Packing up the treasures ...

Every day, I pack up two boxes in preparation for our move, across town, at the end of the month. Each treasure brings back memories.

My mother in law gave me this special anniversary Jim Beam bottle representing Hawaii (the whiskey distiller created a unique bottle for each state).

When I lived in the Netherlands, I found these tiles in a thrift shop.  The tiles celebrate beloved queens.

When I left the Netherlands, my thrift shop buddy gave me this tulip plate.

China maker Mottahedeh creates ceramic antique reproductions.  The dish below is Torquay Blue - it was a wedding gift from my Grandmother who lived in Torquay!  From the Mottahedeh website (link),

Clinging to the coast of Devon in southern England was theelegant resort town of Torquay, renowned for its mild climate and its abundant marine life. The shells and entwined sea grasses inspired the Swansea potters who flourished between 1764 and 1846. This pattern was created circa 1820. Made originally in the traditional English transferware style, Torquay enjoys poulairty today in Blue and now in Coral Pink .

Speaking of China, here's our cloissane vase from our trip to China (link).

Can you share a special treasure in your home?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's posts wins a book choice from my convention stash.  Comments are open through Saturday, August 8, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, August 9.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Here's another Hawaiian treasure ... Zsa Zsa in a box!

Aloha Tower, Ali'iolani Hale, King Kamehameha, and 'Iolani Palace

  

My mother in law wanted to see the King Kamehameha Statue featured in H50.   So we drove to the Aloha Tower, parked, and walked over to King Street.   

King Kamehameha proudly stands in front of the Ali'iolani Hale - House of the Heavenly King.  It served as the seat of government for the Kingdom of Hawaii.  Today is home of the Hawaii State Supreme Court ... and the fictional H50 office!

This is the second statue cast in Paris to honor Kamehameha the Great.  The first was lost at sea in transit near the Falkland Islands.   

 

Kamehameha is draped with lei on June 11 - a state holiday in his honor.

Ali'iolani Hale is open to the public.   I was lucky to take this shot in between tourists walking through the atrium!

Across the street is the 'Iolani Palace.   The first cornerstone was laid in 1879 on the sight of a former royal residence made of wood.  Two monarchs lived in the 'Iolani Palace - King Kalākaua and Queen Liliʻuokalani - before the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii.

The gates are decorated with the king's seal.   

The palace served as administrative offices for the the Republic of Hawaii and the Territory of Hawaii.  Once Hawaii became a state, the government moved into a new building and the 'Iolani Palace and it fell into disrepair.   A preservation group has restored it for public tours.

The upper corner room was Queen Liliʻuokalani's "prison" during her house arrest after the overthrow.  The room (or a set of it) served at Steve McGarrett's office in the first H50 series.

The palace is decorated with Chinese Lanterns for the holiday season.  We walked back to the Aloha Tower for another view of Honolulu's icon.   Today is  open comments.   One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash.  This giveaway is open to all readers.  Comments are open through Saturday, December 29, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, December 30, at SOS Aloha.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

Jane Austen meets King Kamehameha, Barbershop singers, and the Ulupo Heiau

Jane Austen, please meet King Kamehameha the Great.  He's known as the Napoleon of the Pacific.  After defeating his cousin to rule the Big Island of Hawaii, he conquered Maui, Lana'i, Moloka'i, and Oahu.  Once the king of Kaua'i signed a peace treaty, King Kamehameha united the Hawaiian islands.   In effect, he protected each island from becoming a European colony. 

King Kamehameha proudly stands outside
Hickam Elementary School.
Notice the yellow hibiscus, the state flower.

Jane joins us for a special Barbershop
Chorus event in Kailua.
Jane meets two members of Aloha Spirit.

Jane climbs the ladder to the pool's slide -
no doubt Marianne Dashwood would jump right in!

Jane admires the maile lei shared
by these fine gentlemen.

Ah, the comforts of Hawaii!

On our way home, we visit the Ulupo Heiau.

From its website (at this link),

Hauwahine, the mo'o or guardian spirit, protects the people of Kawai Nui and assures an abundance of fish. The legendary association of Ulupo Heiau with the menehune suggests the antiquity of this site. The massiveness and quantity of rock carried many miles hint at its cultural importance. Tradition records Kualoa, more than 10 miles away, as one source of these stones.

Hawaiians still bring treats for the gods.

The heiau is larger than it appears in these pictures.

Also from the website,

It is likely that the function of this heiau changed over time. It probably began as a mapele or agricultural heiau with ceremonies and rites conducted to insure the fertility of the crops grown in Kawai Nui. In later times, it may have become a heiau luakini dedicated to success in war with structures erected atop this massive stone platform, including an altar, an oracle tower or anu'u, thatched hale, and notches in the terraces to hold the ki'i or wooden images. The spring off the corner of the heiau was another important feature related to the ceremonial traditions of the site.

Jane inspects the taro patch.

Do you have a favorite fruit or vegetable from your area?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash.  This giveaway is open to all readers.  Comments are open through Saturday, June 2, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, June 3.


Mahalo,


Kim in Hawaii

Jane found several coconuts!