A picture of my daughter and I at the "Honolulu Museum of Art, Spalding House."  I loved the visual effects.  

My humble apologies my blogger friends.  Now both of my heels are causing pain when I put pressure on them (like walking!)  I thought that by walking 3 times a week instead of 5 would be enough rest for my feet.  Although on the days off, I have been quite a busy body doing other things.  So, if I walked 5 times a week, I probably would have felt better!  HaHa!  I think a Doctor's appointment will be in order next week, so, I can't really tell you when I will be back on the road again.  So sorry!

By the way, the area I walked in last is WAIMALU!  Using my GPS on my walking program and conferring with Island friends, we came to this conclusion.  Therefore, I'm double sure that that is what the area is.

Anyway, until we meet again, enjoy yourselves!  Aloha! (LOVE!)

Where am I?  Well, I could be in Waimalu, or maybe Aiea, or possibly Newtown, then again I could be in Pearl City.  I DON"T KNOW!  Detective Donna is going to take a wild stab and say that I was walking in Waiau.  If you know what this area is called, please let me know!

My confusion started with these maps!  I hope that I am right, but it seems to make sense! Since it was a dead-end road, backtracking was a necessity making the distance for today 4.90 miles, or twice the length of the road.  

Townhouses and homes line the area with "Newtown Meadows" being the only place that is located on the east side of the Waimalu stream.

"Hang on, Snoopy!"  The mailbox shaped as a dog house, showed the "Red Baron" character Snoopy would sometimes be.

Feeling creeped-out that someone was standing there watching me, I waved, "Hello!"  Come to find out that it was a life-size Thailand figurine placed outside their door.  My bad!  HaHa!

Placed inside a "koi pond," this statue was a "school of fishes!"  Please double click the photo to enjoy the details.

At last, the end of the dead-end road called, "Kilinoe," I inquired if there was a trail continuing on from this spot by a resident.  I was told that there isn't one and that this part of the road is private property.  Most valley and ridge roads end with a trail head, but not this one!

Taking a picture of the stream, I noticed that there were two turtles there!  Then I noticed that I may have interrupted something!  Oops!  Hoping for no "Oops" moments for you today!  Aloha ahiahi!(Good night!)

No, I'm not in "Sing-Sing!"  I passed under the H-1 and I like that the state made use of the space under the freeway to park vehicles or store equipment for a later use.  Also, it was nice and cool under there and I enjoyed a little respite from the Hawaiian sun!

Continuing in Waimalu, but mauka now, this little valley community had street names that all started with "pono."  Looking in my Hawaiian dictionary, it means well being, goodness,excellence and more!  What a wonderful word to describe where you live!  Small, but convoluted, it still took me 2.91 miles to circumnavigate the area.  There were very friendly people who didn't mind "talking story" with me as I meandered through their neighborhood! 

A sad occurrence in the neighborhood.  A kitchen grease fire gutted this residence and killed one of their dogs, but many trucks lined the street and were busy cleaning up and working on salvaging what they could.  The second picture was taken in their front yard, a reminder that hope, faith and courage linger on and that THINGS can be replaced!

These two mailboxes interested me!  The first had an oriental painting and emblem decorating it, also in the same color of the home behind it!

The second mailbox has writing on it!  After staring and staring at it, I still can't make it out.  How about you?  Can you tell me what it says?

Noting a spinning item in the garage, upon further inspection, I realized that it was an airplane made out of a beer can and the propellers actually spun around when the wind blew making the entire plane turn on its axis.  I would like to know how they did this!

I've never seen a contraption like this before.  I don't know if this was jury-rigged by the owner or this is a new product that makes sure the ball will ALWAYS bounce back a certain way.  What do you think?

In moments of weakness, I sometimes feel that the goal of walking all the streets on Oahu is insurmountable.  But, this sight gives me the encouragement to continue.  This papaya tree should not have survived, but not one, but two branches grew out of the trunk to produce DOUBLE the amount of papaya now!  I hope that you'll see something encouraging today to help you to never doubt your goals!  Aloha! (Bye!)

Look closely!  Do you see the smiling sun where a branch used to be?  I don't know if they couldn't take looking at the gaping wound after they cut the branch off, since it does face the home's windows, or if it just fit perfectly, so that's why they placed it there.  What do you think?

Since finishing Pearl Harbor, I thought that I should continue to press ewa(west), so according to my map, I'm now walking in WAIMALU.  Covering 3.88 miles, I was able to complete the makai(towards the ocean) side and plan to walk mauka(towards the mountain) next time. Total for the week comes to 10.30 miles making the grand total a blistering 418.85 miles since starting!

Passing by Waimalu Shopping Center, I had to let you know about the best saimin place on the Island! (Of course, that is only MY opinion!)  Shiro's, has a list of over 50 choices of Saimin!  Number 47 is my favorite!  Please give it a try if you are in the neighborhood, and tell me your opinion!

Some interesting items at people's homes caught my attention.  The first picture is the jury-rigged windmill and believe me, there were 5 of them in different parts of the front yard.  I guess they really want to know which way the wind is blowing!

The second picture of the directional sign with the address number.  I am familiar with yard sale signs and party signs on the light poles, but not this!  It seems to say, "Hey, come this way to get to my house!"

The last photo got me wishing for Mai Tai's and Pina Colada's while enjoying the stars and the balmy tradewinds.  A really nice place to chill out with family and friends.

Beautiful "Na pua"(flowers) always make my walk so delightful!

When I passed by this collection of Ti leaves, I was jolted into remembrance of an art store in Kailua, who sold painted ceramic kitchenware which looks eerily similar!  What do you think?

Even though I know that I'm besieging you with photographs today, I had to add these in!  I was walking behind the Waimalu Shopping Center, which is where the trucks make all their deliveries.  As I was dodging all the handtrucks and goods, I spied in between the trucks this vibrant, rich mural!

I didn't even want to walk this street, but, its on the map, so I thought that I'll whip through the street just to complete it!  Lo and behold, I would have missed this gorgeous mural if I wasn't looking!  Just remember, you can find beauty in the most unorthodox places if you look for it!  A Hui Hou!(Until we meet again!)

This is a first where I felt like a shrimp!  Seeing these suits through an open doorway, I thought that this building may house a museum, but, they were actually holding a class, and I was interrupting them.  A guy not in the class helped me get a photo op by moving the suits apart and have me pose in the middle of them.  Super cool!  These guys are the deep  sea divers!

If you were thinking that I'm walking through Pearl Harbor, you are right!  This last leg completes the Pearl Harbor Naval Base, at least where I'm allowed to walk.  A satisfying jaunt of 4.24 miles with sunny skies and tradewinds accompanied me.  A mixture of civilian and military people alike working in harmony to protect our country.  That is what I will take with me as I continue my journey to other areas.

I guess that today was TRUCK day for me!  This antenna on the car is made up completely of hollow stars.  I've never seen something like that before.

 

What caught my attention to this truck was the change of color towards the bottom of the truck and what you can't see is the SPARKLES.  They were all over the top section of the truck.

 

I was hoping that you can see the rough paint exterior.  Have you heard of the "lava liner" that they coat in the bed of the truck so that you can put anything in there and not ruin the bed.  Well, the whole exterior and the bed is coated with the "lava liner!"  I guess he expects to treat the WHOLE truck pretty roughly!

This tiny enclave of serenity is located within a large living complex for sailors.  I don't know who created it, but it is well done and a koi pond resides within the shelter.

If I could take pictures without possibly risking the safety of our men and women in the military, I would.  But, I rather be safe then sorry.  I know that pictures have been paltry in Pearl Harbor, but my experiences will be forever in my heart.

Today, a Japanese Submarine entered the Harbor.  It's horn kept blaring sporadically for about 5 minutes.  That was driving me nuts!  Two tug boats guided it to its parking dock, where dignitaries waited with flags waving.  The Navy band was at the ready and started playing rock and roll 80's songs.  The submarine had all hands on deck in their white uniforms.  The high part of the submarine was festooned with a HUGE lei with colors of red, white and blue, maybe for Hawaii, maybe for the United States, maybe for both!  After docking, a small ship towing a floating plastic line enveloped the submarine, possibly to catch oils leaks while docked. 

I couldn't take a picture, and I couldn't even get very close, but it was so interesting how everyone did their part in such an organized fashion to get the task done.  I'm so impressed!  So, I hope that you know that no matter what you do, it is part of a bigger picture and we're all helping to get the task done!  E malama pono!(Take good care!)