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Mt Hawaiian Vacay Day Four

Made the trip to Chinatown early; I'm grateful I didn't go after dark! I've been to Chinatown in San Francisco, LA, Seattle, and Vancouver...love the cultural experience. THIS however was not the cultural experience as the others.

The Chinese Cultural Center which is supposed to mark the gateway to the area was a homeless encampment. There were several homeless in wheel chairs, almost as if the local hospital decided to dump everyone without insurance in this location. It was frightening. All kind of crazy everywhere.  Undaunted, I was determined to shop the crowded stalls, seeking black cultured pearls. 

The streets were congested with the elderly, doing their morning shopping for fruits, vegetables and fish. The smells were overwhelming; food smells mixed with the gamey smells of unwashed bodies. I walked through the food court where vendors offered up live crabs, every variety of fish, abolone, and beautiful deep red lychees. The assortment of prepared foods was eclectic, but wholly unappetizing. I exited the food court and sought out the smoothie shop. Colorful photos advertised every conceivable combination of exotic fruit smoothie; I chose lychee and mango...declined the bubbles (tapioca). It was delicious! Sipping my smoothie, I strolled up and down the streets, peering into crowded shops, listening to the cacophony of sounds, watching the schizophrenic transgender solicit up and down one particular street ( isn't it a little early for that?!) generally enjoying the experience.

I ducked into one shop that was crammed with jewelry , scarves, and kitschy oriental trinkets. It looked promising to find a good deal on black cultured pearls. The choice was overwhelming...I negotiated a price, made my purchase and decided I had enough of Honolulus Chinatown.

Walked several blocks in the heat in search of a bookstore that specializes in Hawaiian literature /history. Tucked in a little shopping area just across the street from the harbor, it was a cool respite from the heat. A musician was playing the guitar and the woman behind the counter glided over towards me...all I could think of was the Kinks song Lola...'she walked like a woman talked like a man, Lola. L-O-L-A Lola.'  She had a deep breathy voice and was totally enamored with my earrings.....'oooooo, they are a Goddess.....' She was really beautiful...Caitly Jenner eat your heart out. Kalaleo directed me to the books on Hawaiian history and fluttered her six foot three frame back to the counter. I chose my book ( Literary Chronological of Hawaii), chatted up Kalaleo as I paid ( oooo girl) and decided lunch was in order. A kiosk offering Korean BBQ was just the ticket...and only $6.00!

After my filed trip downtown, I was ready for the pool deck. Paul joined me and as we soaked up the sun talking about our day, we decided to take a drive to the Leeward side of the Island. I needed to see something besides to congested Wakiki.

Leaving the congestion of Honolulu/Wakiki, the geography becomes mountainous .....with steep cliffs slipping into the jewel tone of the Pacific. Hanamua Bay, the Holando (sp?) Blow Hole ( volcanic rock that has formed a tube so that when the waves crash on the rock, spray comes up through the tube and resembles a whales blow hole) Sandy Beach, and the little town of Waimanalo. Gorgeous! We tak e Rt 61 across the mountains, shrouded in low lying clouds, back to Honolulu ...where we get to pay 
$49 for bad Mexican food. 

Tomorrow Pearl Harbor!

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