February 27 - In Central Oahu, A Walk in the Garden, We Go on the Dole

     We had an easy day.  It was after noon before we left the apartment and drove the short distance to the Wahiawa Botanical Gardens.

     Our next stop was the Dole Plantation store, which lies in the northcentral part of the island.  There are beautiful view aplenty as you drive out of sight of the ocean.

 There are also large fields of pineapples.

      Naturally, the Dole Corporation had the idea to capitalize on the tourism potential and open their "Plantation" to visitors.  They must have sweetheart deals with every tour operator on the island, because their parking lot was full of cars and tour vans and buses.  They've got a big operation, and nearly every thing on offer - a train ride, a hedge maze, the garden tour - costs money, which the tourists seem eager to spend.  Of course, there is also a wide array of pineapple products for sale, and a number of independent sellers operating kiosks selling all kinds of junk.

I can barely contain my enthusiasm.