero incident.  

The piercing holes in the hull of the Arizona from the attack

Ni'ihau Zero Incident

Authentic Nakajima that was shot down and recovered

You then head outside and over towards Hangar 79.

"Hangar 79 picks up where the story in Hangar 37 leaves off, documenting the rise of American air superiority that was established in World War II and continued to climb in subsequent decades in the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Gulf Wars. " (PHAM website)

 Unfortunately Hangar 79 was closed and all those planes were outside in in the lots behind the museum. They were really cool to look at but it was HOT and there was NO SHADE!!! SO bring your sunscreen!!

After we toured the Museums, we got back on the shuttle bus and head back over the bridge to Pearl Harbor Museum and did a Tour of the USS Bowfin. This sub and museum is $22 per adult.

  This is the best preserved and most visited WWII submarine. She is a legend in her own right for the sheer amount of tonnage(enemy ships/cargo) that she sunk! We were able to climb aboard and even go down and tour the vessel itself. I have a new appreciation for those people who can do that!! How they could even function in such cramped quarters!! 

Clearly Submarine servicemen were not 6'3, he could barely fit behind that viewfinder!!

From the top of the bowfin you can look across the harbor and see the USS Arizona Memorial. It is such a somber place. I cant even imagine the horror  on that fateful morning, or the terror they must have felt during the attack.

You can see the memorial right underneath the tip of the flag

This was a really cool place to visit, but get there early, because they get crowded!

That night we went to a local restaurant called O'ahu grill and had  a nice dinner. It was pretty good!!

A great 2nd day and we went to bed full, tired and maybe just a little sunburnt....

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