Hawaii's Special Places

The Dame Does Travel

Whenever I travel I always try to “do” at least 1 or 2 special experiences – in this case 3.

We went to Hawaii in January 2020 and managed to return just before Covid19 cancelled everything.

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

https://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm

Volcano House

https://hawaiivolcanohouse.com/

Our 1st treat was our stay at the historic Volcano House

located on the rim of the Kilauea crater inside the Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Our time was well spent here exploring the numerous walking trails along the rim of the crater, dodging steam vents on a hotel grounds tour and listening to the interpretive talks from the patient National Park rangers.

We opted not to join those hardy souls who were hiking the trails thru the crater floor but opted instead to return home to enjoy the crater view with Mai Hai sundowners and the added bonus of the whiff of sulfur in the air – and later the amazing star show in the night skies.

Shangri La Museum – Mohgul Indian & Middle Easter Art

https://www.shangrilahawaii.org/

Our 2nd treat was a visit to the very special Shangri La.

Shangri La is a museum of Moghul Indian and Middle Eastern art & antiquities which is housed in the sublime beachside home (5 acres of terraced gardens and ponds near Diamond Head) of heiress and philanthropist Doris Duke who started this amazing collection whilst on her honeymoon in the 1930’s.

Shangri La – A House In Paradise. Built in 1937 as the Honolulu home of American heiress and philanthropist Doris Duke (1912-1993), Shangri La was inspired by Duke’s extensive travels through North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia and reflects architectural traditions from India, Iran, Morocco and Syria housing one of the most splendid collections of Islamic art.

Over the years she filled the house with a world-class collection of treasures – Tznik Tiles shipped from Syria, Marble screens from India, an ancient hand-painted prayer nook from a mosque in Iran are just a few from the thousands of pieces in the collection. The museum can only be accessed by booking on a small group tour run by the Honolulu Museum of Art & bookings are essential thru the Museum’s website and sell out months in advance. This amazing collection and the house itself is not to be missed if this is your thing and I would happily go back for another tour tomorrow if I could.

Byodo-In Temple

https://byodo-in.com/

Our 3rd treat was a visit to the Byodo-In Temple at the base of the Ko’olau Range on the way up to North Shore of Oahu.

Its a replica of a 900 year old Buddhist Kyoto temple which was built in memory of the first Japanese immigrants who worked on sugar plantations and it is surrounded by the Shinji- ike reflection pond containing hundreds of koi. Stunningly beautiful and peaceful.

Mahalo Nui Loa till next time.

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