The immigration procedures went very smoothly since at long last everyone heeded the instructions not to proceed to immigration until their tour or deck was called. So having been admitted to the USA I was soon on my way to join my maiden flight in a helicopter over the Island of Oahu. It proved to be exciting and probably the best way to view the island although not as exciting as my second flight over Hilo.
Luckily there were only four of us for the flight and I was assigned seat 3 in the rear of the aircraft but next to the window so I had a pretty good view. Unfortunately the bowed window glass distorts and causes reflections in the photos but it will give you an impression of what I saw.
Once harnessed and head phoned, so we could hear the commentary from the pilot, we were off the ground and curving steeply into the air – a real adrenaline rush for me – but very pleasurable.
We first flew northwards over the harbour with the Balmoral berthed below and Waikiki Beach and the Diamond Head crater in the background.
Sorry but without a guide book my limited resources do not furnish any details of this volcanic creation, Hawaiian history, discovery by the Chinese, Russian and Europeans or the origin of the famous name and modern day military use of the “Gibraltar of the Pacific.”
Perhaps of more interest is the picture of a female Humpback Whale and her calf just off Diamond Head. Not easy getting a clear shot from 2,500 feet against the intense colour of the sea although with the naked eye I could see this mother and calf rising to the surface.
These warm waters are the perfect breeding and birthing grounds for the Humpbacks and they wallow in these waters until their young are strong enough to make the epic 3,000-mile journey up the west coast of America to their feeding grounds in Alaska. Whilst here the whales do not feed but lie in the shallow water nursing their babies. “Believe it or not” but every female whale has a midwife to assist with the birth, both females ensuring the calf is brought to the surface as quickly as possible to take its first breath.
If you want to see some spectacular pictures of Humpbacks then go to my Alaska Blog: http://terry-grandalaska.blogspot.co.uk/
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