On Any Sunday pt II

Although there is a sequel to the movie by Bruce Brown, this isn't about it.
Nestled right next to the Kailua YMCA, is this:

There's also a sign with some gentle reminders:

I've been reading some books about Hawaiian folklore and legends so I thought a visit to the heiau might be appropriate. I believe this is one of two heiau in Kailua proper; the other is located in what was the landfill off of Quarry Road.
This heiau overlooks the marsh, which a long time ago was actually a fishpond:


The structure is quite striking(hey! I did an alliteration!):


Almost impossible to imagine, especially since it is not only made up of large rocks, but small ones too:

My futile attempt at photography cannot capture the true essence of what is there. I remember the windy, overcast afternoon when I first visited the heiau. Being the moron that I was, I decided to take a walk over the rocks in order see over the edge.
Bad move.
All I can say is that I got out of there PDQ(pretty damn quick)! Maybe it was just the weather but I swear something was telling me to get off those rocks.
Today, in the sunshine it was not as ominous or disquieting; I still did not venture out onto the structure.

At the base of the heiau is a ditch constructed by Menehunes; it reminded me of Menehune Ditch on Kauai.
Looking at my crappy photos makes me want to go back and shoot the place again, maybe in black and white. Maybe I'll get Hoku(the photography major) to come with me.
On my way home, I noticed some paintings in a store front:

They were in the suite next to The Hunter on Kailua Road. I'm not sure if it's part of the shop, or if they were just covering the windows, but they caught my eye:


Reminded me a bit of Matisse and van Gogh. Or somebody.
Don't make me look it up.
I apologize for the quality of the photos; I was catching a dreadful(I can't believe I'm using that word!) reflection from the street. I'll go back at a different time of day and reshoot. They look like they were done by nine year olds and were part of the Honolulu Academy of Art's lending library or archives. They are quite wonderful; so wonderful in fact that I'm going to check to see if they are for sale.

That was my Sunday.
Now, what time does Law & Order come on?

On Any Sunday pt. I

On Any Sunday was a great motorcycle movie by Bruce Brown, who is famous for The Endless Summer.
But this isn't about Bruce Brown.
I took off around mid morning on a quest for adventure. There was new territory to conquer and today was the day.
Okay, not really. I stayed around Kailua and tried to make the best of it.
Today, I decided to go around Lanikai in the opposite direction. I figured I always make the loop the same way so this was a good time to try something different.
First thing I noticed were the pillboxes on the ridge above:


The two pillboxes were observation posts built by the military during WWII. The hike to get up there is not an easy one, trust me. Some brave souls were already there:


I did the hike oh, about ten years back and I almost had a heart attack on the ascent. There are also a couple of places where there are drop offs on both sides of the trail; not for the faint of heart. The views though are spectacular. You can see all the way into Waimanalo. Here's a guy standing up there, pondering life:

Kinda sorta makes me want to get a canteen and some hiking boots and tackle that trail again.
There are private lanes that intersect the ocean side of Kalaheo Avenue. Most of them have signs that say "private" or "no tresspassing" on them. I don't know if they are private roads exactly, but what I found out today is that some of them have a public right of way access to the beach.
I had never been to Kalama Beach Park; I company I worked for had parties next door at the beach club. The park is well kept:

I don't know what the deal is with the house that sits there; it looks like some kind of State facility since three State trucks were parked there. Oh sorry, not the house in the picture, that's the restroom. The Beach Bike finally got close to an actual beach:

I guess this is why we are beginning to see more tourists out here:


Over in Aikahi, I made my usual pit stop and headed back into Kailua. I decided to come back via the levee for there was another stop I wanted to make. Over in Maunawili, it was raining. I hoped it wouldn't carry over the marsh:

Riding through Lanikai and seeing the pillboxes up on the ridge made me think about how sometimes we go through life without seeing all that's there. I have ridden that same road at least a hundred times and have never bothered to look up. There are so many things that we pass by or see everyday that we just take for granted.
I have to wonder: what else am I missing?
That wasn't the end of my ride; part two coming up.