Oahu Page 3 _____________________________________________________ Enjoy more poems on Oahu as well as related items. ____________________________________________________ Three Poems: Nature's Way, Unknown at the Punchbowl, and Modern Air to Hawaii Vignette this Month: Aloha II Recommendations     Young woman graciously posed for this picture. On this page: We focus primarily on the Waikiki-Honolulu area. We take a brief sojourn to Kailua and its magnificent beach. Three poems appear in this issue–Nature's Way, Unknown at the Punchbowl, and Modern Air to Hawaii. The first is a bit lighthearted though serious; the second is sad; and the third written out of frustration with the current status of the U.S. airline system.   .Three Poems   Nature's Way Waves roar. Other times quietly roll in. The constant flow and ebb. As with life     joy and sorrow. The never ending cycle. Comment: Cycle of life-ying and yang. Enjoy the video to the right, a brief Poetical Video. Unknown at the Punchbowl I lie here     amidst the tropical beauty, the warm sun,     and the shade of the nearby Monkeypod tree. In ’41, I joined the Marines     to fight for country and freedom. Tears welled within     when I said goodbye to family and friends. Mother cried and Dad shook my hand. He said in halting voice,     “Be safe my son.” With the bravado of youth,     I joked that I would return soon. Already battle hardened     with the horrors of Guadalcanal     and most recently Saipan,     I am sent to another place, Guam. In August of ’44,     storming the beach,     shrapnel tore my body apart     in the warm waters     of this unknown island. No one recognized me     when recovered–     this farm boy from Kansas–     dog tags consumed by the sea. My family and three sisters     would always wonder     what happened to their son and brother. No matter how loud I screamed     they could not hear. This Punchbowl,     so peaceful, quiet,     a magnificent place to rest. Not far away, a spirit of an ancient Hawaiian roams,     sacrificed in 1726 for a Kapu* violation. We speak often in the universal language of death. Oh how I wanted to live. * code of conduct or taboo violation Comment: I am always moved when I see one of these vast memorial sites–this one being the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, also known as the Punchbowl. So many of the best are sacrificed in war! See pictures of the area below. Modern Air to Hawaii Hustle, stow the luggage. Stay out of the aisle, or step in     so others may pass.     “We want an on-time departure.” Seven hours westward     with every seat full. Life in sardine economy. Vanished are the days     of festive clad flight attendants,     free meals and one drink. Legroom for someone six-foot. The Islands' spirit replaced     by the greed of green. Survive, for we will soon be     in the Land of Aloha.    Comment: Self-explanatory. I remember the days when the trip over was festive and welcoming. Enjoy the poetical video that goes with the poem Nature's Way. (If for some reason you cannot see the video, click here which will take you to You Tube.. Learning to paddle board in the safety behind the breakwall of Waikiki Beach. Practicing tai chi in the garden of the Waikiki Hilton Yoga practice on the beach Enjoying a read in a hammock at Waikiki Beach     Panoramic view of Honolulu from the Punchbowl Note the extinct volcano Diamond Head on the upper left. National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu: This site is also known as the Punchbowl. (In Hawaiian it was called the "Hill of Sacrifice.") Whenever I visit such a place, I am overwhelmed with the memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Over 53,000 are buried here. Thousands who died in battle were laid to rest here along with veterans from WWI through Vietnam whose family requested burial in this sacred place. Vignette this Month: Aloha II Aloha exists as more than some tourist slogan generated by the Hawaiian Tourist Board. It is more than the mere traditional greeting and farewell used throughout the state. Because of what is sometimes referred to as the "Aloha Spirit," this state differs from any other I have lived in or visited. Even in the Honolulu city area of well over a million, this spirit though a bit faded when compared to elsewhere on the islands still exists. Over the decades I have watched the traffic in this city come to almost a standstill during rush hour. Even when moving at five to ten miles an hour Hawaiians will allow another car to enter the stream or to switch lanes. Usually the only horn that you hear comes from a Mainlander who has forgotten to slow down. Yes, Mainlanders are easily recognizable, both in the cars and walking the streets. (I won't explain but trust me having visited the islands extensively over three decades, you recognize them.) Today, while shopping in Paia, Maui, I was shocked to hear a young man complain, his car window was open, because a car was turning too slowly into a parking lot–yes, a Mainlander as was obvious by his dress and car. I was shocked as such behavior is rare. Don't misunderstand, life in Hawaii is far from perfect. With the increase in traffic on the other islands and tourists gawking at the sights, locals do become frustrated, usually by whipping around you at a high speed. But from my observations this state possesses characteristics that if adopted by other states would be admirable. How does one define the Aloha Spirit? It possesses a spiritual quality when used by native Hawaiians. A strong sense of family and extended family exists including a love for children. (My current state of residence, Utah, also possesses this quality.) Curby Rule in his article partially defines Aloha as ". . . being a part of all, and all being a part of me. When there is pain - it is my pain. When there is joy - it is also mine. I respect all that is as part of the Creator and part of me. I will not willfully harm anyone or anything. When food is needed, I will take only my need and explain why it is being taken. The earth, the sky, the sea are mine to care for, to cherish and to protect. . ." Despite the gorgeous beauty of this state, it is not for everyone. Strong Type A personalities go nuts with "Hawaiian time" where service slows down and a focus on Stephen Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People does not rate high on the priority list. But for this partially reformed A Type please bring on the Aloha! Perhaps this is one reason the state population has the longest life expectancy. (Ed.: As I reread this vignette, I sensed that I wrote on the same topic before. A quick check led me to last March's PJ. I appear to be fixated on this difficult to define behavior. Anyway, I believe the above to be unique enough to leave in.) Waikiki Beach, relatively quiet at 10 a.m. Out on the pier looking back toward Waikiki Recommendations Besides the traditional ones suggested in previous newsletters here are a couple more. Restaurant: MAC 24/7 in the Hilton Waikiki Beach Hotel: Though this restaurant is not your typical Waikiki food establishment , I recommend it for its well-prepared food under its new executive chef. It is famous for its award winning pancakes (Be sure to order the small portion.) But don't think of the restaurant as only a place for breakfast. Lunches and dinners are also delicious. It advertises itself as the place for comfort food. We ate there numerous times this round and do not hesitate to recommend. I will warn you though that service can be rather slow. For about seventh time we stayed at this Hilton. I have always found the hotel staff to be extremely helpful. Honolulu Zoo: Located at one end of Waikiki we decided to visit on a whim, having discussed so numerous times on previous visits. The zoo covers 42 acres and is home to 905 different animals. We had a great time! If you are traveling with children, it is a must place to visit. Surprisingly, one of the best lunches we had was at its small outdoor food stand (nice picnic area). I had a delicious ono sandwich accompanied with fresh fruit. Kailua Beach, Oahu, HI: Having visited all of the major Hawaiian Islands, this beach is my favorite for quality of sand, view, and overall ambiance. The white sand stretches for several miles. No wonder President Obama chooses this area as his favorite vacation spot Rear view of the Kuan Yin Temple from the Foster Botanical Gardens in Honolulu African Tulip tree coming into bloom Orchids in bloom Waikiki at night Mountains behind Waikiki Iolani Palace, the last residence of Hawaii’s royal leaders, King Kalakaua, and later, his sister, Queen Liliuokalani . More Sights & Recommendations about Waikiki and the Island of Oahu ...................................top ...............main Hawaii page .......Click here to go to Oahu Page 1 .......Click here to go to Oahu Page 2 .......Click here to go to Oahu Page 4 .......Click here to go to Oahu Page 5 ........................Homepage Click on the icon if you entered this site from another and wish to go to my home page. Beauty 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 home Travel