Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma

Traveling to Oahu is a breeze!

When I say that traveling to Oahu is a breeze I am not just speaking of the trade winds that cool the island. There are places, such as London, that would present a definite challenge while traveling with a partially mobile person, but on Hawaii’s Island of Oahu it proved to be a seamless adventure. Traveling in the off-season is also a plus because of the lack of crowds. It is always easier to push a wheelchair or transport chair when there are fewer feet to negotiate around.

Hawaiian Airlines flies nonstop to Oahu from San Diego. The airline agents were very accommodating and allowed me to push my father’s transport chair up to the aircraft. They then whisked the chair away and it reappeared after we landed on Oahu. My mother, who often uses a cane when walking, was able to stow hers in the overheard bin.

A rental car for the duration of the trip is a must and we chose a Chrysler Sebring sedan which could comfortably accommodate three adults. The trunk was large enough for the folded transport chair.

Our home for the week was the Outrigger Reef on the Beach, which proved to be a perfect place not only due to the prime beach location, but also because our room had an ocean view. It is worth the extra expense to book an ocean-view room because an elderly or wheelchair-bound individual might not have the energy to attack the tourist attractions with the same vengeance as the rest of your party but will still be able enjoy the view of the ocean from the room or the lanai. Watching the waves and inhaling the fresh ocean breezes makes staying in the room a joy.

The Outrigger offered a marvelous Hawaiian buffet breakfast each morning at their open-air restaurant, Shorebird. Fresh pineapple, mango and other tropical fruits were always a welcome morning treat. I also tried the poi, which I have eaten before and have come to the conclusion that it is definitely an acquired taste. A waiter suggested slathering it on salmon, but I knew that this suggestion was just a clever ploy to get me to eat it in a non-traditional manner. To savor poi like a Hawaiian, according to a friend who is a native, is to scoop it up with two fingers and just eat it plain. The poi at the restaurant wasn’t thick enough to eat with two fingers, so I opted for a spoon.

When we explored the island we found most attractions and sites were wheelchair-friendly. Even the lush Nuuanu Pali State Park had some wide paths and even terrain. This park is located on the Pali Highway and affords a sweeping view of the rainforest and coast.

Also located on the Pali Highway is Queen Emma’s Summer Palace, a fascinating and lovely Victorian home maintained by the Daughters of Hawai’i, a group open to those whose ancestors lived on the islands prior to 1880.

A nice day destination for an overview of the various cultures of the South Seas is the Polynesian Cultural Center. We chose to take a motor coach from our hotel and were seated so high that it made for marvelous coastline viewing.

At the Cultural Center natives from throughout the South Seas demonstrated arts, crafts and customs of their various islands.

The Pageant of the Long Canoes is a vivid presentation of the various dances and dress of the South Pacific island cultures.

Flat pathways throughout the park allowed for easy wheelchair access.

The Cultural Center Luau is a fascinating dinner show; however, I would recommend Germaine’s Luau for more authenticity and action. The Cultural Center Luau’s menu included the Kalua Pig, which was roasted in the pit as per tradition, however it wasn’t presented with flair like it was at Germaine’s, but instead just appeared as a buffet dish. The luau buffet included a variety of island delights topped off with a delicious purple Hawaiian sweetbread.

A drive around Oahu is an interesting way to see what lies beyond Waikiki. We traveled the two-lane roads and avoided the freeways. The narrow roads and winding highways sometimes led to surprisingly quaint areas of the island.

I packed lunch, dinner and plenty of drinks for the day, and we found some interesting places to picnic and explore.

One such site was a practically deserted and virtually untamed beach overlooking the mountain island known as Chinaman’s Hat. Only one other family was enjoying the area, which gave us a true sense of paradise. The tepid water was inviting and small white shells gave off a pleasant tinkling sound when tossed by the waves.

On the windward side of the island lies the Byodo-In Temple located in the Valley of the Temples. The vibrant red and yellow structure is framed by lacy mimosa trees. This awe-inspiring replica of a 950-year-old Japanese temple is set against waves of lush mountains which were partially enveloped by an ethereal mist.

A three-ton brass Peace Bell is traditionally rung before entering the temple. It was surprising that such a large bell could produce such a lilting tone. This bell is an enigma because, when it is rung, the tone is delicate but the sound carries a great distance.

Hanauma Bay is a wonderful place for snorkeling with its colorful population of fish as well as a bottom-dwelling community of coral, sea urchins and crabs, among other sea creatures.

Since my father is not interested in snorkeling, he sat on the beach in a special plastic wheelchair which was fitted with bulbous rubber tires. The chair was complimentary to those who arrived in their own wheelchairs.

In the off-season Oahu can be as busy or peaceful as you would like. A car to take you to the outer edges of the island is a must, and there you will still be able to meet the land as it appeared over a hundred years ago – with raucous birds chattering in the rainforests and shells clattering on an empty shore.

Author’s note: For a closer-to-home wheelchair-friendly destination, try Catalina Island. Catch the Catalina Express at Dana Point Harbor for a ride across the sea. Catalina’s Avalon area is flat and much of it is paved.

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