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Hawaii - Hong Kong - Macau - China

1986 First time to Asia

November 1986

16 Days
5 Countries
5 Destinations
A Journey Across the Pacific – December 1987

In November 1986, a neighborhood group set off on what would become one of the most memorable journeys of my life. It was my first real adventure into the Pacific and Asia, a trip that carried us from the tropical warmth of Hawaii to the bustling streets of Hong Kong, the Portuguese charm of Macau, the rural villages of southern China, and finally through Japan on the journey home.

Looking back nearly forty years later, I realize I wasn’t just visiting new places—I was witnessing worlds that no longer exist.

Hawaii – The Beginning

Our adventure began in Hawaii.

We stayed at the beautiful Royal Hawaiian Hotel, the famous “Pink Palace of the Pacific,” where palm trees swayed in the trade winds and Waikiki Beach stretched endlessly beyond the hotel grounds.

Like every visitor should, we attended Germaine’s Luau. As the sun set over the Pacific, we enjoyed Hawaiian music, dancing, and food while learning about the islands’ traditions. It was the perfect beginning to a journey that would take us farther west across the Pacific than any of us had ever imagined.

We rented a car and circled Oahu, stopping wherever something caught our eye. We bought fresh pineapples, colorful Hawaiian shirts loud enough to announce we’d been to the islands, and soaked in every mile of the scenery.

Then it was time to continue west.

Tokyo – My First Glimpse of Japan

Our flight stopped at Narita Airport outside Tokyo.

At the time, Japan felt incredibly modern—spotlessly clean, orderly, and unlike anything I had experienced before. It was only a layover, but even that brief visit left an impression.

Years later, one memory from Narita would stand above all the others.

I needed a Kleenex.

Unable to speak Japanese, I wandered into a small airport shop and pantomimed blowing my nose until the clerk smiled and understood exactly what I wanted.

I paid with U.S. dollars.

The clerk counted out my change, and among the Japanese currency was a single American penny from the early 1940s.

I remember staring at that little coin and wondering:

“Where has this penny been? What stories could it tell?”

It may have existed during World War II, when America and Japan were bitter enemies across the Pacific. It had passed through countless hands, crossed oceans, survived decades, and somehow ended up in a cash drawer at Tokyo’s international airport before finding its way into mine.

It was just a penny.

Yet for a moment, it felt like a tiny piece of living history.

Arrival at Kai Tak

Then came one of the world’s legendary airports.

Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Airport.

As our airplane descended, apartment buildings appeared incredibly close to the windows. It almost seemed as though you could look directly into people’s living rooms. At the last moment, the aircraft banked sharply before lining up with the runway extending into Victoria Harbour.

It was thrilling.

No one who landed at Kai Tak ever forgot the experience.

Kowloon

Our hotel was in Kowloon.

Stepping outside was like walking into another universe.

Nathan Road buzzed with activity. Neon signs glowed above crowded sidewalks. Street vendors called out to shoppers. Electronics stores, tailor shops, restaurants, jewelry stores, and tiny market stalls filled every available space.

We bargained for imitation luxury watches, wandered through stores, sampled local restaurants, and simply absorbed the incredible energy of the city.

Hong Kong in 1987 wasn’t quite British and wasn’t quite Chinese.

It was uniquely Hong Kong.

Across Victoria Harbour

One of my favorite experiences was riding the Star Ferry.

The short trip across Victoria Harbour offered spectacular views in every direction. Massive buildings rose above Hong Kong Island while ferries, tugboats, cargo ships, and fishing boats shared one of the busiest harbors on Earth.

It was inexpensive.

It was simple.

And it remains one of the finest ferry rides anywhere in the world.

Jumbo Floating Restaurant

Of course, we also visited the famous Jumbo Floating Restaurant.

Floating in Aberdeen Harbour, it looked more like an imperial Chinese palace than a restaurant.

For visitors in the 1980s, eating there was almost a requirement. It wasn’t just dinner—it was part of the Hong Kong experience.

Hollywood Road

Another memorable stop was Hollywood Road.

The antique shops fascinated me.

Windows displayed jade carvings, porcelain, furniture, scroll paintings, old coins, bronze statues, and objects whose histories stretched back hundreds of years—or at least appeared to.

Whether genuine antiques or beautifully crafted reproductions hardly mattered.

Browsing those shops felt like walking through Chinese history.

An Early Morning Hydrofoil

One morning—very early, perhaps around six—we boarded a hydrofoil for Macau.

As the vessel accelerated, it lifted onto its underwater foils and seemed to skim above the water.

The ride itself was unforgettable.

The hydrofoil raced through busy shipping channels surrounded by enormous cargo ships and freighters entering and leaving one of the world’s busiest ports.

When we arrived, Macau’s ferry terminal was absolute organized chaos.

People hurried in every direction.

Tour groups assembled.

Travelers searched for luggage.

The excitement was contagious.

Portuguese Macau

Macau felt entirely different from Hong Kong.

Portuguese influences blended with Chinese culture to create something unique.

From there, we crossed into mainland China.

A Different China

China in 1987 was unlike the country visitors see today.

One memory has never faded.

Our van rounded a bend and encountered an enormous flock of ducks covering the road.

A farmer stood calmly with an exceptionally long pole, gently guiding hundreds of ducks as though conducting an orchestra.

Our driver slowed.

The ducks simply flowed around the vehicle, parting naturally before closing again behind us.

It remains one of the most peaceful rural scenes I have ever witnessed.

Leaving the Tourist Route

Wanting to experience something more authentic, we asked to visit a small local town instead of only the usual tourist stops.

A light drizzle fell as we wandered through the market square.

The streets felt wonderfully ordinary.

Then we noticed one storefront.

Inside were wicker cages containing live snakes.

A man lifted one of the baskets.

Instantly, a cobra rose, drew back, spread its hood, and hissed.

The image has remained with me ever since.

It wasn’t frightening so much as unforgettable.

Lunch

Later we stopped at a restaurant connected to a tourist store.

One thing immediately caught my attention.

Western visitors were served one menu.

Chinese diners were eating something entirely different.

It was a reminder that tourism often presented a carefully filtered version of local life.

Even so, another surprise awaited us.

They accepted Mastercard.

In a country that still felt incredibly traditional, seeing an international credit card sign hinted at a future that was already beginning to unfold.

Looking Back

When I think about that journey now, I realize how extraordinary it truly was.

In just a few days, I experienced:

* Tropical Hawaii.
* Modern Japan.
* British-administered Hong Kong.
* Portuguese-administered Macau.
* Rural mainland China.

Each place possessed its own language, customs, architecture, food, and identity.

Nearly forty years later, I returned to China.

This time I traveled on high-speed trains exceeding 200 miles per hour, explored world-class cities, and witnessed a nation transformed.

Yet the memories that remain strongest are not the famous landmarks.

They are the ducks flowing around our van.

The cobra rising from a wicker basket.

The hydrofoil racing through giant cargo ships at dawn.

The bustling streets of Kowloon.

The Star Ferry crossing Victoria Harbour.

The colorful shirts from Hawaii.

And one small American penny, received as change in a Tokyo airport, that made me wonder about all the lives and journeys hidden inside ordinary things.

Some trips are measured in miles.

The best ones are measured in memories.

Hawaii - Hong Kong - Macau - China Trip Map

Marker numbers show the day of the trip when dates are available. Select a destination for details.

Trip Timeline

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Trip Highlight

Royal Hawaiian Hotel - Honolulu

Honolulu, Hawaii, United States

Our 1986 adventure began in Hawaii. We stayed at the beautiful Royal Hawaiian Hotel, the famous “Pink Palace of the Pacific,” where palm trees swayed in the trade winds and Waikiki Beach stretched endlessly beyond the hotel grounds. Like every visitor should, we attended Germaine’s Luau. As the sun set over the Pacific, we enjoyed Hawaiian music, dancing, and food while learning about the islands’...

📍
Trip Highlight

Narita Airport - Tokyo

Tokyo, Japan

Our flight stopped at Narita Airport outside Tokyo. At the time, Japan felt incredibly modern—spotlessly clean, orderly, and unlike anything I had experienced before. It was only a layover, but even that brief visit left an impression. Years later, one memory from Narita would stand above all the others. I needed a Kleenex. Unable to speak Japanese, I wandered into a small airport shop and pantomimed blowing my...

📍
Trip Highlight

Kowloon - 1986

Kowloon, Hong Kong

Our hotel was in Kowloon. Stepping outside was like walking into another universe. Nathan Road buzzed with activity. Neon signs glowed above crowded sidewalks. Street vendors called out to shoppers. Electronics stores, tailor shops, restaurants, jewelry stores, and tiny market stalls filled every available space. We bargained for imitation luxury watches, wandered through stores, sampled local restaurants, and...

📍
Trip Highlight

Macau - 1986

Macau, Macau

Going to Macau - 1986 - An Early Morning Hydrofoil One morning—very early, perhaps around six—we boarded a hydrofoil for Macau. As the vessel accelerated, it lifted onto its underwater foils and seemed to skim above the water. The ride itself was unforgettable. The hydrofoil raced through busy shipping channels surrounded by enormous cargo ships and freighters entering and leaving one of the world’s busiest...

📍
Trip Highlight

Zhongshan

Zhongshan, China

China in 1987 was unlike the country visitors see today. One memory has never faded. Our van rounded a bend and encountered an enormous flock of ducks covering the road. A farmer stood calmly with an exceptionally long pole, gently guiding hundreds of ducks as though conducting an orchestra. Our driver slowed. The ducks simply flowed around the vehicle, parting naturally before closing again behind us. It remains...