Thursday, February 27, 2014

Used for his advertisement, half of a REAL CORVETTE is affixed to "Chuck's Corvette Clinic!"  That's one EXPENSIVE sign, yes?  I can only surmise that this car was in a wreck and this was the half that survived the impact.  What do you think?

Whoa!  Yeah, Donna is all over the place!  Sorry, I got inspired driving through the area as "Donna's Taxi Service!"  HaHa! (Just a joke, but, it felt like it!)  The area is called, "Kaka'ako," and straddles the heart of the Honolulu business section.  Taking only 4.25 miles to cover large sections of Queen St. and all of Halekauwila St., many fascinating sights were found! 

Since today will be the last walk of the month, I tallied 22.21 miles for the month of February, with a grand total of 633.37 miles to date.





Due to the grandiose size of these murals, decorating the walls of businesses on Queen St., it commands attention and you could easily get into an accident while driving!  Interesting enough, there were many auto body shops festooning the street!  Could come in handy!  HaHa!

Why is this hanger in the tree?  Just "hanging" around, I suppose!  Lame joke, I know!  HaHa!

Passing by the "Kawaiahao Church Cemetery," a joke came to mind!  Why are there fences around a graveyard?  Because people are dying to get in there!  Macabre, yes, I'm in a strange mood!

I loved the reflective quality of this arch and the movement of the children in this work of art called, "Passages."  Created by Mamoru Sato, he used Bronze and Stainless Steel as his medium.

If you are an avid cross-stitcher, this is the place.  Threads of all kinds, kits, classes and accessories fit in this tiny, not easy to find establishment.  

With a crazy mix of old and new, this is Queen St. You never know what you'll see when you get to the next block!  Even though this walk was long, time flew by as sights occupied my mind. Hoping your day flew by too, full of wonder and surprises!  A Hui Hou! (Until we meet again!)

Tuesday, February 25, 2014


Shown prominently and distinctly in the movie, "Tora, Tora, Tora," & " Pearl Harbor," historically the control tower on top wasn't even built yet and most certainly not painted red and white during the bombing of Pearl Harbor.  

Aircraft was controlled by the building at the base of the water tank, and when the tower was complete in May 1, 1942, it was painted in camouflage.  So when did the color change to red and white?  That's a good question as it is determined to have been between 1944 and 1969!  Nobody knows!  If you have a picture of the tower between '44 and '69 that shows the tower being red and white, please contact: Curatorial Department at (808)441-1016.  Help solve the mystery!

You may be getting the inkling that today's jaunt must be Ford Island, and you are correct!  My friend Robbie wanted to walk with me and has never been to the Island, so I was one part Walking Hawaiian and one part Tour Guide!  HaHa!  Our route landed at 3.38 miles and pretty much covered one end to the other outlining the original aircraft runway.  Though it now is a grassy medial,  the west end still resembles a runway.

Whoopee!  A butterfly!  Well, I got so excited because the UH Manoa Pulelehua Project needs help in sightings of the "Kamehameha Butterfly,(Hawaiian name is Pulelehua)" which is the official "insect of Hawaii!"  One of only two native species of butterfly, (the other is the Koa Butterfly or Blackburn's Blue) its population has been declining so they want pictures of the butterfly, eggs, chrysalises or caterpillars and need to know when it was sighted and where!  Contact and email: pulelehua@ctahr.hawaii.edu if you have been so lucky!

Unfortunately, upon further investigation, the butterfly I sighted is another butterfly called, "Passionvine Butterfly!"  The Pulelehua butterfly has strong black wing-tips and this one was ALL orange.  RATS!  So now, I want to find the Wallaby(Kangaroo), the 'elepaio(native Hawaiian bird) and the Pulelehua,  hoping that it will happen sometime in the near future!  Lofty goals, yes?


At the west end and the half-way point of our trek, what welcomed us?  A bathroom, ice-cold water fountain and a seat with a lovely view of the harbor.  Much needed and greatly appreciated, the tradewinds and sunny skies made it a perfect day to do "the Walking Hawaiian!"  By the way, do you see the entrance to Pearl Harbor in the second picture?


Looking down Chaffee Blvd. on the east end in the first picture and standing on the west end of the runway in the second, brought back memories of my father practicing touch and go's on this runway as a flying student.   My husband used it for flying practice also!  Before the bridge was built, you could only get here by boat or plane.  My husband and I used to sail in the harbor and many loved to circle the Island on their sail.  Now that the bridge is built, access to the Island is simple if you have a Military I.D., but no longer can you use the runway or boat around the Island.  Is change good?  Well, it's different!  Hoping that you will always enjoy the memories of the past, but, accept and enjoy the changes that occur too!  Aloha no!(Lots of love!)

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Based upon the saying in the commercial for Trix cereal, "Silly rabbit...Trix is for kids," I loved the moniker and that girls can have fun with a jeep too!

Having a tiny incomplete area on a map page was driving me CRAZY, so taking 4.95 miles to complete the makai side of Fort Shafter, it is now done!  Just as numerous construction projects are ongoing on the mauka side of Fort Shafter, the makai side is too!  After spending time contemplating and writing down a route to take today, I pretty much threw it out the window as detours and construction sites blocked the original plan.  Oh well!  More importantly, I did finish what I planned to do.

Kahauiki Stream ran alongside of me and I crossed it several times on my walk today.

A hidden gem of military housing called Funston Village had a 360 degree vantage point as it looped on a hill.

I haven't posted cars in a long time because I do have high standards!  I liked this Chevy though!  The red-orange color demanded further study and the designs were so graphic, almost New Zealand, Maori style!  The hubcaps and tires were pimped out too!

In a likewise manner, this car's color got my attention first... later the design!  Scooby-Dooby-Doo!  I guess that today was the day for automobiles!

Making a design on a fence out of plastic cups is as dramatic as the message it inspired which is LIBERTY!

Through the duration of my trek today, this sign was my constant companion.  Although frustrating, I didn't allow it to make me give up and go home.  The road may not be as planned, but going another way can be interesting!  Hoping that detours that come up in your life will lead to new discoveries!  E Malama Pono! (Take Care!)

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Never knowing what you could encounter while walking, the sound of flowing water called me to investigate further.  Reaching the end of Lima St. in Kalihi, just off the road is the Kalihi Stream, running quickly due to the recent downpour of rain we have been receiving.


Nearing the completion of a map page, Kalihi was the choice for today's journey.  Plugging holes in my route garnered 2.59 miles in an area were I must admit, I had a little trepidation.  Kuhio Park Terrace is a low income housing project, and even though improvements have been made, it's long history and recent events can be a cause for concern.  Praying for courage, protection and guidance, it worked since I had no problems whatsoever!

I always thought that Kuhio Park Terrace apartments were in the shape of a "V," well I found out otherwise.  Centrally located, with nearby bus routes, this area is convenient for those who don't own a car.

Passing by Sanford B. Dole Middle School, I spied a colorful mural called, "E Pili Kakou," (we are connected), by use of puzzle-like tiles to show how we are a part of the whole and need each other to be complete!  I love the symbolism.

I have no idea what this bush is, but I like the startling intermittent white colored leaf or petal.  Does anyone know what this is and if the white is part of the flower or a leaf?

Eye-catching flowers welcome you to this activity center that teaches you how to grow plants. This is one of the amenities that Kuhio Park Terrace provides.

Okay, you see a parking lot and so what, you say?  Well, the roof part is actually solar panels!  What a creative use of space and energy efficiency by shading the cars and producing energy!

Taking a while to make out that it says, "Hi Life,"  which means Hawaii Life, I still am stumped as to the image that is cut out of the letters.  Do you see anything recognizable in there?  Through perplexing problems, I hope that you can rely on friends and family to help you solve them!  A Hui Hou! (Until we meet again!)

Friday, February 14, 2014

Just wanted to relate my "heartfelt" aloha to all my blogger followers!  Hope you will be cherished as I cherish your support and motivation!  Painted and designed by yours truly, have a wonderful Valentine's Day!

Today should delight you since the road I took also is a hiking trail.  Having to walk back from the end to the start, I doubled the distance to 3.28 miles.  A gorgeous day inspired me to travel to the Easternmost end of the Island of Oahu!  The ocean gets very deep quickly, so rich, deep blues come close to the shoreline.

Makapu'u Lighthouse Road starts at this sign and leads you to ample parking, yet due to its popularity, people still park on the side of the road.

Why is it so popular?  Not only is the hike great exercise, you could walk to a secluded beach to swim, snorkel and surf.  Though hard to see, just off to the left in the center of the picture stands "Pele's Chair," a rock formation that resembles a chair from the road.

If you look closely,(double click to see up close) you'll see people sunning on the lava outcropping and see a few individuals swimming in the deep tidal pools.  To get here, a long and scary hike down would be required.  I have not been so brave yet!  HaHa!

What is that churning water on the left?  Whales!  Breeding begins in January and completes in March.  They play in the deep waters of the Hawaiian chain and their breaching and blowing is quite a spectacle.

Of course, there is it's namesake, the Makapu'u Lighthouse!  One of the most beautiful lighthouses in the nation! The walk is challenging, but, the reward is great!


Fortunate for me, another Walking Hawaiian accompanied me... my daughter!  Quite a pleasure spending time with and lucky for me, carrys the water!  HaHa!

Always seeing "aloe" only with prickly spikes, this is the first time I've seen them flowering!  Pretty yellow blossoms rose out of the cacti, catching my attention!

Seeing the windward coast before leaving the lighthouse is awe inspiring, and I hope that you get to see with your own eyes the beauty Hawaii has to offer!  Have a most romantic day!  Aloha No! (Lots of love!)

Friday, February 7, 2014

This is what happens when you get 11 straight days of rain.  Not, light drizzles, but, rain coming down in sheets!  Hawaii's plant life and aquifers are joyous accepting the abundance!  I thought that the flagrant burst of color from this Hibiscus would wake you up!

Jumping back to the Leeward side of the Island again, yes, I do have a plan!  Seeming helter-skelter to you, I'm trying to finish off pages of map so by the end of my second year, I'll highlight the map of Oahu of areas completed. 

So, today I'm clambering through Pearl City.  A surprise awaited me when I tried to complete  the uppermost part of Waimano Home Road.  Gated off, with security screening cars, I was not allowed to continue.  Seeing a trail next to the Road, I decided to walk NEXT to Waimano Home Road.  The trail started to wander off the road and deeper into the valley.  That's when I decided to turn around.  Today finished 3.76 more miles in the area.



My little deviation turned me into a feast for the mosquitoes, since preparation for a "forest hike" wasn't in my plans for this trek!  Well, it did help me to walk faster!  HaHa!




With residential neighborhoods normally occupying the highest part of ridgelines, I was quite surprised to pass a couple of schools, a Hospital and a Cultural center!



I wasn't the ONLY walking Hawaiian today!  I caught up with Ko'o as he headed back down Waimano Home Road.  He started from the bottom of the road, as he said he's taking a little STROLL during his lunch break!  I had to laugh since that isn't a little stroll, but, I give him a lot of credit!

Seeing what I thought was a huge weed, it actually was a cherry tomato plant!  Then, I thought that someone mistakenly chopped it off!  To further my surprise, I realized that it was growing from a crack in the cement.  Talk about tenacity!

Nearing the end of my route, I came across Kris as she was locking up an exit gate attached to Pearl City High School on Ho'okiekie St.  Telling her about my blog, she said, "Let's take a picture together!"  Normally, I'm not a "selfie" photographer, but there's a first time for everything!  Now, I just wish I wore makeup!  HaHa!  Why don't you do a "first" today too!  Aloha no! (Lots of Love!)