Lady Liberty, 9/11, and A Whole New World!

I have to admit, I really love this trip. But this is one of those days I really really really enjoy. New York is such an amazing city to be in and see such iconic things. On top of that, we get to have our guide, Robert, who has been with Kualapu'u School now for a fourth time. In fact, he was just on Molokai in January visiting and bought candy from kids fundraising. Always excited to see him and New York.

We started our morning off in The Big Apple. On the way to pick us up and take us to the southern tip of Manhattan, our bus got a flat tire so we improvised. We took our subway trip! Rush hour in the morning through some of the busiest subway lines in the world is a great way to wake up! The kids were astonished that there were other children on the subway that use it as their method of transportation to go to school. They couldn't believe there wasn't a parent with them. Everybody did a fine job and had a great time. 

We then got on the first boat out to Liberty Island to see the Statue of Liberty. We've been lucking out (knocks on wood) with lines this trip. There was hardly anybody on the boat. That led to another first for Kualapu'u East Coast Trip. We got to go up to the pedestal of the statue. 

Quite often people will say, "she's smaller than I thought she'd be." I'm guilty of it. It does look sometime smaller than what you've seen in movies and on tv. But when you are at the pedestal, that thought process is erased. She's big. And it's awesome to see it from the pedestal. The 215 steps gave a nice workout. That will get us ready for Bunker Hill in a few days up in Boston when that is a 294 spiraling staircase.....

Views from the boat

 Notice how you can't see the top of the Freedom Tower yet.

Statue of Liberty

Facts of Statue of Liberty

 Ha ha, Hiapo

 They were posing for quite awhile and were quite agitated at the adults for forcing them to hold. Looks like adults won.....

 After the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island it was. Ellis Island was the entry point for about 12 million people between 1892 - 1954. It was interesting to see what people brought with them, left behind, and the process to see if immigrants would be allowed.

 The last Ellis Island tour our guide Robert can do till they change rules. Starting in two days, guides cannot explain anything on Ellis Island, only employees can. We luck out yet again!

 Annie Moore, the first person to go through Ellis Island.

The Great Hall

 Heading back

 Now you can see the top of the Freedom Tower.

 We then took a stroll through lower Manhattan. We walked through the oldest public park in the city. It was home to the King George III statue that was torn down by patriots in 1776. Then up to Wallstreet and see the Wall Street Bull and the Fearless Girl Statue. We also saw the site of where George Washington was first inaugurated President of the United States.

Trinity Church in the background.

 Heading over to lunch we had an accident.......

 Some had a lunch wagon, others had pizza. How New York they've all become.....

 It was then time to visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. We were scheduled to go to the top of One World Trade, also known as the Freedom Tower, but the weather was iffy at the top. Tomorrow's weather is scheduled to be much nicer so instead of chancing a great view of gray clouds, we are opting on clear skies in the morning.

 The 9/11 Memorial is very serene. The names of all of the victims from the September 11, 2001 attacks are around the old base of the the towers. They are grouped by who they were with at the time of the attack. If there is a flower on a name, it is that person's birthday that day. 

We had dinner at Bubba Gump's. Masina got an early birthday surprise!

Happy Birthday a day early!

After dinner it was time for Broadway. We go to see Aladdin at the New Amsterdam theater. We had a phenomenal time and even got to meet the people that played the main characters Jasmine and Aladdin after the show. Such a great time. 

Inside the New Amsterdam Theater.

 Meeting Jasmine and Aladdin!

He was proud to show the kids his Kona shirt as he was just there. This was one of Aladdin's friends in the show.

 Jasmine

 Aladdin

After the play we went back to Times Square to see more night action. Then it was off to bed just to get back up in a few hours and see more of New York. Can't wait!

Late night treat.....