This view can only be seen on the Pearl City Peninsula.  You MUST have a military ID or be an DoD affiliate to gain access here.  Starting from Waimano Home Road, the name changes to Lehua Rd. as you head Makai (towards the ocean) and ends at the end of the Peninsula.  The wind howled across the water and salt spray misted me entirely.  Well, I now have the "beach salt spray" look in my hair!  HaHa!

Unfortunately, I planned a loop route, but was stopped short by a Naval facility that required special passes to enter.  So, turn around I did, all the way back to my starting point as no other means to cut across was possible.  Today took 4.34 miles and a change of plans to complete.  Oh well, I know now!

I have never seen so many Volkswagen in my walk before!  The yellow "V-W," is a 1500, and one that I am not too familiar with.  I bet that the owners have some sort of V-W "Bug" club, yeah?

This is what greeted me on today's walk.  The turnstile required a code to input, then the turnstile would turn.  I would have loved to see the views of the south side of the peninsula!  By the way, there were signs everywhere prohibiting photography!  Past the fence, that is!

I guess that the Pearl City Community Center is for military people, since they are the only ones who can get past the guards!  Lots and windows and open floor space, I can visualize dance classes, dances, exercise classes and large gatherings!

Even though I wanted to call this street "Satellite Dish Row," it actually is Franklin Ave.  Views of the Ko'olau Mountain was pretty spectacular at the end of the road.

Lehua Ave. cuts the peninsula in half and is the main street for the area.  I'm facing north which would lead you out of the peninsula.

When you are in the military, everything that you decorate with must be detachable since everything needs to be cleared once you move.  I thought that this "flag," which was painted on a palette was a great idea.  It is boldly colored, stable, you don't have to raise it and lower it  everyday and it's movable.  I talked with the residents and was told that they found the idea on Pinterest.  Well, I did comment that they are missing a bunch of stars!  HaHa!  Hoping that you can always improvise when presented with an obstacle! Pomaika'i! (Good Luck!)

***SPOILER ALERT!!*** The Answers to my previous blog are in this blog!  If you want to test yourself first, go to yesterdays blog.  Open this blog when you want the answers!

The question 1) What do all these names have in common?

All of them are "Ahupua'a divisions.  The word ahupua'a is a combination of the word, "ahu" means heap or altar and "pua'a" means pig.  Boundary markers were an a stone altar with a wooden carving of a pig's head upon it.  The land starts with the apex of the mountain, down through the valley and out to the ocean.

Question 2) What is this called, and what is it's use?

The best answer is in the next picture.  Please double click to enlarge and read!

 

 

Question 3) Find Waldo, the black bumble bee!

 







I have blown up the picture so that you can see more distinctly!  Waldo was at the top half, right edge of the bush.  By the way, I stuck my iPhone very close to take the picture and Waldo bee-lined straight for my face to aggressively let me know that he didn't like it.  Lucky for me, I didn't get stung!  The crazy things I do for this blog, yeah?

 

 





Question 4) What does Donna want to use this for?

Well, when I saw this, I thought, "What a giant golf ball!"  So I would like to use this as my golf ball when I putt!  My putting game is terrible and I think that I wouldn't miss with a golf ball this size, no?

So, how did you do? Maika'i(good) I hope! Did you have fun and learned a thing or two?    Aloha!(Bye!)

Lucky for me, accompanied by Nick, (daughter's boyfriend) I was informed of what this cement circle was and what it was used for.  Another remnant of it's aviation past, this is a Aircraft Compass calibrator.  You park in the middle, pointing the nose north, then incrementally turn (swing) the aircraft making sure the compass is either accurate or make adjustments to the compass.  Obviously, due to it's small size, probably single-engine planes used this.

Reasons why you need to use this would be if the compass accuracy is suspect, a change in the electrical system, aircraft passed through a electric storm, a lightning strike, non-use of aircraft for a year or a major replacement of ferrous metal.

Today completes the last of Ford Island as "The Walking Hawaiian."  Striding 4.04 miles did the trick!  I'm so happy!  In celebration, I'm going to make this blog a series of games and tests.  The pictures are from my walk, I'm just changing the format a little!

1) What do all these names have in common?

2) What is this called, and what is it's use?

3) Find Waldo, the black bumble bee!

4) What does Donna want to use this for?

Just to keep you in suspense, (or give you time to look up the answers) I will post the answers in tomorrow's blog!  Are you hating me yet?  HaHa!  Have a wonderful, playful day everyone!  A Hui Hou! (Until we meet again!)

Incredibly nosy, yeah?  HaHa!  You can view this "Nosy" aircraft, jutting out of a hanger as part of the Pacific Aviation Museum - Pearl Harbor.  Actually, you need to go to Ford Island in the middle of Pearl Harbor to see it!

Feeling so close to finishing Ford Island and extremely motivated since my 2 year anniversary of this blog will be here before you know it, again I'm trekking the Island!  Continuing on the east side, I completed the section only taking 3.19 additional miles! 

Whaaa?  There are no "flying" aircraft on the Island anymore.  I guess that this is the last vestige of earlier times.  Do you notice the wind sock?  When it's straight out like that, the wind is at least 20 knots!  Experiencing the wind myself, I would say that at this time it was about 35 knots.  My hair is evidence since it's a thick, matted mess right now!  HaHa!

Okay, maybe there is some FLYING going on here!  Checking out this "Bimmer," I would be flying around town in this!  I did chuckle when I read the license plate, which says, "Zeal!"  I will let you figure that one out for yourself!

Scanning the surrounding area for photo ops, I rarely look at my feet.  Walking along Lexington Blvd., I was just trying to stay off the road so that I wouldn't get run over, when I realized that I was actually walking on a sidewalk.  Not readily apparent, since it was almost the same color of the surrounding area, I thought that I made a wise choice as to where to walk!

Chided for being a CHICKEN and not ringing the bell on a previous blog, this time, I was determined to not waste this opportunity.  I grabbed the rope, and gave it one good swing!  OH MY GOD!  I'm sure that it could be heard for miles, as my HEAD was ringing!  Thank goodness today is Sunday and nobody is at work here!  I'm sure that people would be pressing their faces to the window trying to find out who did that! 

Well, somebody was working on a ship, because I had a LOUD ship horn replying to my ring.  Might I add, that I QUICKLY got the "H" out of there!

Not wanting to spend $15 (charge for Hawaii Resident and Military) to peruse the museum today, I could check out the STORE for free! (That's if you don't buy anything!)  I loved the child size flight suit!  Many historical books and videos caught my interest!  I plan to come back another day to soak up the history and information when not doing "The Walking Hawaiian!"

Entering through the front doors, the floor is a map of Ford Island.  I loved it!  What was even better and one of the reasons why I love being "The Walking Hawaiian," is that I came into contact with a childhood friend and neighbor.  Keith, lived across the street from my childhood home and we also attended the same church.  My family and his family really liked each other and we hung out together. 

 We moved in the 1970's and lost touch with the family.  Exchanging information and trying to catch up, sometimes I feel that this meeting is more than coincidence!  The day and the time had to be just perfect for us to meet again!  I hope that these special moments occur in your life too...feeling blessed and joyful!  E Malama Pono! (Take good care!)

Yes, this threw me for a loop too as to what it was and what for?  Realizing that the building is a National Historic Landmark and that you can't alter the building even though handicapped people need access to the FORD ISLAND THEATRE, a short ride on this ELEVATOR will make it possible!

You are correct in assuming that I'm back on FORD ISLAND.  Feeling I can complete the area soon and enjoying the beautiful views was reason enough!  Encountering erroneous mapping tools, my eyeballs became the best information gatherer and my written route got thrown out the window! The total re-route added to 3.01 miles.  Did you notice all the road names?  All are names of Navy carriers with my favorite being, "Enterprise!"  Yes, I love STAR TREK!

Decorating the walls of the FORD ISLAND THEATRE, (becoming the FORD ISLAND CONVENTION CENTER in 2007) was this vintage movie poster, "Story of G.I.Joe!)  Have you ever seen it?  It was based partly on Ernie Pyle's column, "The Death of Captain Waskow." 

Who was ERNIE PYLE?  An American Journalist who became a war correspondent, earning a PULITZER PRIZE for journalism writing from the perspective of the common soldier.  Killed on the Island of Iejima (NW of Okinawa Island) by machinegun fire, he is one of the few civilians killed during the war and received the Purple Heart.  His final resting place is the  "National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific" on Oahu, known locally as Punchbowl Cemetery.

*If you would like to see his gravesite, go to my blog post on Oct. 3, 2012.

Many sights like this road, Kittyhawk, looked like roads that led to nowhere, but, I know that in the past there were buildings or maybe homes that crowded this parcel of land.  I like to imagine what it might have been previously!

Would you like to work here?  Must be pretty caustic stuff to have this receptacle nearby for quick clean-up!

Walking just below the Air Control Tower, I had to take another picture to get a different perspective!  Would I like to walk up the stairwell?  NO WAY!  Better be an elevator somewhere!

*More detailed information can be found on my Feb. 25, 2014 post if you are interested!

And what do you think this is?  Detective Donna thinks that these are Oil Barriers!  They may be Silt barriers or boat barriers?   I like the color anyway!  HaHa!

Called, "Manning the Rails," is the memorial to all the lost seamen of the USS Oklahoma.  The black granite looks like the hull of the ship with the white posts resembling the sailors standing on deck in full dress uniforms.  Every post represents an individual who was lost equaling 429 souls, coming home for the last time.

Normally, not seen closely due to the height of the "African Violet Tree,"( topping at 70 feet!), the blossoms from this tree are huge and the color quite vibrant.  I enjoyed the opportunity to take a detailed picture of this flower's beauty.  Please double click the picture to see up close!  Never say to yourself, I'll come back later to do something.  It only takes a moment, and you'll never have regrets!  Aloha no! (Lots of love!)