Not a good start when you are salivating like Pavlov's dog seeing the Hawaiian McDonald's called "Zippy's!"  I had a long way to go before I could sink my teeth in some ono (delicious) local fare!  Are YOU getting hungry now?

 I'm I typical girl who couldn't make up her mind as to where to walk today.  Finally deciding to lope in Pearl City, 3.91 miles filled a nice area.  This part of Pearl City starts to slope upward and makes for more challenging terrain.

There is no doubt in my mind as to WHAT is their favorite plant!  I'm only giving you a sample because so many residents demonstrated this recurring theme!

Blatant, BLATANT, BLATANT disregard for the law!

Don't you think that you should hitch a ride with something FASTER?!  HaHa!  A yard ornament that made me smile today!

Streams festoon the Island of Oahu, and are nothing peculiar, but do you see WHERE it is?  This stream flows UNDER the Pearl City Shopping Complex!  The parking and all the stores rest on top of a cement bridge!  The only reason I noticed this is because I was following the flow of the stream on my walk today, then I noticed that it disappeared under the road on the mauka (mountain) side of the shopping center.  As I came around to the makai(ocean) side, this is what I saw!  Mystery solved!  Scary!  Hoping that you can solve a mystery too!  A Hui Hou! (Until we meet again!)

This bronze behemoth, located off of Atkinson Dr. and in front of the Hawaii Convention Center, is called, "Gift of Water," symbolizing the spring offering water, like the Hawaiian people's generous nature and goodwill to newcomers. "Like life giving water, this wellspring of aloha nourishes all," taken verbatim from the plaque on the statue.  I had to walk this road before I even noticed it!  Did you know of it's existence?

If you haven't figured it out by now, yes, I am in Waikiki again.  This is the last time, as my jaunt through this vibrant town is complete.  Having to criss-cross and backtrack the area, 4.54 miles is what it took to finish.  By the way folks, I have just crossed the 500 miles marker since starting "The Walking Hawaiian!"  500.19 to be exact!  Woo-Hoo!

I have walked through here before, but this sign IS a new addition!  Taking the photo near the Ala Wai canal, with the arrow pointing to the walkway adjacent to the canal, I decided to research on the web about this!

Finding this CONCEPT map describing the "Lei of Parks," it was defined as a system of paths and bike lanes linking the City's regional and local parks as well as attractions.  A multi-use network for pedestrians, bicyclists and runners! (Sorry, no cars allowed! YES!)  From Diamond Head to the Aloha Tower, it spans 14.9 miles, including 24 separate segments.  So, is it complete?  Well, the sign is up, so Detective Donna says it must be!  I think that I should find out on my "walking Hawaiian" treks.  That would be FUN!

Looking at this HEADLESS design on the shirt, made me take pause, until I realized that the wearer's head would finish the picture.  That's when I thought, I should buy this shirt, since I'm a hula dancer!  HaHa!

Be in Waikiki, and not have pictures of the beach and waves?  Unpardonable!  The first picture is called the "Hilton Lagoon" off of the "Hilton Hawaiian Village Complex," of course!  The second is taken off of Duke Kahanamoku Beach Park, next to the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor.  Great surfing spots litter this area. (Very appropriate beach park name!)

 Art can be found in the most unlikely places.  Obviously a homeless individual resides in it's shade and protection, but what an artist who painted this!  I'm going to make an assumption that it was a homeless person.  When you see someone, judging their outside appearance is not who they are inside.  Hoping that you share "aloha" with someone today!  Aloha! (Bye!) 

If you guessed this was a mannequin arm, you would be right!  How did it get into the tree?  Sights today had me totally stumped and I hope that you can help me! 

Believe it or not, the south part of Oahu is experiencing waves of heights 6 - 10 feet!  Unheard of when you think of sweet, gentle waves in Waikiki!  I had to walk here to check out the waves and see for myself as I was a south-side surfer in my younger days.  Kaimuki is an area full of residential homes, churches and small businesses.  Squeezing out 4.65 miles in the hot, Hawaiian sun made me wish for a dip in the cool, Pacific waters.

Off of Diamond Head, a wind-surfer is being rescued from the strong currents and crashing waves since he wiped out and couldn't get his sail and board back together again without assistance.  Please double-click the picture to see just how big the waves are!

What is this?  Or, what was it?  Found off of Diamond Head Road, what a strange looking post!

Did you know that the "Board of Water Supply" has a Fort Ruger tunnel?  I wondered why so much land was unused in a prime area!

So much beauty cannot be disregarded or ignored.  Some blossoms that inspired me during my walk today!

Elephants never forget!  Although I'm not an elephant, Fort Ruger Market has the best "boiled peanuts" I've ever tasted, so I bought some to eat after I finished my walk.  Umm-umm! Was it ever so good!  Hoping that you won't forget to keep reading my blog and give me encouragement!  Aloha!
(Bye!)

When I saw this, I wanted to hop into a canoe and paddle through.  The gentle tradewinds and the glassy waters looked so inviting!  Actually this is part of the drainage canal from Kaelepulu Pond which continues to Kailua Bay and the Pacific Ocean.  I call this area "Keolu," even though it is part of Kailua.

Yes, I know that 2.20 miles is not a long stretch of walking, but I visited my Auntie who lives in this area for a spell.  Sorry, people matter more than keeping to a program.  I can always continue my journey on another day.

I have never seen so much "Noni" in a concentrated area!  Also known as  "Indian Mulberry," Pacific Islanders have always known that it possesses medicinal properties.  The fruit contains the ingredient "morindin," which if eaten can lower cholesterol levels.  Unfortunately, ripe fruit smells and tastes nauseating!  The roots were used as red and yellow dyes for the ancient Hawaiians.  Mashed fruit was used to kill "Uku!"(head lice)

This mailbox has me totally confused!  First of all, what is the WOOD thing next to it?  Then, what is that writing down the front of it?  Japanese? Chinese?  What does it mean?  Lastly, the mailbox is in the shape of a barn.  Have you ever seen a BLUE barn?  In my experience, they are RED!

I loved these gardens!  I wonder if it rains, does the first picture "wheel" turn when water flows over it?  That would be fascinating to see!  The second picture was full of Hawaiian plants!  The aloe, taro and red ti leaf plants with lava rock and angel to add interest made for beautiful composition!

It took a double take to realize that these "plants" are part of the fence!  Made out of metal and replicas of the traveling palm, red ti leaf and short aloe, the resident's creativity impressed me!  Hoping that your creativity will inspire you to make something impressive too!  Malama pono! (Take good care!)

Thank goodness he wasn't armed when I first talked to him!  Actually, Reuben is a Security Guard for "La Pietra: Hawaii School for Girls." He also produces replicas of Ancient Hawaiian weaponry and sells them at Waimea Falls in a booth just past the ticket booth. You can find him on Sunday and Monday, from 9am to 4pm at Waimea Falls if you are interested.   I handled the "Pahoa" and it is pretty wicked!   It's nice to be "The Walking Hawaiian," and to talk with another Hawaiian as I continue my journey.

Today was a perfect day of sunshine and good surf!  So back to the surfing spot in Waikiki to drop off my daughter and her board and on to paths not walked yet in the area.  I was able to trek 4.56 miles and found many fascinating facts in this small area.

The school, "La Pietra" started off as a luakini heiau called "papa'ena'ena.  After the death of King Lunalilo, James Campbell bought  the area.  Campbell sold the property to Walter Dillingham who built "La Pietra" in 1883, to closely resemble the "Villa la Pietra" in Florence, Italy where they were married.  Bequeathed to Punahou  Schools after their demise, Punahou school couldn't use it, so they sold it to Lorraine Day Cooke, wife of the great-grandson of Amos Starr Cooke (co-founder of Castle and Cooke.)  They transformed the house to a school and opened officially in the 1969-1970 school year.  Talk about a "history!"

The Diamond Head Lighthouse, first built in 1899 was renovated in 1917 when cracks were found.  Still using the "Fresnell len's" it's light can be seen 18 miles out to sea!  Hawaiians called Diamond Head, "Leahi," which meant "wreath of fire," since Hawaiians would light a fire on the crest of the volcano to guide canoe fleets back to the Island.

The Coast Guard is now responsible for the upkeep of the lighthouses and buoys.  The Commander of the 14th Coast Guard district now resides in the lighthouse keeper's dwelling that was built in 1921. 

Beautiful homes line the beach fronts and I think that I should have been wearing make-up with all the surveillance cameras I came across today!  Hey!  Wait a minute!  I think that there is an ancient drawing of Reuben on the gate here!  HaHa!  Check out the left side in the middle!  Double click the picture to enlarge if you can't see it!

Heavily decorated near the lighthouse dwelling, this little "patch of pretty" caught me by surprise!  You need to see it yourself and study the little details put together here!  I don't know who did it or why, but I surely enjoyed it!

Here is a little "patch" of  Diamond Head Road.  The sidewalks were wide and well maintained which made for excellent walking conditions!

I didn't take a tally count of how many "historic homes" I passed today, but I'm sure that there were at least 6!  This is one of them built by Earl Williams in 1932 in the English Tudor Style.  I was taken back to England looking at this home, although the palm tree looked out of place!  HaHa!  Well, you and I may not be making history, but we all have a story to tell!  Keep the story going, everyone!  Aloha! (Bye!)

At first, I thought that this plant must of died, but the closer I looked, the more it looked like it was made of metal!  Sticking out of a rock made for a few more suspicions.  Despite the lack of color, this metal plant was well done!

 

Whaaaa?  Where am I now?  Well, I had business in Kailua, so I decided to do my "Walking Hawaiian" there.  I traversed 4.62 miles before saying, "Uncle!"  My original goal was to cover the WHOLE Keolu Dr., but it is quite a distance since I also included walking the dead-ends.  No worries!  I can always come back another day to complete!

Walking in a residential neighborhood, all I passed today were homes and schools.  This whimsical garden captured my imagination.  Please double click the photo to see the details!  By the way, I did notice many home owners out and about after I passed, like they were trying to look busy, but, actually keeping an eye on me!  HaHa!  I'm used to it by now!

Not only was this an unusual addition to the home, I noticed that the flag of Israel was flying with the American flag.  I'm used to seeing the Hawaiian flag flying, upright OR upside down!

And what's so great about this garage?  Well, those two silver-framed adornments are actually water fountains in full operation.  I heard it before I saw it!  A thin film of water cascaded down the length of it.

Something is "fishy" about this mailbox!  Don't you agree?  Anybody got an idea as to identifying the type of fish this is?

The breathtaking beauty of the plants of Hawaii always make "The Walking Hawaiian" worthwhile.  The hillside has been sculptured into an oasis of plant life.  I'm sure that it took years, and they're not finished yet!  The hibiscus I encountered will be filed into my favorite flowers catalog and someday I will try my luck at watercolor painting it!  Indulge in your passions today! He aha kau hana! (What are you going to do?)