Hawaii - the sun, shops and sights

Thursday morning, and we had a longer lie in than usual, no bags out and no bus to catch, however we did have to get ourselves packed up for a flight.
Popped over to the World Trade Centre for a breakfast at the little Chinese snack bar, which was fine and we bumped into some of our Oz friends. The wee lady was really nice and pleased to see us again.
Bags packed and downstairs for the super shuttle taxi to the airport. Driver arrived on time and did a couple of other pickups en route, obviously to make it more cost effective for him, but took us longer to get there.
Check in at the United Airlines airport desk was traumatic to say the least, everything automated with supervisors to oversee the process, but for First timers it was difficult and not easy when the staff were both impatient and arrogant !!!
We then learned that there was to be a two hour delay, no reason given and with so few staff around it was impossible to find out any reason, etc. Due to the delay we then ended up having a drink and sandwich in the bar which again was the Classic example of airport daylight robbery. Food was cold from a fridge and grossly overpriced. This was not helped by the fact that the waitress had the cheek to point out that there was no 10% service charge added !!! She was not amused when we explained that she had done nothing to deserve the so called Gratuity.
Last night we had a bill handed to us with suggested gratuities calculated at 10% ; 15% and 20% !!! which I am afraid to say struck me as downright outrageous as some of the service we have had has been poor, but here it is a recognised practice and must be treated as part of their wage.
The plane arrived and we were boarded quite quickly and soon on our way. Next surprise was to discover that only soft drinks were complimentary on this flight, sandwiches and drinks were on offer but again at an inflated price, not helped by the fact that it was a cashless flight so we had to use the beloved “Plastic” which means a hidden add on by the bank for the transaction.
Really uncomfortable flight not helped by the stupid, ignorant women in the row behind us who kept kicking at the back of our seats, and was so bad that the man next to her had to move then allowing her to pass out in both seats – or was she just trying it on.
I would suggest, but I know that the majority think the same, but when you cannot take drinks into the airport that the airlines and airport authorities have us over a barrel, left right and centre.
This is the disposable throwaway society of fast foods, paper cups, plates, plastic cutlery etc and much of the food is the same – so a health warning should be issued to tourists. I cannot believe that the majority of the population here live on rubbish all the time, not when we have been to some beautiful supermarkets and fruit farms – looks like tourists on trips are easy pickings unless they have big fat wallets.
I have commented previously about the phony town of Solvang with its false facades but had forgotten about the artificial lawns in Los Angelas.
Our initial flight over here was pretty good, however this current flight to Hawaii has us back in the cattle class once again – Easy Jet and Ryan Air, all is forgiven.
Arrived in Hawaii and found that it was raining !!, yes, the first rain in two weeks and according tour driver, most unusual for this time of year.

The trip, in the dark, to the hotel was interesting with us seeing some of the sights we had previously seen in the old TV series Hawaii Five O, and then to the hotel, the Sheraton, and a bit of a dated Sheraton at that. For once It was not me that commented, but another guest who asked me if she was invisible as the Reception clerks were just ignoring us – yes Manyana seems to be the way here , why do today what you can put off till tomorrow..
Found ourselves on the nineteenth floor, good views from the balcony and the music from an assortment of performers on the surrounding squares, hotels drifting up to entertain / annoy us.
However a new day dawned and we ventured out into a Waikiki world of skimpy bums ; surfboards, blue seas, and the biggest range of top class high street shops I have ever seen – this is not the place I had expected but a buzzing multi cultural island with a population of nearly one million – depending on the sea as the major means of supplying the Islands.
Anyway – with the sun shining, we have no complaints.
Found the US army museum in the town by accident, a brilliant free visit – which is rare here as everything cost a fortune – the tourist is the major source of income and every cent is squeezed from them at every opportunity.