I'd feel pretty naked if I were this tree!  Talk about getting carried away!  Yeah, I'll just trim the tree a little bit!  Might as well chop it totally down!  Maybe, the upstairs bedroom still wanted some green to see while looking out the window?  Your guess would be as good as mine!

Feeling like continuing the trek in Pearl City, I garnered 3.55 miles through areas not well known to me.  Mostly commercial buildings, the traffic was lively and I was watchful at every crossing!  For the most part, the drivers were very courteous today!

You got me!  I thought it was lush vines covering the chain-link fence from afar!  Sometimes you have to step right up to find out you were mistaken.  Double-click the picture to get your own "A-ha" moment.

Even though Christmas is a long ways in coming, here is an idea for Christmas decorating right now!  All you need is paint, date tree and a little imagination, and you can create a masterpiece!  The bold colors caught my attention right way.

I think that whoever did this (I'm suspecting a child) has talent to become a premier artist in the future.  I loved the choices of color and composition.  The "aloha" on the pole brought out a smile from me!

The profusion of flowering trees were a great distraction to me.  The shower trees rained pastel petals in the wind on me and anything nearby.  It had almost a magical feel!  Make some magic happen in your life today!  Aloha! (Bye!)

This statue is located between the Iolani Palace and the Hawaii State Capital. Queen Lili'uokalani, the last ruling monarch of Hawaii, stands stately looking at the new governing body, the Hawaii State Capital with the old governing body, Iolani Palace behind her.  She carries three documents in her hand.

With her shining golden wedding ring, she shows the way to "Aloha O'e." The next one is the "Kumulipo: The chant of Creation."  The last and most important is the "Constitution of Hawaii, written in 1893."

Yeah, I haven't been in the heart of Honolulu for a while, yet, today I felt prodded to journey here.  I had hoped to complete more than I did, but, 5.53 miles is nothing to sneeze at!  Feeling insignificant surrounded by towering high-rises, I also felt the history that pervades this area.

Called "Mutual Telephone Company," this was the precursor to "Hawaiian Telephone Company."  Built in 1909 and attached to the imposing "Hawaiian Telecom" (as it is NOW known) building, it's barely visible and you would not find it unless someone is privy to the location.

If you are walking around the older neighborhoods of Honolulu (like Kaimuki, or by Kapiolani Park), you might find manhole covers labeled with M.T.C.  These are the last vestiges of the Mutual Telephone Company.

Lucky for us, (my friend, Robbie walked with me today!) the "Royal Hawaiian Band" just so happened to be performing on the lawn of Iolani Palace.  They have been playing since 1836 and are the oldest and only full-time municipal band in the United States!  I love having little surprises like this while doing my "Walking Hawaiian!"

Surrounded by gigantic buildings, this humble two story has the special designation of being the "oldest surviving commercial building in Honolulu!"  Built in 1854 by Gustav Melcher and Gustav Reiners using coral blocks, the "Melcher Building" typifies the earliest period of Western construction in Honolulu.  Purchased by the City and County of Honolulu in 1960, it serves as the prosecutor's office across the street from the police station.

Sitting at a bus stop, this multi-media statue is life size and has benches on either side of him with REAL people waiting for the bus.  Called, "What's next?" it was made by Jodi Endicott, who has other public works of art around the Island.  Do you see what's on his left shoulder?  Look close and don't get squeamish!  Why three?  Maybe they are blind!  HaHa!  Aloha nui loa! (All my love!)

* A special MAHALO (thanks) to Rick for his knowledge and insight which was invaluable for today's blog!

A confused "walking Hawaiian," will take a crazy guess that this is jury-rigged parking spaces.  Seeing an iron post pounded deep into the ground next to the lava wall, with two cords interlacing the brick near the road, that's all I could surmise!  What are your thoughts?

Zig -Zagging the Pearl City residential area to make sure I didn't miss any streets, I was rewarded with a choir of barking dogs and inquisitive residents being outdoors.  I guess I looked suspicious!  Only plodding 3.90 miles, it took me nearly two hours due to the up and down path necessary to complete it.

Discussing our various ethnic backgrounds and checking out the awesome tattoos, Harvey consented to pose for a picture in my blog showcasing his tattoos.  People of Hawaii are colorful people in more ways than one!

Talking about color, have you ever seen homing pigeons brightly colored and flying in a group.  Luckily, I didn't get into an accident as I was driving in Pearl City totally distracted by the many colored pigeons flying past.  The business called, "Rainbow Pigeons" house them and now I know where they came from!  "The Walking Hawaiian" has it's perks!

Must be a cat lover in this residence!  A cool CAT mailbox seen on today's route.  I think that the door handle is very big so that the mailman won't grab the cat's ears, yeah?

On a previous blog, I showed you the "Kalihi Bus Facility" which serves mostly the town routes.  This is the "Pearl City Bus Facility" which serves mostly the country routes.  I know that you are thinking, come on, it's an Island!  But yes, us locals know what the difference is!

I just love this variety of plumeria even though I have no idea what it is called!  I have named this plumeria "Stars and Stripes Forever," just as a reference.  Does anyone know what this is actually called?  Well, you can call me anything you want, just don't call me late for dinner!  HaHa! E malama pono! (Take good care!)

Diamond Head

This has got to be my favorite gate to date.  Using stained glass intermittently to accentuate the flow of the wrought iron design took my breath away.  Glass is extremely expensive and these are very large pieces of glass.  Have you noticed that there is another gate behind this one designed by the same artist?  Don't forget to double click the picture to see the intricate design up close!

Where am I?  Trekking the slopes of Diamond Head!  Good surf, jellyfish gone and sunshine means a surfing day for my daughter!  Taking only 3.99 miles to complete encircling the Diamond Head Crater, it was an accomplishment!  Surfing and walking seems the right mix when I walk in the same area anyway!

Meeting up with "Lisa," who cares for an 89 year old woman in the area, I asked her if she wanted to "race!"  She replied with an adamant "No, thanks!"  I loved her vibrant pink hat and she accentuated it with a pretty pink plumeria as she posed for a picture.

I had a good laugh reading this sign with the comment filled in, "Plz don't pick mangos!"  With the branches extended out past the fence, laden with delicious mango, I guess that could be hard to resist!

What is the "green stuff" in this fence, you say?  Well, that was my question too!  Studying it closely, I realized that it's faux Christmas Tree branches!  I can only assume that these people are really into recycling, and it made a great shield for privacy and wind!

Why haven't I posted interesting mailbox pictures for a while?  Because there weren't any interesting mailboxes until today!  The exterior was covered in individual ceramic tiles and must have took forever to complete! I also loved the 3-D effect with the butterflies and the flowers.

Never have I seen a picture of the completed home advertised outside the area of construction.  Usually, its the designer, contractor and home owners who only have the information.  I surmise that the designer is hawking up more business with this advertisement!  What do you think?  By the way, this is the left side of the house with the large window.  Hoping you take care of business today!  Aloha! (Bye!)