Admiring the blooming plumeria tree, I almost missed the thin, spotted, pink trunk and branches of another plumeria tree. Shaded and intertwined with it's robust older sibling, if I wasn't walking I would have definitely not noticed it at all. Why is it painted pink? Is it their favorite color? What do you think?
Continuing my trek in Kapolei, I added a respectable 3.75 more miles in the area. Convoluted with tongue-twister Hawaiian names and numerous dead ends, I'm hoping that I won't be MORE mixed up AFTER completing this Leeward community.
Taking advantage of a beautiful, Hawaiian day, we (my husband accompanied me) strolled the wide, well manicured path along Kaiau Ave. Gentle tradewinds and the radiant sun were our companions today.
Out-of-the-ordinary cars and plates were seen in today's journey. The '71 Chevrolet Caprice Coupe with a concave curved back window had a cute license plate. Double click to see larger and read it!
The Chevy Blazer had Hawaii plates that read, "DENVER!" I guess that they're a little mixed up, yeah? HaHa!
The Jeep Wrangler is barely recognizable with all the modifications done to it. I hope that you can do the "split" so you can get into the car, and wear stretchy clothes so you DON'T split it! HaHa!
I loved the splendor of vibrant plumeria flowers, and after being showered by the falling flowers of the Gold tree, I looked up and snapped a picture of the tree in full bloom.
Passing by a parked automobile, this sticker has me perplexed! Is it a woman? Man? Long hair and beard? Hand holding a pipe or cigarette? What do you see?
Frisky kittens played together under a car with their ever watchful mommy nearby. When I stepped closer to take a picture, they all quickly scrambled into a curb catchment drain. Standing above it, I lowered my phone near the opening and snapped a picture. Thinking I probably got nothing, I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to capture an image of one of the kittens hiding there!
Lucky for me, finding this plaque helped me to understand why this area is so called! The distinctive cinder cone that forms the end of the Waianae mountain range is called, "Pu'u O Kapolei." Used by the ancient Hawaiians as an astronomical sighting point. The relationship of the sun's path on the hill determined the seasons of Oahu. Kapolei means, "The lei (garland) of Kapo, who is the goddess of Hula. Please double click the picture and read the complete description of Kapolei.
I am hoping that as I continue to discover Kapolei, that more information will be gained and shared on this blog to help you and I to get a better understanding of this aina (land). Did you discover something new today? Pomaika'i! (Good luck!)
CONGRATULATIONS to Darcie, winner of my Second Anniversary of "The Walking Hawaiian" contest! Darcie, please contact me at donna.smolinski@yahoo.com for the details of receiving your prize!
Kissing cousins, maybe? Actually I thought that this was an ingenious way to park your car as close as possible to another car without hitting it. Well, at least that is what I think their reasoning is!
A new area that is envisioned to be a second "Honolulu" is called Kapolei! Unbeknownst to me, most of the streets I traversed are actually Hawaiian Homestead lands. I was surrounded by Hawaiians today! These were self-help homes that you had to build yourself. The design was generally the same, but some were two-story's and others were single story. Numerous back-tracking made my total for the day at 4.85 miles!
This scorching red-hot Corvette must belong to a RICH Hawaiian! It took me a little while to figure out what the license plated translated to. Do you know what it says?
A neighbor decided to liven up the tree by adding a beautiful orchid plant on it! Now this person knows how to do it, as evidenced by the growth!
Here is a sampling of some homes built on the Hawaiian Homestead lands. Very nice, don't you think?
Possibly, the owner was born in the Year of the Dragon, since it was showing prominently in his front yard! I enjoyed studying the intricate details of the sculpture! Please double click to enlarge the photo and study it too!
I hope that you are aware of the abundance of flowers everywhere you look! The plumeria and the hibiscus did not escape my attention! Gorgeous, don't you think?
If you think that someone is hanging their swim shorts out to dry, you are WRONG! Only in Hawaii does this flag make sense! Don't you think that it would be a cool surrender flag? HaHa! Surrender yourself to the beauty of Hawaii...Look and see! A Hui Hou! (Until we meet again!)
I'm pretty excited and telling everyone live or inanimate (whoever will listen!) that I have just completed TWO SOLID YEARS of doing The Walking Hawaiian! Walking a total of 659.10 miles and acquiring 10,000+ views, I feel like celebrating!
First of all, I want to sponsor another CONTEST with the prize being a hand-made (by yours truly) felt Easter egg that you can fill with candy and use year after year! You get to pick which one of the four you want!
Enter by putting the date and year of your own personal favorite "Walking Hawaiian" blog in this comment section and you will be entered in the drawing! The drawing will be held on Friday, April 18, 2014. So you have less than a week to enter! Hurry!
As motivation, I want to share with you my own personal favorites this past year. Click on the date to link immediately to my favorites!
March, 16 2014. - Ford Island, I bravely rang a ship's bell and instantly regretted doing it! Find out why!
February 27, 2014 - Kaka'ako, the artistry of the painted mural on the walls of businesses wowed me!
February 14, 2014 - Makapu'u lighthouse road had dramatic views and I saw WHALES!
January 10, 2014 - Newtown, Aiea had so many strange sights and beauty too!
November 18, 2013 - Fort Shafter, walking on Parks road which is nestled deep in the valley was peaceful and lush with older homes full of character!
September 2, 2013 - Niu Valley was a desire coming to fruition by exploring it fully with all the interesting gates, gardens, driveways, mailboxes and cars!
May 7, 2013 - Diamond Head road introduced me to Reuben, a fellow Hawaiian and craftsman. Also, the walk was full of history!
April 11, 2013 - Kahala-Kaimuki is my old stomping grounds and it brought back so many memories!
So, what have I learned doing "The Walking Hawaiian" the past year? Most importantly, never lose your passion in life! Even though friends, family, health and other activities will wrest for your time, make sure to make time for your passion! Then you will wake up every morning enjoying your life's journey. With me, you won't have blisters! Aloha no! (Lots of Love!)
Not even sure if this is a "named" road, I walked it anyway since it skirted the shoreline on the west side of the Pearl City Peninsula. In the background, you can see parked ships. These are ships no longer in service. I'm not sure if they use it for parts or plan to recommission it someday in the future.
Today completed the last of the Pearl City Peninsula. Concentrating on the west side and peering into the Pearl Harbor Middle Loch, 3.33 miles took me to sights never seen by me before! (Possibly you too!)
At the end of Lanakila Ave., I saw this plaque and found out a little more about the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Midget Subs and the Middle Loch. Please double click to enlarge the photo and read about it too!
Want to live just off the water in Hawaii and you aren't a millionaire or you're not homeless? Join the military! They sure seem to have the best spots taken!
Different views of Lehua Ave. Leaving and going into the Peninsula. With all the fences built, I guess there were quite a few accidents that required it's presence.
Call me nuts, but I loved this additional parking area. The coconut and plumeria trees surrounded and shaded the parking spaces. What a delightful view to come home to! Somehow, old Hawaii came to mind when I saw this!
I believe that in the past, this was the original entrance to the Pearl City Peninsula. The guard shack would have stood here instead of where it is now half a mile before this. I bid a fond "aloha" to the Peninsula and enjoyed getting to know this place as "the walking Hawaiian!" Get to know something you have always wanted to! Do it today! Why wait? Kipa hou mai! (Come visit again!)
I love this time of year! All the flowers are profusely blooming. Quite distracting, really! Are you noticing all the beauty around you? These Bird of Paradise could not be ignored!
Aiiii-ya! Talk about beauty and the beast! The one and only Hawaiian creature that gives me the "heebie-jeebies!' I can't ignore the centipede either! Believe me, you don't want to be bitten by this indestructible, multi-legged animal!
Fascinated by this area that I haven't totally explored as yet, I continue to putter around the Pearl City Peninsula adding an additional 3.89 miles for the day. Largely Navy Housing, I noticed the quiet, peaceful, and spacious accommodations here. Surrounded by open spaces not common on Oahu, you could get quite spoiled and expect luxuries not offered to the Hawaiian residents. (Unless you are filthy rich, that is! Count me out! HaHa!)
More VW's? Instead of Bugs, the Van variety is another favorite! Boy, the Peninsula sure loves their VW's!
Blocking my way to continue walking on Waipuna Ave., the road eventually leads to the Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuge. A swampy area, you can tell by looking at the second picture of fresh water just seeping off the side of the road.
Strange sights also followed me through today's walk. A sign that is upside-down saying, "Fresh Oil?" Then the sidewalk detour leading to...? (Your guess is as good as mine!) Finally, let us free the water meter! ( I don't think it's going anywhere! HaHa!)
My biggest and best surprise is this Passion Flower! This is the first time I have ever seen it in the flesh! I count this blossom as one of my favorites, yet have only seen it in pictures. I'm hoping that a "first time" will be in store for you today! Pomaika'i! (Good Luck!)
