Whoa!  I would not put my flat-screen behind a parked car!  Well, maybe the car has a favorite show that can't be missed!  Still, a very strange sight to behold!

Unwavering sunshine with nary a cloud in the sky accompanied me on my walk today in Kapolei.  I guess that I'm out of practice as my pace slowed considerably!  Even though, I was able to complete 4.99 miles by back-tracking every, single street!

To my car aficionados, I believe that this is a 1956 Oldsmobile.  I loved the gold roof and the decorative detailing on the trunk as well as the hood.  You could fit a whole lot of people and luggage in this car!

What garnered my appreciation for this yard is that it actually is TWO yards!  Two neighbors decided to combine their yards and make it look like an extension of their own yard.  Beautifully manicured and what a beautiful relationship between neighbors!

Maybe I was getting hungry at this point, but I was thinking of a molten, chocolate fountain to dip strawberries in, when I saw this artistically cut bush.

Hard to miss bold colors emblazoned the frog who seems to be having a conversation with a crocodile in this whimsical yard arrangement.

The lovely yellow plumeria and neon-orange hibiscus are hard to miss too!

Found in one cul-de-sac, I guess they are missing someone dear to them.  By the way, they all have lights outlining the ribbon.  It must look beautiful at night.  Nice to see that people are loved and supported through this visual display of affection.  Are you making sure to demonstrate your love and support to those around you?  If not, do it today!  Aloha no! (Lots of love!)

This slipper might just fit my feet!  HaHa!  Though not a part of my "Walking Hawaiian," this is the "Charity Walk" that I try to participate in every year.  Well, you know that it's right up my alley!

A six mile walk with a minimum of $35 participant fee, the food you get all along the way and the many Hawaii organizations that benefit makes it well worth the cost.

I was revving my walking engines to get started, but, the worst log jam was at the start since we all had to get our stamps first.  STAMPS?  

There are 18 checkpoints that need stamping and when you get them all, this is your ticket for a FREE lunch and  you become eligible for drawings for prizes after the walk. Yeah, my card was pretty "bussup" from putting it in and out of my pocket.

I did not have need for their services yet, as we just started, but, it's good to have them nearby later on, yeah?

The Double-Tree cookie is my daughter's favorite which was one of the goodies we ate directly or put it in the backpack for later!  We paused for a picture along the Ala Wai Canal.

This year included many photo opportunities along the route.  Here, a mermaid sat, with a ready smile and a comfortable seat.

Not only was my daughter on this walk with me, but also my friend Robbie.  The shaved ice did not have the best flavor, but it sure cooled you down!

They must have held a decorative SLIPPER contest.  These are my favorites! Please double click the photo to see the intricate details!  Very creative!

The waves were pumping and glassy, but alas, Rochelle didn't have her board.  So, she improvised!

Finally, the last checkpoint and the end of the walk is in sight!  We were greeted with cheering girls and a fine mist at the finish.

Here are all the shirts of the Hotels who sponsored the event.  I saw many of them while we were walking.  My legs are sore, and my body exhausted, but, it was very satisfying to complete and fun to be with my daughter and friend for a great cause.  E Malama Pono! (Take good care!)
* By the way, if you would like to see more pictures of the event, click and check out my daughter's blog, "It's the weekend!" 

Somebody is talking behind this guy's back...or maybe BITING!  If you are wondering if I'm back in Kaka'ako, you would be correct.  Due to weather conditions and age, I thought that it would be good to document the beautiful art of POW! WOW!  Enjoy and TRY to understand!  Each work needs thoughtful contemplation for the artist's interpretation.

Walking perpendicular to my previous route, I was able to fill in most of the pukas (holes) , and photograph many more painted murals in the area. Completing only 3.26 miles for the day, I am resting up for the Charity Walk on Saturday. This is a 6 mile event that I participate every year! 

 I forgot to give you April's tally, so here it is!  The total for April was 15.82 miles adding to the Grand Total of 667.70 miles since starting this blog.  Come on 700!  I can TASTE it!

Met up with an interesting guy from Laie, named Matt!  He and his wife formed, Wooden Wave.  As I continued my walk, I came across his art.  A mural of tree houses, possibly a community!  I liked how he incorporated the meters in it!  If you would like to get more information, his email is: woodenwaveinfo@gmail.com.

Most important in art is composition!  I loved how this artist put everyday objects in this mural, somehow making it look organized and not just a MESS.  I wanted to take notes and identify each and every object.  Are you thinking that I'm OCD?  HaHa!

Not good to pass by when you are getting hungry!  One of my favorite Hawaiian Food restaurants!  I didn't know that they were in business since 1947!  They're obviously a hit!

What struck me about this art was the very heartfelt dedication to the artist's father.  It reminds me that everyone is human and experiences loss, but expresses it in different ways.

Again, if you would like to see more of the murals in Kaka'ako, please click on my link to my other blog, "the walking hawaiian 2!"  I didn't want to overwhelm you by posting everything that I saw.

A classmate of mine who has made the BIG TIME, yet is so humble.  I love her icon with the A and the N put together so ingeniously!  Way to go!  May you have continued success!

A novel way to support vines or trailing plants.  Eventually, it should grow into either a star or a circle!

Please double click the picture to find out why I thought that this was so unique!  Do you see it?  Yes, the poles and sign have been covered with knitted material!  So cool!  I mean...warm! 

Painted on a rolling door, I was lucky to see this as most places open their door for business!  The peony is my favorite flower due to its longevity, size and scent.  What is your favorite?  Make sure to ENJOY it!  Aloha no! (Lots of love!)

Thank goodness this is only a statue.  Standing there taking a picture would be precarious if they were real.  I would have made a "BIG SPLASH," yes?  A memorial to all firefighters located at the corner of Queen St. and South St., is the Honolulu Fire Department Headquarters.  Called, "Hale Kinai Ahi," which translates to "The House that fights fires," the old and the new are connected structurally.  Did you notice that the firefighter in the back is FEMALE?  Right on!

Feeling like a change, I decided to further investigate Kaka'ako!  Walking a blistering 4.80 miles, so much history and beautiful murals are making it hard to omit any photographs I took today!  Rain, sometimes as a downpour, was my constant companion, yet, it kept me cooler than the constant glare of sunlight.

Almost every building had a mural on it and I had to get more and more selective due to the sheer number of wall art I came across.  POW WOW HAWAII, is a week-long event that artists from Hawaii and around the world paint murals.  What you see was the result of participants from 2013 and 2014. 

 I loved the Papa Mau Piailug painting which depicted a master navigator who trained Nainoa Thompson to sail the ancient Hawaiian way, by navigating using the stars.  Hokule'a, a double hulled canoe, soon will embark on a worldwide voyage which will take more than 3 years, and it's passengers will use skills taught by this man.

Since I couldn't post every mural, yet I think that they deserve a look, please link to my other blog by clicking "the walking hawaiian 2, and see more great works!

Out of everything I saw, this was my favorite.  It was the method he incorporated that fostered my admiration and respect for his art.  Using a carving technique as seen in the second photo, (by the way, I looked pretty weird taking the shot) Vhils, an artist from Portugal, gouged his way into the building to render his mural. A great technique to take out your frustrations, yes?

You know that as I walk, I scan the surrounding area for an item of interest.  Well, placing light posts and electric poles in a zig-zag configuration ON THE SIDEWALK, made it very difficult for me to walk Ala Moana Blvd!  Okay, so WHO got that great idea?

I never knew that a business would get an "A'li'i  post.  Well, the Kamaka Ukulele, family owned with a reputation for making high-quality instruments, are the patented owners of the "Pineapple Ukulele."  Fashioned by Samuel Kamaka Sr., it is their signature ukulele.  By the way, they have free tours at 550 South St., Tuesday - Friday at 10:30a.m. to 11:30a.m.  

Seeing this sight down Quinn Lane, it just looked out of place!  Reading a nearby plaque, I found out that this area is a remnant of Honuakaha Cemetery in which 1000 victims of a smallpox epidemic in 1853-54 are interred.  Taking 8% of Hawaii's population within 8 months, 2500-5750 deaths occurred.  Because of it, legislation for mandatory vaccination for residents and visitors alike, was enacted in 1854.

Coming upon a row of miniature plumeria trees, I had to show you the size by fitting a whole cluster of flowers within the palm of my hand.  Usually, one blossom would fill my palm.  Don't try making a lei (garland) out of this because it'll take you forever and you'll need five to six times more flowers!  

Well, I know that this blog seems like forever, so I'll close for now! E Malama Pono!  (Take good care!)