Arriving At The Hale Koa

...Continued from previous post:
      For all the times we've visited Honolulu, there’s still always something wonderful about arriving at the Hale Koa:​                       
​       Stepping into the breezy veranda lobby, 

...that looks down over a courtyard on one side,

...and out over Honolulu on the other side.

      The sound of the soothing Hawaiian music that wafts through the lobby,

...and feeling the aloha once again,

...none of that has yet lost its charm or wonder.

         This year marked our eighth stay at the Hale Koa, an Armed Forces Recreation Center hotel for active duty members of the military and their families, 

...​and also for those retired from military service, as is my mate, Tom, here a young Army lieutenant back in the early 1970's.

        The Hale Koa is part of Fort DeRussy, a U.S. army post located in Waikiki.

         Though once a coastal artillery defense unit along Waikiki Beach, 

...these days Fort DeRussy has a more peaceful mission as home to the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, 

...the U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii, which is open and free to the public,

...a beautiful  beachfront park with picnic tables, also open to the public,

...Fort DeRussy Beach, with its splendid view of Diamond Head, open to the public as well, 

​...and the Hale Koa.

     On the hotel grounds there is a botanical garden,

...with a pool tucked back amid the foliage,

...and an aquatics center that overlooks the beach where there is a children's water park and an infinity pool.

       There are also several well-loved trees on the post, some of which have been given names.

        There are several outdoor eateries on post, among them Happy's, a popular short-order spot, 

...the Barefoot Bar that overlooks the beach,

...and another snack bar on the edge of the beach.

     Inside there's the breakfast buffet at Koko on Kaila (Commonly known as Koko's),

...a restaurant on the courtyard called Biba's

...and the Java Cafe.

      There's a post exchange,   

...a fitness center,

...a beauty salon/barbershop,

...and a little convenience shop.

      This year at the Hale Koa we were assigned a 5th floor room,        

...with a view of mountains on one side,

...palm trees and sea on the other,

...and downtown Waikiki between the mountains and the sea.

      After we settled into our room we decided to head down to Happy's for some dinner.

    Happy's being known for its enormous portions, we easily split a Kalbi Steak dinner,

...which we ate out on the patio,

...joining our fellow diners.

      Afterwards we headed towards downtown Waikiki by way of the lobby,

...and DeRussy Park, where the sun was just starting to set.

     We walked a little ways into downtown Waikiki,

...then we walked back to the Hale Koa,

...which somehow never loses its magic.