In my drives around the island, I saw a highway sign that the exit to Makapuu Point Lighthouse would be closed on the day I was planning to visit. (https://www.hawaiiactivities.com/travelguide/makapuu-point-lighthouse-trail)

I got there on the rescheduled day around 8:30 and it was packed! Cars parked everywhere; I’m pretty sure I got the last spot, which was right at the entry gate. The hike is listed as easy….um, I don’t think so. Yes, it’s paved, so it doesn’t have the ankle-twisting uneven rocks like Diamond Head. But seriously, who rates these hikes? It’s 2 miles round trip but the incline is at times steep and constant. Or maybe, as I’ve previously mentioned, I’m just old!

The views were terrific; you could pretty much look straight down to the sea. And the tidal pools were lovely.

I made it to the top, although there were a few times I thought “Nah, I’m close enough to the top.” But I pushed through my discomfort and got all the way to the top.

If you’re planning to go, heed the warnings about no shade and the high winds. And just keep in mind it’s not as easy as described (still, I’m glad I went!).

From the lighthouse trail, which is on the southeast shore of Oahu, I went north and inland to the Byodo-in Temple (https://byodo-in.com/) in Kaneohe. It’s set at the feet of the Ko’olau Mountains, which are lush and sharp at the tops. And today they were topped by mist.

The temple itself is striking, set into the landscape so perfectly.

There’s a large sonorous sacred bell on the grounds . Visitors can, and did, ring it pretty consistently throughout my visit. It’s a deep sound and very relaxing. it’s about 5 feet high and weighs 3 tons.

Before you go inside, you remove your shoes. Inside is the Amida Buddha.

The sculpture is 9 feet tall and covered in lacquer and good leaf. I lit incense to send blessings for the upcoming marriage of my niece, a Buddhist priest.

My final stop of the day was the Ho’omalahia Park Botanical Gardens. This was just to the south of the temple. There are hiking trails but I didn’t want to do a second hike that day. I did the driving tour, which I found a bit disappointing. I wish the Gardens had a brochure to point out trees or plants of interest. After I got home, I saw that there was an online, detailed map but I don’t have a printer. The gist of the garden is to represent major geographical tropical regions around the world.