*NOTE:  If you don't already know, if you double click the picture, you'll get a blown up picture.  Some details are lost because of size, so, please use this feature to see the beauty close up!

Truly, just when I think that I've seen them all, I stand corrected.  These two interesting Hibiscus species has to be added to my "Beautiful Hibiscus" list.  I did ask about the second Hibiscus, because the owner was outside when I walked by, but, even he didn't remember what it was called.  Check out the unusual inner petal layer.  It actually surrounded the stamen in a protective manner!

The colors were the first thing to capture my attention, then, I was trying to figure out what it's purpose was.  I could only come up with that maybe it was a stairwell?  What do you think?

For visualization purposes, I put these two photos together.  At the end of the housing, in the valley, (check the middle of the second picture), the "private property" sign stood blatantly.  Obviously, the "Damons" still own much of Moanalua even today.  When I saw the sign, I didn't see much of the land, but, once I walked out, it was apparent that the property goes wayyyy back!

I wish that I knew what plant this is, but, if I could name it, I would call it the "Christmas tree" plant.  The flower looked like a bushy, red Christmas tree, even from afar off.  If anyone knows what it is, please let me know.

One more day, and I should be finished with Moanalua, mauka(towards the mountain) of the Freeway.  Today, the route swayed back and forth, and up and down hills.  Where are the muscles?  I should be getting them soon!  HaHa! Anyway, 4.04 miles was the distance for the day. 

No, not another one!  Yes, today is Hibiscus day!  I loved this peach, multi-layered petal Hibiscus also. E kala mai! (Forgive me!)  Until tomorrow, my friends!

Manaiki stream was my close companion on today's journey. The "divine power"(mana) stream convolutes thru the Moanalua valley.

What struck me about this "rock wall" was that they are the size of boulders!  Not an easy feat to maneuver.  So, lets call this the "boulder wall" instead.

The homeowner cut the bush down a couple feet, but, left a few well placed stems and carved Bonsai trees out of it.  I stopped and stared till I figured it out,  because I wasn't sure what I saw.

These pictures are from my jaunt down "Pineapple Place."  There is no street sign, yet, it's on my map.  It borders the Moanalua Gardens and the Manaiki stream.  I almost didn't walk it since there were "private property" and "no trespassing" signs everywhere.  But, I found out that they allow pedestrians to walk through it.  A bridge and a road takes you across the stream to Moanalua Gardens.  It was very peaceful and the Hawaiian flora was everywhere.

I was hoping to accomplish a little more area, but, at 3.75 miles, I figured that that was far enough.  I don't want to push it and injure myself.  That would really set me back if that happened.

This Hibiscus variety, I was told is called, "Hawaiian Flag."  It was very  popular and considered patriotic to have in the Monarchy era.  But, once the Monarchy was overthrown, if you had this in your yard, you were considered a "Loyalist," and that was not a good thing at that time.  Slowly, it's becoming popular again, although this is the first one I have seen so far.

I just loved this guy's yard!  All I can say is that it makes me joyful when I look at it.  Not a very astute observation,  it just makes me smile!  E malama pono! (Take good care!)

This may not be the "Great Wall of China," but, it definitely is a "Chinese Wall!"  The whole wall was lined with various Chinese figurines.

You gotta be an abstract artist!  Cue stick holder, female torso made of several mediums and rotten fruit.  Anybody have an idea what this is supposed to represent!?

Huge, golden blossums greeted me today.  This is called, "Cup of Gold!"  It's a member of the potato family.  Rats!  I checked and didn't find any gold!

And I went further still!  Here is the road behind me.  I was racing with the "Hawaiian Electric Company" meter readers.  They beat me, because they had cars!  But, they do run from door to door, parking their car in an accessible area.  By the way ladies, they were young guys(20 something) and CUTE!

You can't have enough cranes! A Japanese tradition, "Sembazuru," a couple folds 1000 origami cranes for their wedding, then shall they be granted their greatest wish.  These people didn't fold them, they bought them.  There is more in the front yard and right in front of their house.

I split the route today in two sections.  All together, 3.6 miles was the total.  I hope to keep working in the middle and complete this area soon.

Yesterday, the Hibiscus I saw was huge!  Today, these Hibiscus were so tiny, you could fit it on a 50 cent coin.  I had to really look closely to identify.  You can tell, by comparing  how large the stamen is to the size of the petals.  Aloha! (bye!)

Can you find the Gecko? (Lizard?)  As I was pondering to take a picture of this fragrant ginger bush, I saw the HUGE gecko, and decided to take a picture of it!  He didn't even TRY to sell  me "car insurance"!

Is it a bush?  Is it a mailbox?  No, it's the bushy, cat mailbox!  Me-oooooow!  The mailbox door is located under the cat's head.  How did they do the tail!?

Yes, the mailboxes caught my eye today.  I can't help it if there is such creative people in Hawaii!  This has got to be a golfer/artist, because it looked hand painted.  I wonder if the golf course is here or the mainland.  It might be from his/her own imagination.



Oh please!  Not another one!  Yes, obviously a fisherman!  the hook actually rotated around if the wind hit it.  That's how it caught my attention!  Good thing I'm not a fish, because I would have been hooked!  HaHa!

Not the usual figurines in the yard.  A soldier, standing silent vigil and a Japanese "mansion" or "castle" stone decoration.

A more reasonable route of 3.67 miles was accomplished today.  I had a chorus of barking dogs and I think if anyone was sleeping, they're awake now!  I should tape them and make a Christmas song of barking dogs.  I  have lots of material to choose from!

At the end of my walk, this screaming, red Hibiscus shocked me to attention.  This blossum was as big as my face!  If I wore it in my ear, my face would be obliterated!  I liked the hint of varigation in the color on the petals.  Aloha no! (Love, indeed!)

These are two varieties of "Shell Ginger."  Obviously, the flower is in the shape of a shell.  I prefer the ginger with the varigated leaves.

Boulders falling on houses have been happening too often recently.  This is a steel net holding the rocks in place.  I was talking to a home owner whose home abutted the side of the valley and she commented that she is afraid of rock-falls, and she didn't have any protection.  I pray for her safety!

Nine holes of Golf, anyone?  You better hit straight, because this course is pretty narrow, being in a valley and all!  It's a private course, but, you can play for a nominal fee!

This must be a "stonefish," or this fish was staring at Medusa too long!  HaHa!  Nah, but, I think I cracked it up!  Just a little levity, folks!

The park at the end of "Ala Aolani" (light of the heavens street), continues on as a hiking trail.  It starts by the trees in the middle background.  You can walk to the summit and then take the "stairway to heaven" down to Haiku on the windward side of the Island. (I wouldn't, too scared!)

Say what? No, I haven't the foggiest idea what this is?  Scarecrow? Tool holder?  All I know is that this was in their front yard.  What do you think?

Okay, I'm sorry that I had to post three different maps to show my route today.  I walked the entire length of the valley and turned around.  I think I overdid at 4.9 miles.  Sore and learning my lesson, I think that 3-4 miles should be my limit for the day. A Hui Hou (until we meet again), my friends!

I absolutely have no idea what this plant is, but, I thought that it was pretty.  If anyone knows, let me know, okay?

A heliconia rostrata, if memory serves me well.  If I had my way, I would call it, "lazy flowers!"  It looks like they are all taking a nap!  HaHa!  They're very pretty anyway!

Love birds? I don't know, but, they were sooo cute!

I passed this up and then realized that the shape of this stone collects rainwater so that birds could drink and bathe in it.  I'm not sure if the owners intended to do this, but, I have in the past.

Now, this is a first!  I have never seen pineapple planted in the front yard.  By the way, it's doing very well!  It just needs to ripen a bit and then, "Pineapple Upsidedown Cake!"  My favorite!

Salt Lake, in Hawaii!  This is all that is left.  Not very grand, but, it had to be somewhere, yes?

I knew that my luck could only hold out so long.  Today, it was non-stop rain.  The only thing good was that the dogs where indoors, so, no barking dogs!  Another thing, was that the colors of the plants were so vivid with moisture on the leaves and clouds hiding the intensity of the sun.  A grand total of 2.9 miles was all I did. Hopefully, tomorrow I'll get a lot more walking done. Aloha!!

Today, was the day for whimsical mailboxes!  I don't know if the people are "crabby" here, but, their mailbox sure is!  HaHa!  Actually, it was made out of chainlink and I think that they were ingenious!  Very creative!

It might not be fall, but, I sure would love to sink my teeth in an apple!  I loved the vivid colors!

I was told by a reliable source (my daughter) that I should post pictures of the streets that I walk.  I thought that it might be quite boring, and would rather take pictures of interesting sights or people on the way.  So, as a happy medium, I will post street pictures from time to time.  This is "Ala Pu'umalu Loop."  My best guess for the Hawaiian definition is: "Sheltered Hill Street."  I may be wrong, but, I like the sound of it.  The Hawaiian language has so many definitions for one word, so, that's why I'm having trouble with it.

3.37 miles, was the route for the day.  Unfortunately, it was mostly uphill.  This area hugs the crater's ridgeline and talk about spectacular views all the way around.  The homes were huge and beautiful.  I was waiting for the police officers to question me as to what I was doing!  Hah!  Saved, so far!

"Pikake," is a fragrant, fragile flower that are made into leis(garlands) and haku's(crown head-dress).  The blossum is picked while in the unopened bud form and then strung from the middle tip through the stem.  If you ever get gifted with many strands of "pikake" lei, you know the giver really cares for you since this lei is VERY EXPENSIVE!

I found out what this is called!  It's called: Dwarf Pionciana or "'Ohai-ali'i".  Otherwise known as the "peacock" flower or the "pride of Barbados."  The blossums resemble the Royal Poinciana tree,  but, are smaller with longer stamens.