Lunch @ Dukes...

Sunday afternoon I went into Waikiki to have an annual lunch

with our San Clemente friends, Tim and Donna.  

It's always good to see them during their stays here.

It's funny, we didn't know them in San Clemente but met them

through a mutual friend at the beach.

Tim ordered "Korean beef street tacos".  We were joking

that we didn't know that Koreans liked tacos.

I had something called the steak and wedge salad that 

was pretty good.

I didn't try Donna's beet salad but it sure did look yummy!

after the crazy weather on Friday night/Saturday it was nice that

it was such a beautiful day!

no trip to Waikiki would be complete without visiting with Tommy.

can't believe that he's still working on the beach.

Ran into Mike too and we were talking about "the good 'ole days".

Things have changed, but not these friends.

I wish I wasn't so busy that I could go and spend hours

getting caught up with everyone.

But it was nice to visit, even for a short time.

Golden Sky...

the most perfect time of day...

Waikiki sunset

with the golden sky, water, surfer silhouettes and a sunset dinner cruise.

Another different view.

Changing Skyline...

 last week were we were in town I noticed something...

the whole skyline of Waikiki/town is changing.

From Kakaako to Ala Moana there are at least

four huge projects underway.

 Seems like those big cranes are everywhere.

Ala Moana Center is adding a whole new wing

you can no longer check out the surf when you leave

Ward movie theaters

even off the freeway a crane stands

I was sad when I realized that the view from Ward Center is gone.

What had been a parking lot for the theaters and shops is now going to be

apartments.  

So now where is everyone going to park when they go to Dave & Busters, Buca or a movie?

Sometimes I just wonder who plans out this stuff.

So with so many high-rise buildings, will the rest of that area develop it's own weather, like the

hotels did in Waikiki?

A Different View...

last weekend hubby and I were in town a couple of times.

One evening we got take out and took it down to the beach.

As we sat there eating, talking, watching all of the tourist and the surfers,

I realized how different the view of the ocean is on the complete opposite

side of the island.

as the sun was setting, it was a whole different type of sunset.

A different perspective of basically the same elements.

We came to the conclusion that it's really good to have a different view

every once in awhile.

Before There Was Dukes...

there was a green "Astro Turf" lanai where the luau was held several nights

a week.  There wasn't any lower lanai at that time.

on the Ewa end was the Blue Dolphin 

the Diamond Head end had Perry's Smorgy buffet

(couldn't find any photos of that)

downstairs, below the pool was Davy Jones locker

with a window into the pool and Pac Man games for 25cents

kids spent hours down there playing those games.

I'll take the memories from those times, not so sure I'd take the food now.

Beach Boys...

Saw this story on the news about changing how the beach boys

are tested and run in Waikiki.

I know that over the years, there are more and more water

activities that are taking place on the beaches and in the waters of

Hawaii.  Now a lot of them aren't sanctioned and the instructors

aren't trained.

In Waikiki, the beach boys are the ones that keep an eye on the beach

and are usually the first ones on the scene if something should happen.

To be a surf instructor or canoe captain, they have to past test and

show that they know CPR and life-saving skills.

This article makes it sound like it's a way to make money

for the DLNR by charing another fee and turning this over to

another outside business.  The beach boys have their own

organization that has kept watch over their group and what goes on.

I hope that this just isn't another way that someone thinks they

can make a "quick buck" but by doing so they take away more of the 

spirit that's Waikiki and the beach boy tradition.

Icon Gone Dark...

Last week when I was in Waikiki I snapped a quick picture of something that made me 

so sad…

the International Market Place is closed.

I been reading about it closing and even had a petition about trying to keep it

open…but to actually see it close with caution tape blocking the 

entrance and all of the shops on the Kuhio side empty, it just made me sad.

It was opened in 1957 and had some great places to hear Hawaiian music.

Our kids loved going there with us and when they got older going with their

friends.  During the hot summer days, it was a great place to get cooled off in the

shade of the huge banyan tree.

They are going to tear it down to make room for a Saks Fifth Ave. and a shopping mall.

Really?  What local is going to go there?  Wonder how many tourist will go?  It will

right next door to the Liberty House/Macy's and we all know how busy that place is.

Just sad.  All those people that worked there and all those memories…gone.

At least they're going to keep the banyan tree.

Waikiki Photo Dump...

just some random pics I took when 

I was in town the other day...

my new cover/case for my new iPhone 

makes me smile when ever I see it...so fun and

so different for me, not one bit of green on it.

don't see a lot of older VW buses here, I think probably because of the weather

and the rust, but I saw this one on Ala Moana.  It was so nice, but it didn't have

the full inside Westfalia camping set up.  That would have been too

much to ask.   Still nice.  Miss our RV (what the grands call ours) in SC

fall is coming to Hawaii...weather dips below 90 and it must be fall

Ala Moana Beach Park/ Magic Island

random reasons lucky we live Hawai'i

Waikiki Wrap...

saw the strangest thing the other day...

a WHOLE building wrapped in a sort-of aloha print!

right on Kalakaua Ave. in Waikiki.

I think it might have been the Waikiki Shopping Plaza building, but not

sure.

Just strange.

really did stand out so I 

wonder if it's only temporary...

Little early for Christmas wrapping.

Royal Hawaiian Hotel...Flashback Friday

I was looking at these photos of the Royal and realized that

when they re-did it several years ago they really did change

it.

I used to walk all over those grounds...early morning, hot afternoons looking

for cool shade or the magical warm nights.

Been to weddings, concerts (those on the great lawn were special), brunch,

classes and self-trimmed some of their plants to use at funerals.

the biggest change I think is that in the renovation, they 

"de-pinked" it.

There's still a lot of pink but nothing like before...

I think I miss it.

On postcards that show Waikiki from the air...

there she is the "Pink Lady of Waikiki" right in the center.

Flashback Friday, August Birthdays...

We went to Waikiki in August for years...

and would end up celebrating my birthday along with

other friends at a big party.

There was a time when pau hana parties could be

held on the lower deck on the beach...plenty singing, dancing 

and food at those times.

then the rules changes and we would have a big lunch

on the beach...on top of the storage boxes

some of the August birthdays

Noah and the girls

I think this might have been Macie's 16th b'day at their

house in Manoa

Grandpa Big Fish and his birthday hats

dear Peg would decorate one of the umbrellas

August Birthdays in Waikiki...

the best memories!

Na Hula 2013...

Sunday was the 73rd Na Hula Festival.

I didn't do it this year because of my trip to Iowa and my knees.  Now I wish I 

had just done 1 dance, I'm so bummed.  Oh well.

my sweet hula sisters waiting, they don't look nervous

Ms. Alama waiting to be introduced.

they were do good!

DiDi!!!!

sweet Nancy and her two daughters both danced.

my girlies...

you go girls

Marci, my admiration for her is unending

Makaleka

there aren't enough words to describe my feelings for

her.  She's beautiful as a dancer and as a person.

Ms. Alama gave us such  treat and danced for us.

everyone loves a smiling hula dancer

Hubby and the two beauties

my sweet Mitzie afterwards...I know she was relieved!

Ms. Alama was 10 years old the first time she performed at Na Hula...

4 different bandstands, and I wonder how many dancers.  She always

goes on at 11:00am SHARP on Sunday.

I just love this, dancing for the pure love of hula.