It's been awhile that I've posted a picture of a beautiful gate, but, it has to impress me before I share it with you. Colorful, stately, Bird of Paradise graced this driveway gate. I liked how the plants are framed into the metal gate.
Thick brush strokes convinced me that this mailbox was hand-painted. Great composition and fetching colors helped to attract my attention on this walk!
Maybe the heavy rains we were experiencing had a part in it, but, the vibrancy of the flowers took my breath away today! Aren't they gorgeous!
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT! I have just past the 600 mile mark since starting this blog! Taking 4.07 miles to complete today's walk, I have now walked 603.86 miles in total! Every 100 miles, I pause to celebrate how far I have come! One step at a time has got me this far!
I wasn't the only one who had to turn around today. Patch Gate is an alternate way to get in and out of Fort Shafter which is obviously closed on Saturday as well as Sunday too! Stick with the Buckner Gate, folks!
Now either this resident LOVES Angels, or they figure, the more angels, the more protection! It was a beatific sight anyway! What do you think?
Knowing that Kam IV(Kamehameha IV) road is dissected with the freeway, I wanted to explore how it started from King St. across the freeway and headed mauka (towards the mountain)! Maybe I shouldn't have continued in the Private Property area, but, I was amply rewarded with this perplexing sight! A huge, vertical stone with Japanese writing on it stood in the middle of the housing. Graveyard or Shrine, I know not, but, it was beautifully maintained!
Ending my jaunt, I walked the length of Kaua St., which is sandwiched between Fort Shafter and the Moanalua Freeway. Thankfully, my daughter picked me up at Moanalua Gardens so that I didn't have to back-track back to my car. What are you thankful for today? E Malama Pono! (Take good care!)
Sometimes, my blogger friends, I don't have an explanation as to why I took the photo except that it pleases me! Here is one example. I loved the play of sunlight on the red Ti plant and the surrounding colors seemed to emphasize it's beauty. Yes, Donna may have had TOO much sun at the time! HaHa!
I wonder what occurrence happened here that not only did they put their address number on once, but TWICE, then THRICE! A great story could be had here!
Having exposed you to many Japanese gardens, what set this apart? Do you see the Koi fish swimming out from under the bridge?(Double click if you need to see up close!) Well, it's made out of glass or plexiglass and sits on top of the smooth stones making you imagine clear water covering them. I'm impressed with the vision the owner had for this effect.
Hip-Hip-Hooray! I bid a fond farewell to Aiea! Today completed the last of the area, taking 4.35 miles, lots of heavy breathing and a cacophony of barking dogs! Using Radar Hill Road as my "challenging hill" nemesis, today was like "2" Radar Hill Roads! My decision to finish Aiea was ample motivation!
Using this artistic mailbox as a vantage point, Kiawe St. is an example of the roads that were on my route today.
Obviously a San Francisco 49'er aficionado, this resident made their mailbox look like a football helmet. They stand a good chance to make it to the Superbowl this year! Anyone making bets?
I'm standing at the highest point of my walk today on Nahele St. Knowing that everything is downhill from here, seeing the panoramic view and having a bathroom and water fountain nearby makes my spirits soar! I hope that good things are presented before you today, to take advantage of and make you happy! Keep smiling! Aloha no! (Lots of love!)
Catching my eye due to it's peculiar shape, I must admit that I'm quite fond of this cement pattern. Usually brick contains angular lines, and this one has CURVES! Yeah, you're right! Donna does have different tastes!
Talking about lines, I'm used to seeing an abundance of flowers on one bush, this is the first time that they were all in a STRAIGHT line! Very organized, but lovely!
Looking like wrapped packages hanging from the branches, peering closer I realized that it's wrapped bricks weighing the branch down. Does it strengthen the tree? Do you know what the purpose is? Double click the picture to see up close!
If you can't help me with the previous picture, how about this one? I thought that it was a price tag at first, but then I noticed that there was a whole bunch of them! Sticky bug paper? What do you think?
Back to Aiea I go, trying to fill some gaps in my walk. Knowing that this route would be inclines and steep declines, 4.41 miles took an inordinate time to complete. Putting one foot in front of the other and plodding slowly, I got the job done. Sleep will come easily tonight, I think! HaHa!
You are looking down Piki St. I snapped a picture as I caught my breath. I bet the residents LOVE the view and that they don't WALK home! HaHa!
Normally, I don't wish for rain, but it would have been so cool to see a waterfall streaming down this rock path!
Are you thinking that this is a modern painting? Nope, I wanted to show you the rich colors of the Mindanao Gum tree up close. One of the few non-Australian eucalyptus species, I hope that you can appreciate it's beauty! By the way, this is the seventh tallest specie of tree in the world, growing up to 200 feet!
Been falling asleep? I hope that this bright hibiscus woke you up! Probably making the resident nervous as I had to walk up their driveway to take this picture up close! See what I go through to capture these gorgeous flowers! Do something daring today! Nothing illegal though! HaHa! E Malama Pono! (Take care!)
A single-man canoe and paddler about to launch into the waters of Ala Moana Beach park. Originally called, Kalia, Ala Moana was a swampland occupied by many Hawaiian fishermen, numerous fish, ducks, birds, fish ponds and taro patches. The Princess Bernice Pauahi-Bishop estate sold the land to Walter F. Dillingham in 1912 for a tidy sum of $25,000 and immediately displaced many of the residents and filled the swampland with coral from nearby Dillingham dredging projects and created Ala Moana Beach Park. Kalia lives on only as a road in Waikiki now. (Check the second map in the bottom right corner!)
Having an appointment in the area, I decided to accompany my daughter and do some "Walking Hawaiian" while there. I forgot just how big Ala Moana Beach Park is, but I found out by trodding 4.71 miles on today's route. Circumnavigating the park and Ala Moana Shopping Center, I was only one of many pedestrians who frequent the area. Sapphire blue water, great shopping and interesting people made this walk a feast for the eyes!
The area, Ala Moana (path to the sea) was named after the shopping center. When first built, it was the largest shopping center in the United States! Even though it has lost this designation through time, its still known as the largest "open air" shopping center in the world today!
I just wanted to share images seen on my walk through Ala Moana Beach Park. By the way, many varieties of established trees would entertain a knowledgeable botanist!
Though mostly parking for the shopping center, Kona St. (my namesake, Hawaiian for Donna) lengthens westward and hopefully better views since the east part of this street was finished today.
Passing by my FAVORITE mu'u mu'u store on Kapiolani Blvd., it took all of my self-control to not stop in and try on a few dresses! Great prices and great designs, I WILL drop in for a look soon! Hoping that your New Year is starting out fabulously! Aloha No! (Lots of love!)
I know that our favorite saying is, "Hang Loose," but, this is a little disturbing! The resident had a decoration malfunction I suppose!
Crazy enough, I must have HEIGHT FEVER, because heading up the mountain seems to be the routes I'm taking! HaHa! Actually, close to finishing Ka'ahumanu St., I thought it might be a good idea to do that. I figured that it couldn't be as bad as Radar Hill Rd.! Walking to the end and back doubled the distance to 4.39 miles for the day.
Since today will be the last Walking Hawaiian for the year of 2013, a grand total should be announced! Even though for the month of December, I trod a respectable 17.69 miles, I didn't succeed in my goal to reach the 600 mile mark to end the year of 2013, but managed to complete 586.32 miles. With my foot problems hallmarking this year, I was still able to walk 159.96 miles this past year!
Named after Kamehameha's favorite wife, Ka'ahumanu, was a high-born chiefess, higher than Kamehameha himself. After Kamehameha died, she became a Kuhina-nui and ruled jointly with Kamehameha II (Liholiho) She broke the laws of Kapu, never to be used again. Read the history about her, as she was an important part of change to the Islands.
Another interesting fact about this street is that the west side of the street is considered Pearl City, and the east side of the street is Aiea! So, I walked in Pearl City and Aiea today!
Somebody got company! I hope that they were NICE all year! HaHa!
Barren of leaves and flowers, this plumeria tree looked more like a decorated antler tree, don't you think?
Looking like ripe fruit, I wanted to pluck the decorations and have a bite! I know that you're thinking that Donna must have had too much sun, but I think it had to do with the color of the balls.
Yes, Ka'ahumanu St. wasn't as bad as Radar Hill Rd., but it was still quite a climb. What a welcome surprise and relief that a chair and a panoramic view awaited at the very end.
Barely visible surrounded by a monstera plant, I want to call this mailbox, "Hide and Seek!"
Only taking four years to produce all this lush vegetation, Jeff, the owner of the property was busily trimming and almost had a heart attack when I surprised him with my presence and voice! HaHa! That happens a lot with me, I don't know why?
With dedication and effort, Jeff and his wife accomplished so much in four years! It starts with the first plant! The New Year spurs renewed dedication to walking this beautiful Island of Oahu. My efforts seem paltry compared to this garden, but progress is occurring! I will see you all next year! "Hau'ole Makahiki Hou!(Happy New Year!)
