34 — Sunday, April 14, 1991- North Shore News Weathering the storm in Waikiki CANADA CUSTOMS! This you'll fisten to: PEOPLE. We (daughter, Lori, and 1) returned from Hawaii last week. We were almost the last people to clear Customs because we declared allour purchases and had to wait and wait some more to pay the duty. Isn’t it about time you gave the honest people a break? Worse, we had to go through Gate Two instead of Gate Three and rubbed shoulders with those suspected of smuggling — people getting their bags reamed out or their bodies disconnected from their clothes. It was humiliating. Ahead of me was a woman getting her suit- case untoaded; behind me was a man escorted to the body search area, Did we need this? Halfway through the long wait I got the fecting that we should have lied! All the Canadian gov- ernment asked from my daughter was $38 (more than half of that was the Gouge-And-Screw tax), and we were prepared to pay any- thing owing. Meanwhile, our family was waiting outside, not sure if we were even there. Did we miss the flight? It was a@ fitting climax to one of the vacations | wish I'd skipped. We were booked into a lovely condo or Maui for the entire stay. Once we had done everything bad weather would permit on Maui, we evacuated to Waikiki, reason- ing that the weather wouldn’t im- prove but a change of scenery might do us good. It didn’t. We left a spacious condo on Maui for a hotel in) Honolulu. Short notice got us a twin room ai the Waikiki Grand — 134 Kapahulu (808-923-1511) at $49 a night. It isn’t the Ritz, but it is well is a message that | Barbara WMicCreadie TRAV: WISE located at the far end of Waikiki, about one minute from the beach. The rooms are OK, they have tiny Kitchenettes and the place is clean. The staff is somewhat surly (some are very nice, but that day clerk isn’t a joy). Waikiki is noisy. 1 don't care where you stay, be prepared for garbage trucks that grind under vour window, sirens that alert you to the reason for the crash down the street and idiots screeching and hollering at any time of day. One of our first visits (once the 21”? of rain in 24 hours subsided) was the Honolulu Zoo, directly across the street from our hotel. | don't like zoos —— caged animals make me sad. However, as zoos go, this one is interesting enough to pay the $4 on a cloudy after- noon. Highlights? Two! In one of the bird cages Lori spotted a FREE animal — and his whole family. A mouse hole, under the aloe plant at the front of a cage con- hope OPEN A STATION FOR HONEST tained free mice. The lithe ones Were scavenging bird seed, runn- ing up the aloe and generally keeping house. Of all the birds, the Scarlet Ibis was so lovely | sionped for a tong time. About the size of a chicken, they are flame red znd curious. Tatk a bit and they listen. Wonderful. The lone elephant, Mari, is a gentle dear — she's 16 (a teenager). Hopes for a trade of two giraffes for another elephant have just been squashed. However, her keepers make a housepet out of her and visitors can feed her with fruic provided when she is exercised in the park. Lori rubbed her trunk and said it feels like burlap. Food? 1 hate fast-food joints and we hit our share. When it’s pouring, you run for cover — we hit Junk-In-A-Box, Denny's and various other awful spots. We also had lunch twice at the Hyatt Regency. 1 can't remember a better seafood salad, only $12.95. Go, if you like gloriously fresh seafood — prawns, shrimp, New Zealand mussels, scallops and fresh tuna in a dressing that defies description. But wait for the Budget Beaters column! The chef gave me the recipe for the dressing and as soon as 1 test it, it’s yours. Prepare yourself for a $40 bill for two for lunch, but since we did it twice it has to be worth it. We chose the next meal because it was next door to our hotel — the rain was so bad that 1 got soaked to the scalp in half a minute. The Queen Kapiolani Hotel serves a buffet every night, The prices range from $13.95 — the prime rib night — to $18.95 on the seafood nighi. See March page 35 rook. OR 2383 MARINE DRIVE, WEST VANCOUVER, B.C. 926-7245 (SAIL) SCANDINAVIAN RENAISSANCE 7 day cruise, 2 nights in Stockholm, 2 mights in ad c u Hes a Copenhagen. eratut anc ameter, Cruise Holidays gut. cocktail party, share EXCURSIONS, cancellation insurance, at Trent New York, Low Aur add ans. Ship: Renaissance n Date: july 27, 1991 > FROM: $4595.00 US! ALASKA DENALI DISCOVERY CRUISE EAT CRUISE 7 day cruise, 3 aights Denalt Tour Rratuities and teansfers, Cruise ‘ Holidays gyit, cancellation insurance, cocktail) Darty. Ship: Regent Star Date. 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