Not a whirlwind tour of all the islands of Hawaii, and not even a visit to the Big Island which gives its name to the 1,500 mile long chain of volcanoes that make up the 50th state of the union, but an enjoyable week on Oahu.

Much about Hawaii surprised me - the predominance of Japanese tourists (Satoko says Hawaii is technically Japan's territory, and thank you to the US for taking care of all the administrative details... LOL); the genuine friendliness of the natives and residents (even we tourists were called 'cousins' and greeted with 'aloha' and 'mahalo' coming and going everywhere); the cleanliness of the island; and most of all, the affordable costs of traveling around and seeing the sights of Oahu (of course, once you've shelled out nearly a grand to fly here and obtain lodging) on TheBus (the name of the public transit system), Roberts Hawaii tour buses, moped rentals and the various shuttle buses services available for a song ($5 each to go from Waikiki to the airport!!!) if you look in the various pamphlets and guide books generously provided in the ubiquitous kiosks splattered around Waikiki.

Yes, Waikiki is a tourist trap, with ABC Stores (Aloha Brings Customers...to all 38 stores!) on every corner, but beach access is free and easy, as it is throughout the entire island, and it's easy to get out of Waikiki, with Diamond Head and Hanauma Bay within half an hour ride.

Our main reason for visiting Oahu was not a Waikiki brain meltdown, but to attend the annual Water Consolatory (Mizusegaki) and Lantern Floating (Toro Nagashi) ceremony at Ala Moana beach on Memorial Day, an amazing, moving ceremony undertaken to ease the suffering of those who have passed away on or near the sea, in war and peace, without distinction of friend or foe.