What do you do when you live on an island that is 44 miles long and 30 miles across with a population of a 1,000,000 and with thousands of tourists? Obviously, you just go with the Aloha flow and become a tourist! Yes, this week my daughter and I hit all of the hotspots with every other tourist, mostly beautiful Japanese couples with their fedoras on, their selfie sticks and rental Mustangs. We have gotten accustomed to the travel here now and can make it out and back home before most of the unbearable traffic hits. We explored Ho’olmaluhia Botanical Gardens which was spectacular, the native plants and flowers are stunning as well as the view of the mountains majestically looking down on you. Heading east from there we did the required Makapu’u Point Lighthouse and the Halona Blowhole Lookout. All the touristy scenes are in the Landscapes gallery. I haven’t gotten out for a sunrise or sunset yet, I promise I will but for now its just not on my traffic radar.
I’m not a foodie but my daughter thinks she is so I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you about all the wonderful food that we have eaten here as we explored the island. It should be noted that I had to bribe her with ramen, sushi or Thai food to get her to go hiking with me! The highlight so far was a fantastic Vietnamese fusion restaurant in Chinatown called “The Pig and the Lady”, where the Pho Bac was so fragrant and fresh that you just ooh and awed at every bite. Yohei Sushi although the priciest of the restaurants was by far the most authentic Japanese sushi and the freshest fish I have ever eaten, no American sushi rolls full of fillers, all fresh cut fish as you order with a little bit of rice.
With our bellies full and the tourist list checked off for now, I immediately went out on my own and got as LOST as possible! As long as I feel safe (unfortunately there are a lot of homeless here with “medical” conditions) that is where I am most comfortable, off the beaten path, finding my way as I go. I went back to Makapu’u Point Lighthouse and as all the tourists went up the hill, I spied a worn volcanic rock path going down the road into a valley and then to the shoreline, no one was on it. The path lead me to the most secluded blue water cove. It was perfect for snorkeling and for just pondering life as the waves smashed into the volcanic coast line. I was observing a sea cucumber when suddenly a man jumped up out of the water with full dive gear, a spear, and a belt full of huge red snapper. I guess he wins for the freshest fish and my cove is not a secret!
I did some meandering about on the Marine Corps Base Kaneohe. They have a marvelous wetland trail there that you can hike and see some great wildlife. The birds and fish are protected in the eight enclosed Nu’upia Ponds. Legend has it that Hawaiian gods created the first man out of the bluish black soil there and many ancient burial sites have been excavated in the area as well. The Marines do an excellent job of upkeep and protection of this wetland area. I had a hysterical time watching gray francolin families, a type of quail, run into and out of the brush madly. While watching these crazy quails, a bird with a long bill which was slightly curved up at the end flew into feed on the nearby shoreline. When it flew in, I quickly took some flight shots and knew through my lens that I had gotten something good. Good indeed, this is when and where I got Life Bird #330, the Bar-tailed Godwit, which in this time frame happens to be rare for the Oahu area which really was thrilling for me and got the local birding community running for their binoculars.
Lastly, I wandered up to Kahuku Golf Course which is a public course up on the North Shore open for golfers and birders as well. I was told by a local birder that this is where I would find Life Bird #334 the Bristle-thighed Curlew, Hawaiians call them Kioea. Indeed, a short hike past the 9th hole lead me to an abandoned farm and sitting out on an old fence post was two curlews. This buffy colored, long downward curved bill wetland bird breeds in the summer months in the Alaska tundra but spends its winters here. I'm not positive but it looks to me from birding reports that there might be some curlews that stay here locally year round. I fortunately was able to see six of them as well as two other life birds the ring-necked pheasant and a grouping of small finches called Red Avadavats, I'm hoping for better pictures of those when they are in breeding plumage.
I will continue to be a trapped tourist, try to get lost, stay out of the fray, and tell you all about it in my blogs but I would also love to hear from you! Please if you have a second, comment below and let me know how you are and maybe if you have any questions for me.
As always, hug your family and as the Hawaiians say, “Aloha kekahi i kekahi”- Love One Another.
God Bless, MC
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