CHECKING OUT THE FISH -- SWIMMING AND COOKED

This morning John got up early and went and had breakfast while I sawed some more logs.  Then we went down to the aquarium because there is a ocean preserve right behind it and we watched the fish, which are many of the same fish that are at Hanauma Bay.  As we were walking along the path we found a fish that had been thrown all the way up over the railing, and it was still twitching.  He was only about 3 inches long and 2 inches wide. Hilarity ensued as we kept trying to pick him up and throw him back in the water and he kept wiggling away.   We finally succeeded by using my glasses case as a spatula.  There was some kind of netting lying on the ground, and we flipped him into that and flipped that over on the water.  And he swam away.  

Our next stop was a cafe at the beach where we had a Kalua barbecued pork sandwich with lots of french fries.  I wasn't hungry, and it was still delicious.  And you know you're in Hawaii when you get an orchid in your french fries.  

We had a leisurely stroll back up the beach, sat looking out at the ocean and texted pictures to friends so they could enjoy -- I wonder why working people get so testy?  

By the way, this is probably one of those things that people back east particularly can't understand.  This beach is in the middle of a gigantic area with probably 20,000 hotel rooms, and it's practically a private beach.  And there are lots of beaches like this on this most densely populated of the Hawaiian islands.  

Back to our hotel to change into swimsuits. John was going to check out his new snorkel and goggles.  After two cataract surgeries, the prescription diving glasses are useless.  But by the time we left for the beach, he decided not to bother.  There were "high" waves at Waikiki today, but that's a relative term because Waikiki is relatively flat in the winter, and not much bigger in the summer.  You can do some pretty lame body surfing, but probably enough for senior citizens.  

We have a lot of food on our list to try.  Don't know exactly when we'll get to it.  Mochi ice cream in dozens of flavors, frozen yogurt at a place with 20 flavors, hula pie at Duke's --and that's just the sweet stuff I can think of right now.  

We had fish tacos (at a much better place than night before last) and my favorite island frosty treat, Dole Whip, tonight.  

Tomorrow we plan to go snorkeling near the aquarium and see what it's like.  Perhaps in the afternoon I'll rent a paddle board.  I think in the evening we're going to go to the Jazz vespers at the Episcopal church.  My idea of religion -- give me a concert and I'll tolerate the praying.