We're looking for the trash fence...

We're trying to do a better job taking in the sites around Oahu. Last weekend we went to the Pacific Aviation Museum and this weekend we went to Shangr-La, Doris Duke's home and now Islamic Art Museum.

We have done a lot of site seeing and tours in our journeys and we are now 100% convinced if there is a guided tour, pay the extra and do that. We've have never once had a bad experience. The Pacific Aviation Museum has such a docent lead tour and it was great. I think it was \$10 extra, but worth ever penny. We also got a Kama'aina discount by showing our Rainbow ID Card (HI Driver's license). We didn't quite work the deal right though as we could have got one ticket for Kama'aina AND buy one get one free. Gotta figure that one out when we go back for the other exhibits at Pearl Harbor.

Shangri La was once Doris Duke's private residence, but it was also designed to be what it is now a Museum to Islamic Art. The building and the grounds are absolutely beautiful. You're  not allowed to take photos inside, but this panorama of the view to the ocean gives you a taste. This is a must see if you make it to Honolulu.

We've been in Hawai'i for about three weeks now and we're settling in quite nicely. Originally we landed in Waikiki to a place we had setup to be in for a month as a launching pad to check out neighborhoods and find an apartment. After about 10 days though we found a great place in the Kaka'Ako neighborhood. We're directly across from Ala Moana Park which is both a great park, beach and surfing area! Our place looks West and South offering us great views of the Pacific Ocean during the day (the makai side) and of the city and mountains at night (the mauka side).  There's a ton of shops, restaurants, and geek spaces in the neighborhood most of which we've yet to explore. But we did manage to find Real A Gastropub, @realgastropub1. This place has awesome beer on tap, hundreds of bottles I've not even started to look at a tapas style menu with amazing items like duck confit corndogs and candied bacon! Yep, things are working out here just fine.