~aloft~
Seeking the elevation I knew in my last existence as an albatross, I drove up to the Pali Highway lookout this afternoon. Those unbelievably alpine trees in the middle of the pic are known locally as Norfolk pines, because people think they came from the Norfolk Islands, but actually they're Cook pines and came from New Caledonia. Genealogy in the Pacific is surreal.
From the lookout, you see the windward side of the island (the side opposite Honolulu). That's the pali (Hawaiian for "steep cliffs") and Kaneohe and Kaneohe Bay.
The tiny island in the middle of Kaneohe Bay is a UH Oceanography/Biology research station. Kids who forget their cigarettes or the beer are fond of swimming from the research island to the shore, where they buy their goodies in waterproof plastic bags. Sharks *have* been sighted occasionally in Kaneohe Bay, like most other harbors, but if you point this out to watery biology loving people, they look at you kind of strangely.
Behind that hill is Kailua and the very nice Kailua Beach Park at the edge of Lanikai, where reclusive movie stars live. And crowded, tropical Buzz's Steakhouse just across the street from the Beach Park, with its classic salad bar, orgiastic seafood, and killer desserts. Buzz's does not take credit cards, though they will take local checks. You have been warned.
The lookout was fine, but I wanted to hike the old highway a bit. Here it is.
A tree grows in Koolau. :-)
The gorge under this bridge is quite deep. I would like to have seen the graffiti artists who painted that beautiful stuff. I don't think it was done upside-down.
There's the new freeway, four lanes and separated. Incidentally, the Pali Highway is officially Highway 61. Like Bob Dylan said, "We'll put some bleachers out in the sun, and have it out on Highway 61." :-)
The pali.
I'm falling in love with this road at this point.
Ditto. That's an ironwood tree in the center of the photo.
And there's really Buzz's Steakhouse and ecstatic Kailua Beach Park and Lanikai, as well-- just to the left and right of, and encompassing, that gentle hill fronting the meditating Pacific Ocean. *bg*
The old highway. God Help Us All.
The new freeway, with tunnels, below the old highway, without. Having traveled both, I'm now happy. :-)
From the lookout, you see the windward side of the island (the side opposite Honolulu). That's the pali (Hawaiian for "steep cliffs") and Kaneohe and Kaneohe Bay.
The tiny island in the middle of Kaneohe Bay is a UH Oceanography/Biology research station. Kids who forget their cigarettes or the beer are fond of swimming from the research island to the shore, where they buy their goodies in waterproof plastic bags. Sharks *have* been sighted occasionally in Kaneohe Bay, like most other harbors, but if you point this out to watery biology loving people, they look at you kind of strangely.
Behind that hill is Kailua and the very nice Kailua Beach Park at the edge of Lanikai, where reclusive movie stars live. And crowded, tropical Buzz's Steakhouse just across the street from the Beach Park, with its classic salad bar, orgiastic seafood, and killer desserts. Buzz's does not take credit cards, though they will take local checks. You have been warned.
The lookout was fine, but I wanted to hike the old highway a bit. Here it is.
A tree grows in Koolau. :-)
The gorge under this bridge is quite deep. I would like to have seen the graffiti artists who painted that beautiful stuff. I don't think it was done upside-down.
There's the new freeway, four lanes and separated. Incidentally, the Pali Highway is officially Highway 61. Like Bob Dylan said, "We'll put some bleachers out in the sun, and have it out on Highway 61." :-)
The pali.
I'm falling in love with this road at this point.
Ditto. That's an ironwood tree in the center of the photo.
And there's really Buzz's Steakhouse and ecstatic Kailua Beach Park and Lanikai, as well-- just to the left and right of, and encompassing, that gentle hill fronting the meditating Pacific Ocean. *bg*
The old highway. God Help Us All.
The new freeway, with tunnels, below the old highway, without. Having traveled both, I'm now happy. :-)
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