Aloha Loyd Clan

18-25 December 2025

We left New Zealand at 10 pm on 18 December and arrived in Honolulu at 7:30 am the same day. Robert has given up on trying to understand the existential implications of this time travel.

Destination Waikiki. Months ago Bonnie’s nephew Brett, who lives in D.C., suggested a holiday gathering for the Loyds. After a bit of thinking, we agreed on Waikiki as the destination. Twelve members of Team Loyd arrived, including Boden, aged five, and his cousin Danilee, aged nine. We missed Brian and Kate, who stayed home in Wisconsin with Piper June Loyd, born December 1.

Nieces Kitty and Marlo swung into action early and signed us up for events like snorkeling and a luau, and Kitty’s Excel table documented flight arrival times, hotels, and events. With all this organization, things flowed sooo smoothly. It’s hard to believe a family group functions this well. Bonnie thinks her three nephews all married exceptional women.

After New Zealand, Waikiki startled us. Like Times Square with palm trees. So many people. So many hotels. So many shops. So much heat. So much traffic. Sidewalks teeming with people at all hours. Most dressed in Hawaiian prints. All here to have a good time. Many families with young children. Many Japanese. We enjoyed it all.

Lodging

Bonnie had pinpointed a hotel in Waikiki a short distance from where Richard and Bob were staying. Japanese owned. Highly recommended. Robert headed to their hotel every morning for cappuccino and a croissant/muffin with Bob while Richard, like Bonnie, was sleeping. Like other hotels in this congested area, access between the two hotels is down an alley, through a loading dock, and past the entrance of another hotel. A four-minute walk.

**View from balcony of Richard and Bob’s** room

First of Wanderings and Cocktails

Hop-on Hop-Off Tour of Honolulu

Dinner

To Bonnie’s relief, Richard researched and made dinner reservations for us every night. Not easy during high season when many places were fully booked.

Mary and Raul

Mary MacDonald and Bonnie were close friends while Mary was finishing her Ph.D. in geography in Berkeley, but they hadn’t seen one another in years since Mary took a faculty position at the University of Hawaii. This was a delightful reunion with Mary and her husband Raul.

What? More Cocktails?!?!

Festive Dinner with a Festive Bartender

Hanauma Bay

We took a bus to Hanauma Bay to snorkel and see fish. Marlo made reservations no sooner than 72 hours in advance. You only need a snorkel. The water is shallow. No need for fins. Do bring your own snacks and water. Phenomenal surroundings and experience. Robert equated it to swimming in your dentist’s aquarium, only up closer.