My friends, my goal today was to complete more Kaka'ako.  I think that I may have finished finding all the POW! WOW! Hawaii murals.  The only part of Kaka'ako to do is just off the ocean.  I have to admit, I won't look forward to that just because hundreds of homeless people live there and safety may be an issue.   I think I'll walk there with another person to feel a little safer!

Not wanting to overdo, yet be able to finish the southeast end, 3.83 miles was a tidy amount of walking.  Lots of businesses and towering apartments were the highlights of my walk today.

I will need to study these last murals I found today.  Very symbolic, your interpretation may well be correct, even if we differ.  Maybe that is what the artist had in mind?  To reach our own conclusions!  I would be very interested in knowing what you came up with!

This beautifully painted car is giving the murals of Kaka'ako some competition!  Also very symbolic, I will need to study this too!  What does it say to you?

Walking a great deal on Kapiolani Blvd., these stately trees almost formed a shady tunnel and respite from the glaring sun.

Another respite came in the form of "talking story" with Roy!  He works at  "The Ding Kingdom Surfboard."  Originally from Tel Aviv, Israel, he surfed at Hilton Beach and now loves to surf off Diamond Head at Lighthouse.  That was MY surfing spot when I was younger!  Unbelievable coincidence, and super cool!

Home of the Brave Brewseum is a museum and brewery combined.  Brewing only enough for guests and some key military accounts, they are known for their own recipe, Pilot Pale Ale and Remember Pearl Harbor Dark Lager.  Operating only tours for now, but, they will be open for July 4th if you are interested!

Located appropriately on Queen St., this mural of Queen Liliuokalani graces an imposing side of a building.  Only seen if you are driving west on Queen St. before you get to Kamakee, it is easy to never know of it's existence otherwise.

A common seaside plant, the beach naupaka,with it's identifying half-flower shaped bloom has another species that live in the mountains, the mountain naupaka making it ripe for a romantic story!  In a jealous rage, the goddess Pele separated two lovers who became the beach naupaka and the mountain naupaka.  Put the blossoms together to reunite the ill-fated pair.

Everyone has a great TRUE story to share!  Share a story or listen to someone else today!  Truly enlightening!  Aloha no! (Lots of love!)

Can you find the faces?  Sometimes your frame of focus can hide what is so evident otherwise!  If you are guessing that I'm back in Kaka'ako, you are correct.  I am still on a mission to see all the the POW! WOW! Hawaii murals.  Please click on my link to thewalkinghawaiian2 to see even more murals!

Trying to fill in pukas,(holes) today took a blistering 5.80 miles to complete.  I look forward to the day when routes will start to connect to one another.  It's bound to happen sooner or later, yes?

An Island within an Island!  Found at the intersection of South St., King St. and Kapiolani Blvd., stands an artistically designed Island that could have easily been a triangular plot of grass instead.  I love it!  Do you?

Passing by a shop window, I realized that these aloha shirts had names!  Manufactured by RX, the names were associated with the pattern!  Please double click to enlarge the photo and see if you can see what it is called!

What used to be additional parking for the Ward 16 Theaters and Ward Warehouse, a huge high-rise will stand in it's place.  Bordering the work area is a wooden shield with informative pictures on it.  Depicted are pictures of the "Ward" family, Curtis Perry Ward and his wife Victoria (Robinson) Ward.  They owned the area where Ward Ave is and the Neil Blaisdell Arena and all the Ward shopping complexes. 

 If you would like more information, click on my link to thewalkinghawaiian2 blog. In addition, a descendant of the Wards, Frank Ward Hustace III, wrote a book called, "Victoria Ward and Her Family: Memories of Old Plantation."  

I know that I showed you the various ahupua'a that lead to Pearl Harbor.  Here are the ahupua'a that abound in the southeast part of Oahu.  Have you ever lived there or visited these ahupua'a 's?  Please double click the picture to enlarge.  I bet that you never knew the names or that there were so many of them, yeah?

I passed by my favorite burger joint, Kua 'Aina, and got Pavlov's response!  Yup, I started salivating!  You can find this on Auahi St.

Never far from beautiful flowers, here are multi-leaf hibiscus and yellow orchids in full bloom!

Makai (towards the ocean) of Ala Moana Blvd. stands the John A. Burns School of Medicine buildings, part of the University of Hawaii Manoa Campus.  The taro representation had the added opalescent panels that changed colors with the path of the sun in the sky!  Just gorgeous!

Studying the simplicity of the Mission Houses Museum, I realize that what they built was top of the line, newest technology for the time.  Boy, have things changed!  Even in the short span of 2 years, places revisited have already changed and my blog only captured a moment in time.  Yet, my blog remains and the memories stay in my heart and mind.  Capture sweet moments in time and enjoy it to the fullest because it'll be yours to keep!  Aloha no!(Lots of love!)

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!)

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!)