On to the Team Hotel
December 21–26, 2017
On Thursday I moved to the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Hotel, the team hotel, as part of my tournament package, as did Sherman and Nancy. Lukily again, my room was ready, so I could settle in a bit, have some lunch, and go out sightseeing. I ate at one of the restaurants at the hotel, and I definitely had a table with a view, right by the beach and facing Diamondhead. Having had a luau and eaten poi (which is good for those who find grits too exciting) and drunk a mai tai, there was only one Hawaiian food mainstay I had to order: Spam. Hawaii leads the nation in per capita consumption of Spam, and I don't think it is even close. So I ordered Spam and eggs for lunch. When it came, it was more like Spam, Spam, Spam, and eggs.
As I left the restaurant I saw Cathy McKilliop and some of her family at a table. She introduced me to the ones I hadn't met.
I took a few pictures at the beach before catching TheBus downtown.
TheBus is a very convenient way to get around. For seniors with Medicare cards, a day pass is $2, paid when you board your first bus of the day.
I got off the bus at the state capitol and wandered around the palace area.
On the other side of the street from the capitol is historic Washington Place. I won't try to summarize its important place in Hawaiian history.
I'll just suggest that you read the Wikipedia article.
Iolani Palace is the only official royal palace in the United States.
The statue of King Kamehameha I in front of the supreme court building
The Kawaiahao Church was the first Christian church built on Hawaii. Sherman and Nancy attended a service there on the 17th.
The Mission Houses are just beyond the church.
I spent what was left of the afternoon and early evening near the city hall. I've done a separate page for the City Lights hoiday exhibits.
When I got back to the hotel just before 8:30, I saw the basketball team in the lobby.
I waved, and Coach Bob McKillop came running over and said he hadn't heard I was coming to the tournament. Living in a small college town is neat because so many people know each other. I enjoyed spending some time with Peyton Aldridge's family during the tournament, mainly waiting on the shuttle bus to the arena and back. I had had breakfast with them one morning during the tournament in Pittsburgh, and they had remembered me from then.