Travelling again - part nine

A short compilation of what I feel are my better or, at least, more interesting Hawaii pictures. This includes some not in the previous 'Travelling again' posts. A reminder that you can click on the photos. 

My generous hosts Kathy & Michael with masks made and sent as gifts by another dear friend, Si-Si, in Toronto.

Waikiki, not far from where Kathy & Michael live.

Evening exercise group.

Possibly Hawaii’s best-known recreation.

Hallowe’en surfers …

… and a serendipitous find, not at the beach, but in a residential neighbourhood.

Outside Kathy & Michael’s, a sleepy White Tern, protected in Hawaii.

From Kathy & Michael’s balcony as a Matson containership and White Tern begin their journeys into the Pacific.

One of the finds from my hunt for interesting mid-century signs and architecture. Diamond Head Gardens, now a condo, was built in 1969.

The Rainbow Drive-In, opened in 1961, is where Barack Obama spent time as a teenager. He’s occasionally returned while on holiday in Hawaii.

Weekend fixture next to one of Waikiki’s busiest streets.

The United States is a litigious society. This sign leaves no doubt about the possible perils of simply parking your car.

My favourite ‘building shot’, detail of Waikiki Cove, a condo built in 1963.

Honolulu’s Queen Theater, a picture palace opened in 1936, is a near abandoned wreck. Still, I’m pleased by tower and clouds. The cinema’s name was originally highlighted in neon and, looking closely, you can see the tubes. I think the picture’s more dramatic, perhaps with an appropriately Thirties feel, in black & white.

More clouds and an unusual walk-up apartment building, well, more the ventilation system.

A local who was with friends most mornings as I walked the beach.

On Waikiki’s Kūhiō Avenue leaning on a palm and taking it all in.

Outside Smith’s Union Bar to which Kathy & Mike first took me in 2018. Smith’s, opened in 1934, is historic as it’s the last surviving ‘crew bar’ frequented by pre-war sailors from Pearl Harbour. Some of the ill-fated Arizona’s crew are said to have been carousing at Smith’s the night before the Japanese attack. 

We had draft Kona Brewing Big Wave Golden Ales, very welcome on a hot day. The bar is dark and some would say seedy, but certainly atmospheric and this picture was taken when I returned later in the trip. 

To my surprise, I’ve since found Big Wave in my Toronto wine, liquor and beer store. The sign is at a bar not far from Kathy & Michael's.

One of Honolulu’s stylish bicycle stands was worth a shot. 

Velour beach towels - $14.99 or two for $28 - on sale on at an ABC, Hawaii’s ubiquitous and not inexpensive convenience chain. Very impressed when, on return home, a senior ABC executive quickly and helpfully replied to my emailed questions about the architecture of one of the company's stores. Excellent public relations. 

Can’t really explain why, I just liked this composition while on the Number 20 bus.

As the sign suggested, trespassing might not be such a good idea. I’ll never know why this Jaguar was parked where I wouldn’t normally expect to see a Jaguar.

Instead I had to content myself with exploring another garage, weird I know. This garage didn’t have an ‘Enter at Your Own Risk’ sign and did have these wonderful whales. In 1969, someone made an heroic attempt at beautifying a space that’s usually thoroughly dull. 

Baskets and other kitchen odds ’n’ sods in a Honolulu market.

Carved heads in the Liljestrand House, one of the United States’ more architecturally influential mid-century residences. 

Tiki keyring bought at Honolulu’s airport in memory of …

… this maskless tiki and ‘Masks Required’ sign outside a modest, two floor walkup in central Waikiki. The keyring will go on my knapsack in hopes of it accompanying me on future uninfected travels.

Travelling again - part eight

Time and again, just-after-dawn, coffee-in-hand walks in Kapi-olani Park and neighbourhood provide marvellous clouds.

Sometimes they almost seem to be boiling.

And, if not clouds, rainbows. In winter Toronto I’ll miss those clouds and rainbows.

Back home, at best, I’m mostly aware of pigeons and Canada Geese. So, I’ll also miss the elegant Egrets and cheerful Red-crested Cardinals.

I’ll even miss the scads of feral roosters, chickens and chicks. Mind you, I know sleepless locals curse the roosters at dawn.

Altho’ I’ve never anything to offer, I’ve become pals with a Koi. Still, I suspect it has more than enough to eat. 

I’ve been surprised to find Monarch butterflies in Hawaii. I’d assumed only North America, migrating as far north as Ontario, but sadly fewer than before.

Apparently thriving here, Monarchs arrived in the islands in the 1840s or 50s. According to Hawaii Nature Journal, ‘Whether they came here on their own, or with the aid of humans is not known. They are capable of great migrations …’

But my local favourites are the graceful White Terns, rightly protected in Honolulu.

This is just outside Kathy & Michael's.

This picture from their balcony was also in part two, but I’ll use it again. There’s romance in a vision of ship and White Tern departing into the vast Pacific. Well, there’s romance for someone on terra firma who can return to a good breakfast after taking the photo. 

Anyway, be safe, White Tern.

I didn’t know one palm tree from another. But after Kathy & Michael take me to Foster Botanical Gardens, now do.

From the delightfully named Millionaire’s Salad to my food. Other than many good meals at Kathy & Michael’s, where have I enjoyed eating in Honolulu?

Barack Obama apparently still occasionally returns to the Rainbow Drive-In, one of his youthful haunts, but not while I have a burger and slush float. Can’t remember when I last had a slushy. Perhaps never. It’s a strawberry flavoured drink topped with vanilla ice cream. Not what I’d normally choose. However, on a warm Hawaii evening, sitting outside with burger and slushy seems like another age. Sort of ‘American Graffiti-ish’.

Back again for daylight shots.

A short walk from central Waikiki it's possible to find eateries catering as much to residents as to visitors. The South Shore Grill on Monsarrat Avenue is one such place.

Decidedly informal. Just look at the backroom for customer overflow. However, it’s quiet when I’m there (more than once) and staff are happy to chat with an all-too-obvious tourist.

My favourite becomes the garlic sautéed shrimp with a Jarritos lime soda.

And, while eating, a splendid view of Diamond Head.

Another recommendation is the friendly Sunny Days, also on Monsarrat Avenue. This is their excellent, and beautifully presented, Acai bowl. Acai is a tropical fruit and comes with granola, strawberries, bananas, blueberries, yoghurt, coconut and honey. I have it with an iced Kona (from Hawaii’s Big Island) coffee.

The Pipeline Bakeshop recalls the fearsome Banzai Pipeline surfing waves on Oahu’s North Shore. Sadly I don't get to taste a ‘cake bomb’. That must await another trip.

So, all too soon, the miserable view from my Vancouver Airport hotel room before the onward flight home. Yuk!

What do I return with? A North Shore Shrimp Wagon cap. 

A tiki key ring, inevitably made in China. It can go on my travel haversack. 

It will remind me of this unmasked tiki (presumably not made in China) and warning sign outside Waikiki’s Kon Tiki Apartments. The property manager told me that, one night, the very heavy tiki was purloined and later found down the street. Now, heavy or not, the tiki is well secured. 

Thank you so much, Kathy and Michael, for your hospitality and encouraging me to get a locally-made Aloha shirt. As I’m shy I'll simply show the wonderful design. 

A post-trip gallery of my favourite shots is next.