We boarded the Holland American line ship Westerdam in Seattle, Washington, USA on October 2. We left the port of Seattle and headed for the Pacific Ocean. The first five days we were at sea. It was beautiful and calming. There was a stunning sunset the first night.
Next days were beautiful and calming.
Then, we arrived in Hawai'i. Our first stop was Honolulu. First, we visited the Iolani Palace. Hawaiian kings and queens had homes in various locations, and Iolani Palace was not a main living space for them. Rather, it was a place for diplomacy and state meetings. The museum showcases the history of the royal families and how the last king modernized Hawaii while also working to keep traditional culture alive.
After that, we walked in the Ala Moana Park and walked from there to Waikīkī. We had a special sushi dinner in the Waikīkī; area, (featured in the Cruise food post part 1), and then headed back to Aloha Tower to board the ship.
The next day, we sailed along Nā Pali coast of Kaua'i, which is part of a State Wilderness Park and has spiritual significance to indigenous culture there. It was remarkable, especially the scale of the cliffs. If you look carefully, you can see some boats at the base of the cliffs in some photos, giving you an idea of the scale. We saw one dolphin and many birds.
