Aloha to St. David's Day, Cymru's Red Dragon, and the Laniloa Mo'o

Today is St. David's Day!  St. David is the patron saint of Wales - the Red Dragon will be flying proudly across Cymru.    

Likewise, 2012 is the Year of the Dragon .... so I offer you a Hawaiian legend of a slain dragon in La'ie.

La'ie is located on the northeastern coast
near the Polynesian Cultural Center.

La'ie is know for its "sea arch".

Up close, notice the man made rock piles on the left.

The above plaque was part of a Boy Scout Eagle Project.
It details the legend of Laniloa the Mo'o.

From the Bishop Museum,

This point of land that extends out into the ocean is called Laniloa. According to legend. This peninsula was originally a "Mo'o" or giant lizard. Standing upright ready to kill any intruder.

After Kana (a legendary warrior) and his brother had rescued their mother from Moloka'i and had taken her back to Hawaii. Kana set out on a journey to kill all the Mo'o in the islands. In time, he arrived in La'ie where the Mo'o had been killing many people. Kana easily defeated the Mo'o taking its head. He chopped it into five pieces and flung them into the ocean. The pieces of the lizard's head can still be seen today as five small islands lying off-shore their original names were Kihewamoku, Moluaaniwa, Pulemoku, Malualai and Keauakaluapa'a'a. 

Do you have a local legend?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs will win a book choice from my convention stash.  This giveaway is open to all readers.  Comments are open through Saturday, March 3, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, March 4.


Mahalo,


Kim in Hawaii

The Welsh coast looks like Hawaii!

Aloha to Leonard's Malasadas, Silent Warriors, Storage Auctions and Jellie's Books

Tuesday's adventure took us to the leeward side for Leonard's Malasadas in Waikele. The ladies engaged in Ho`olauna `Ana (friendly conversation) as they packed the chocolate creme, custard creme, and haupia (coconut) creme malasadas (donuts).

Next stop - the silent warriors (decommissioned ships)
in Pearl Harbor's West Loch.

These gentle giants served with distinction ... 

... and now enjoy retirement in Paradise!

Nadja and Ivy enjoy the sun ... 

  

... Ivy enjoys a fruit snack!

Our curiosity took us to a storage auction in Waipahu.
Inspired by Storage Wars, I chatted with some of 
the "pros" who make their money reselling 
everyday goods at swap meets. 
I'll write more about the auction in a future post.

Last stop - Jellie's Books in Aeia.  It is a "Bohemian"
store with gently read books, gently heard CDs,
and gently viewed  DVDs.  Ivy found a book!

Where do you buy books - retailer?  independent?  online?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs will win a book choice from my convention stash.  This giveaway is open to all readers.  Comments are open through Saturday, March 3, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, March 4.


Mahalo,


Kim in Hawaii

Jellie's promotion for the Red Cross .

Aloha to Diamond Head - Oahu's Iconic Landmark

Today's blog is worthy of extra large photos.  The Grand Daddy of all hikes is Diamond Head.   The military first used the crater for storage and the crest as an outlook. 

The military still uses Diamond Head but it is also a state park (at this link).  Kama'aina and tourists alike climb Diamond Head for the best view of Waikiki Beach and the Pacific Ocean.   

The path ascends along the interior crater walls.

Then we came to a series of stairs!

As soon as we emerge from the WWII pillbox,
we spot these words of encouragement!

View to the east - Koko Crater in the distance.

  

Waikiki Beach to the west.  
Notice the other pillbox to the right.

Waikiki Beach up close.
Notice the pink hotel in the middle -
it is the historic Royal Hawaiian.

  

The green is the upper edge of the crater.

   

The crest overlooks the Coast Guard Lighthouse.
Now obsolete, it remains a part of Hawaiian history.

Do you have a place to climb for panoramic views?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs will win a book choice from my convention stash.   This giveaway is open to all readers.  Comments are open through Saturday, March 3, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, March 4.


Mahalo,


Kim in Hawaii

Aloha to USS Missouri - Scouts' overnight adventure

On this weekend last year, Boy Scout Troop 97 participated in the USS Missouri Campout.  They stayed overnight on board the Mighty Mo!

From Wikipedia, 

USS Missouri (BB-63) ("Mighty Mo" or "Big Mo") is a United States Navy Iowa-class battleship, and was the third ship of the U.S. Navy to be named in honor of the U.S. state of Missouri. Missouriwas the last battleship built by the United States, and was the site of the surrender of the Empire of Japan which ended World War II.

Missouri was ordered in 1940 and commissioned in June 1944. In the Pacific Theater of World War II she fought in the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa and shelled the Japanese home islands, and she fought in the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. She was decommissioned in 1955 into the United States Navy reserve fleets (the "Mothball Fleet"), but reactivated and modernized in 1984 as part of the 600-ship Navy plan, and provided fire support during Operation Desert Storm in January/February 1991.

Gulf War etchings.

Missouri received a total of 11 battle stars for service in World War II, Korea, and the Persian Gulf, and was finally decommissioned on 31 March 1992, but remained on the Naval Vessel Register until her name was struck in January 1995. In 1998, she was donated to the USS Missouri Memorial Association and became a museum ship at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

The above plaque commemorates the place where the
Japanese surrendered on September 2 1945.

During the Battle of Okinawa, a Japanese Zero
engaged in a Kamikaze attack.

Mighty Mo's guns shot down the pilot.
The ship's captain gave the pilot a burial at sea.

The radar scopes .... 

.... with the light turned off.

Memorabilia from the ship's legacy.

Hawaii would become the Mo's retirement home.

Notice the Arabic 7 Up can!

The ship's final cruise before retirement.

Can you imagine manually typing battle messages?

The campout included dinner in the chow hall.

Set menu to feed a large group of sailors, er, Scouts.

Hubby and youngest enjoy dinner.

Mugs from the crew.

Hubby is taking picture of a two way mirror.

Mighty Mo is moored on Ford Island,
giving her a panoramic view of the Naval Yard.  
Above is a Canadian ship leaving port.

No doubt the Canadian sailors are sad to leave Hawaii.

We go to an extra large photo to show the Canadian sailors
"manning the rails" to respect the USS Arizona.

After dinner, the Scouts perform Retreat.

My older son is far right.

They fold the flag under the canopy.

Time for bed with the youngest .... 

... oldest .... 

and hubby!

In the morning, the Girl and Boy Scouts
raised the flag.

Have you toured a ship or a sub?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs will win a book choice from my convention stash.  This giveaway is open to all readers.  Comments are open through Saturday, March 3, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winners on Sunday, March 4.


Mahalo,


Kim in Hawaii


To learn more about the USS Missouri, check out its website at www.ussmissouri.org.

The beginning and ending of WWII -
USS Arizona and USS Missouri.