Merely nine
cycles ago, we reaffirmed our promises at the Paradise Cove in Kapolei, Hawaii on the
isle of Oahu. Recently we revisited the isle for a fresh nuptial occasion, this
occasion at the lush Kualoa Ranch in Kaneohe, Hawaii. It’s a 4,000-acre natural
landmark of shores, peaks, and hollows with historical sites and structures. Most
recognizable as the cinema filming spot for such cinematic masterpieces as Jurassic Park and 79
further films and shows, the Ranch provides numerous excursions and ziplines for exploration.
My spouse’s
oldest grandchild and his spouse selected the Paliku Gardens on the ranch as their nuptial setting.
It features stunning scenes of Kaneohe Bay and Mokoli’I Isle, additionally recognized as
the Chinaman’s Hat, as well as undulating pastures and verdant gardens. The brief and
pleasant service was conducted at an Upper Garden with weathered steps leading to a lower
open structure where we were presented with a farm-to-table event of Kualoa-cultivated
beef, seafood, vegetables, and produce.
Both the
groom’s and the bride’s kin were adequately represented along with the couple’s
comrades, all journeying from the isles and mainland USA. Everyone had arrangements in
separate inns and resorts around Waikiki, 45 minutes away. We habitually congregated
with my spouse’s three offspring and their partners for a taste of
Hawaii the day prior and the two days following the wedding.
For breakfast, we
revisited Liliha Bakery at the International Marketplace, the eatery and bakehouse
that popularized the isle’s chocolate puffs. Its exclusive buttered bread served
alongside all meals was remarkable. An additional terrific revelation was Basalt, both a
marketplace and a diner. I was exceptionally surprised that they
offered an enhanced version of Tapsilog, the favored Filipino breakfast, along
with other classics.
During the
evenings, we encountered three finds. The night preceding the nuptial celebration, we congregated at Moani
Waikiki, a Bistro and Pub, one of the 13 dining venues of the Garden Level on
the third story of the International Marketplace. The night following the nuptials
we revisited Doraku Sushi Waikiki at the Royal Hawaiian Center, a preferred
diner of the new couple. We savored the grilled butterfish and tempura
brownies among the extensive variety of sushis. The night prior to our departures, we opted for Italian cuisine and gathered at the Taormina Sicilian Cuisine. They
served a truffle carbonara, the grilled monchang, a regional fowl, and the house-prepared
tiramisu.
My spouse
and I were the initial arrivals in Honolulu, closely shadowed by his youngest
and the mother of the groom. Whilst waiting for the rest, we utilized the time to
visit the Valley of the Temples, a beautiful vast memorial park nestled at
the base of the Koolau Mountains ten minutes from the town of Kaneohe and 12
minutes prior to the Kualoa Ranch. There
are sections for Buddhist, Shinto, Protestant, and Catholic burial sites.
The
centrepiece of the park is the Byodo-In Temple, a replica of the historic
Byodoin Temple of Uji in Japan’s Kyoto prefecture constructed in 1052. This 11,000 sqft
landmark was erected in 1963 and was devoted in 1968 to commemorate the 100th
anniversary of the arrival of the first Japanese in Hawaii.
Contained within Byodo-In
is an 18-ft. Lotus Buddha in gold and lacquer. On the premises is a three-ton
brass peace gong. A vast two-acre pond teeming with beautiful koi
fish encircles the temple, as well as luxuriant Japanese gardens with a Meditation
Pavilion at the center. All that magnificence can be seen against the background of the
towering cliffs of the mountains.
In the souvenir
shop, you can purchase “wish” cards for a dollar and fifty cents. Tradition indicates you should
retain it if content with its content. Alternatively, request the gods to enrich it
by fastening it to any of the tree limbs nearby. Secretly, I wished for another trip to Hawaii soon. Every instance I do, I discover another variation of beauty,
another facet of serenity, and another tier of contentment.