this is halloween, this is halloween...

with love from waikiki...where the wild things are!      "hubby"and prickly

hair-em scarem

swimming with the prehistoric

                                       hawaiian green sea turtle (above photo by john fischer)

I try to make it a weekly event that I go swimming and snorkling in front of the Moana Surfrider Hotel in Waikiki. I know it's full of tourists but I do it for one reason and one reason alone. Swimming with Hawaiian green sea turtles! It's got to be the most exhilarating experience one can ever imagine. 

Each day around 4pm there's at least one turtle that swims in the same area of the beach. Back and forth, back and forth. It pops it's  head up for air, then back down in the water it goes. Unless you have a snorkle, you wouldn't even know it's swimming right beneath your feet, as this has happened many times before. The nearest I think I've knowingly come to the tortoise is about 2 feet and that's what I saw with my own eyes  near my own feet looking thru my snorkle. That's pretty close. Sometimes there's a baby green turtle swimming in the ocean near its mother, but never side by side. One is usually at the opposite length from one another. Normally its the same turtle or both mother and baby each day. How or why it swims the same area of a large stretch of Waikiki Beach is beyond me. I read that this area of the beach in front of the Moana Surfrider is usually where several large green sea turtles have been swimming and laying their eggs for hundreds of years! 

Today, there was a new turtle that I've never seen before in the area and it was gargantuan! It was so prehistoric looking up close, that it was kind of scary being so close. I'm also quite sure it was very, very old, just by looking at the shell. It's unbelievable that they live to be 100 years old! The body or shell of the tortoise was at least 3 feet long. The head was the size of a 5 year old child! Forget the size of the legs and feet. Just watching it chomp away at the surrounding growth of seaweed within arms reach was to overwhelming. The tortoise acted like he wasn't bothered by my presence. 


I had my disposable underwater camera in hand. Snap, snap, snap! This was my first effort of underwater photography. Who knows if these pictures would come out? I had them developed and the results are the last two photos. Look out Jacque Cousteau!

may this be love (waterfall)

Waterfall

Nothing can harm me at all

My worries seem so very small

With my waterfall

I can see

My rainbow calling me

Through the misty breeze

Of my waterfall

Some people say

Daydreaming's for all the

Lazy minded fools

With nothin' else to do

So let them laugh, laugh at me

So just as long as I have you

To see me through

As long as I have you

Waterfall

Don't ever change your ways

Fall with me for a million days

Oh, my waterfall

make a difference.....

how to keep your mail safe

a growing epidemic...

storytelling:chapter 3 obsession~part 5

...continued from storytelling:chapter 3 obsession~part 4


"$1500. 3bdrm house in Ewa Beach. Close to shops and buslines." It's a huge house by looking at the pictures, but I wouldn't live in Ewa Beach. Too far from town and not the best area...for us, that is. However, out of curiousity, I emailed the person who listed the posting because I've seen this listing for months, but never bothered to "click" on the post. This guy emails me back and says that he has to return to Kenya or some place in South Africa, with his family on emergency.  If I could send him first months rent PLUS deposit he would mail me the keys from Africa. WHAT? OMG! Is he joking? Another scam!?!?! I'm beginning to wonder if there are any undercover police at this point to catch these MF's! You know...they have them for online predators. 


It's pretty outrageous that people would actually post this and the fact that people would actually fall for this. In hindsight,  I love it when people who respond to these kinds of listings and in return lashes out on craigslist: "such and such IS A SCAM! DO NOT  REPLY TO such and such POSTING". Their outrage is sometimes so blatant and hilarious. Who can blame them?


I get really annoyed and pissed off when a realtor posts pictures of rentals on their site that is supposedly available and when you contact them, it's not available. But they have another one rental you might like. Then when they refer to the other rental and show you pictures, it's nothing what you're looking for! It's a rental they can't rent for one reason or another. WTF! Why waste my time and yours you moron!


Then you get the postings with photos of a rental inundated with so much of the currents occupant's personal crap! How about having them tidying up the place before taking your pictures and posting so we can REALLY see what the place looks like. I don't want to see your sh*t where mine will possibly go! Ugh! 


There's hundred's of postings that sound quite interesting and they don't have any pictures at all or have one measly photo of the bathroom. Why? Can you please explain that? And how about that scenic photo of Diamond Head? What's that all about? 


Hey, all you folks posting stuff on craigslist or any other listing, if you don't know how to post, for god sake get some help, would you please? It not only waste your time and money, but it also wastes ours. Thank you!


to be continued...

once upon a time...

858 Olokele Avenue and Leialoha Avenue

I took this photo on one of my neighborhood walks and didn't realize it was up for sale until I looked up address.

Listed for $685,000. 3 bedroom, 1 bath. 810 sq. feet Built in 1929.

storytelling:chapter 3 obsession~part 4

...continued from storytelling:chapter 3 obsession~part 3

I don't begin pre-production for Fashion Week Spring 2009 until the first week of August. If my mother won't come to New York, I'll go to Los Angeles to visit her. It's early July and I make plans to visit for a week and I can still search online for housing. I'll also look into storage facilities I've found near my mom's house to store all our belongings. We've decided to put everything into storage and "test the waters" in Hawaii before shipping everything via Matson. If it doesn't work, for whatever reason, we won't have to ship everything back. We've also decided to sell our car in New York, rather than tow it behind our U-haul. I am dreading that cross country drive AGAIN!

My travel arrangements are made as well as my yearly dental, eye exam and facial. In the meantime, I've come across some great listings on craigslist. "$1750. DIAMOND HEAD.1 BDRM. BALCONY WITH OCEAN VIEW. UTILITIES INCLUDED." Any listing by Gold Coast will be pretty amazing. They deal with rentals primarily near Diamond Head. If your not familiar with the area, it's below Diamond Head and the end of the Waikiki Area near Kapiolani Park. It's really hard to find available rentals in this area let alone one that is reasonably priced. 

This Gold Coast listing is at the "Diamond Head Ambassador". (Refer to "portions and servings" listed to your right on blog and go to the month of August and click on "diamond head ambassador". There will be a photo I took of the building). It's this beautiful Japanese inspired architecture. Two buildings connected by walkways that look like bridges and built on the beach. The beach is literally your front yard. It was built in the 50's and I've seen it in a movie and on "Househunters". Problem? Immediate rental. Street Parking. NO PETS!


"$1780/2br-Pet Friendly Gorgeous Condo-Stunning, Cool, Clean (Makiki)" Description: "WOW EFFECT! 2/1/1. Fabulous unit & location-1 mi to: Ala Moana, Waikiki & downtown, on busline. Walk to markets & tennis park. Small pet ok. Gorgeous upscale remodeled unit includes stainless steel appliances, granite, wood floors, washer/dryer, big lanai, 1 uncovered parking, pool, bike rack, res, mgr. Large bedrooms & closets. Great city and mountain views. Lease term negotiable. 


It was just the perfect rental. Four photos were included. Problem? Available 8/10/08. It just wasn't meant to be...sigh....


to be continued...

storytelling:chapter 3 obsession~part 3

...continued from storytelling:chapter 3 obsession~part 2


The main focus of areas I wanted to live in were Manoa, Kapahulu, Kaimuki to Kahala and Waikiki to as far as downtown, but not into the chinatown area. It's pretty sketchy down there. The reason for my interest in these neighborhoods was that it would be a convenient and easy route for work, shopping (for groceries!!!! I got the other covered. I'd know how to get to the other if I had to crawl) and it's pretty much central to everything without a problem.


Here's another find on craigslist: "$1975. DOWNTOWN. 2 BDRM. 2BATH. PENTHOUSE CORNER UNIT. MUST SEE TO BELIEVE". Boy, that's for sure! Just like the first realtor listing, it comes loaded with adjective galore, unbelievable photos of the interior and an ocean view to die for. Steps to the beach. All the ameneties. Plenty of restaurants within walking distance. There was the realtor's photo with all the necessary information. Same great big smile and well groomed caucasian. Who was I to question this realtor?


Once again, I email the posting and mentioned my situation about my move next year in Feb. '09...blah, blah, blah. Let me mention that it's July '08 when I am inquiring. I'm only trying to get some information about the place as many of the newer condo listings aren't ready for move-in yet until end of year or the new year.


I get an immediate response. Cool, I thought. He's on top of it. "Thank you for your interest in whatever the hell the name of the condominium was." He goes on to say that rentals are going fast and if I am interested to fill out the attached pre-application form. It was the same application as the previous realtor. My thought was, "okay, it must be a standard pre-application form". Same exact questions. I fill out the form and send it back. Within the hour, I get a response from Mr. Realtor #2. I have been approved. "PLEASE SEND DEPOSIT." Huh? Not again?


I email Mr. Realtor #2 and told him exactly what I wrote to Mr. Realtor #1. He in turn replies, that without a deposit, he could not show me the condo as they are being rented so quickly. Ya know, it's not like I'm buying the place. I'm no big corporation and the folks behind the condo is no one I know. So I kindly tell him, thank you, but no thank you. Never to be heard from again.


I have to tell you that once I moved here and came across some of the listings that I remembered looking into, this condo was not steps to the beach and it was not a condo at all. It turned out to be strictly an office building. Not a residency.


to be continued...

storytelling:chapter 3 obsession~part 2

...continued from storytelling:obsession~pt.1


It's pretty surprising what one can find on Craigslist. It's a fun, yet questionable place to go trolling for anything from the personals, job hunting, events, services, for sale, discussions and even housing. You can even find the unexpected: the art of scamming.


While apartment/house "surfing" online in the state of Hawaii, I never would have thought for one moment I would come across scammers. But they are prevalent! I was somewhat shocked. Like it's been said a thousand times "if it looks to good to be true, it is NOT true".  Trust nothing and no one! Sad but true. For instance this posting: "$1100. LGE SPACIOUS 1 BDRM IN HIGH RISE CONDO. SECURED. UTILITIES INCL. FURNISHED." Then you click on the titled posting and it leads to something more unbelievable. An ariel view of the condo. Complete description of the the condo. 1500 sq. feet, corner unit, ocean view, brand new carpets, marble kitchen floors and counters, same with the bathroom. The furniture is something out of Architectural Digest: plush leather sofa and chairs, glass tables, huge lamps, king size bed, wall murals,  state-of-the-art stainless steel kitchen. Then there's a photo slide show of each room. There's secured parking and a 24 hour gym. Oh yea, a professionally shot photo of the real estate agent whose well groomed with a great big smile on his dis-honest face, the real estate office and his contact number. 


So, I email the "reply to" person/realtor that I am interested in his beautiful $1100 1 bdrm condo and would like to set up an appointment with him to view the condo. I mention that my move-in date will be first week of Feb. '09 and that in will be in Honolulu in Nov. '08 for a week, viewing prospective housing. Mr. Realtor, writes back immediately and says he would like me to fill out the attached application form. Surprised that I got such an immediately, I happily obliged, without hesitation.


I fill out the form. It's your basic pre-application form: names of person(s), address, contact number, email. Long term or short term? Where I bank and 3 references. I send it back. Again I get an immediate response within a half hour. And that should have been the red flag. I have been approved. "Please send deposit." Huh? 


So I emailed Mr. Realtor AGAIN of my situation in case he misunderstood the first time that I wouldn't be able to move into the rental until Feb. of '09, BUT, that I would be in Honolulu in Nov. '08 and would like to view the rental first before before giving him a security deposit. I never heard from him again. I did attempt to contact him a couple times after that. No response. I didn't think anything of this.


to be continued...

spam-a-lot

a not so fairytale princess

princess victoria kawekiu l lunalilo kalaninuiahilapalapa ka'iulani cleghorn
october 16, 1875-march 6, 1899

Named after Queen Victoria of England and highest born "ali'i" (noble rank) into Hawaiian Royalty. Her mother was Princess Likelike, musician/composer and a most fashionable woman of her time. Her father was Archibald Cleghorn, a businessman and horticulturalist, a Governor of Oahu and Hawaii's Father of Parks. When Victoria was born she was given a parcel of land, "ainahau" (cool land) in Waikiki by her godmother to which she lived til her young teenage years. She spent hours horseback riding and also enjoyed swimming, surfing, dancing the hula, singing and playing the ukulele.  Her favorite place to play was under a banyan tree in her garden. 


Not yet a teenager, her mother died and then her governess. Soon after she met Robert Louis Stevenson, celebrity and poet, who told her fascinating stories of ancient Celtic queens and recited poems to Ka'iulani in her garden. Her uncle, King David, insisted that Victoria Ka'iulani be sent to England to "receive and education fit for a queen". And there she studied, went to high society affairs, traveled throughout Europe and raised money for the underprivileged.


During her stay in England, the Hawaiian monarch came to turmoil, including the death of King David Kalakaua. King David's sister, Lilioukalani then became Queen and she crowned Princess Victoria an heir to the throne. For several years Princess Victoria prepared herself to become Queen learning of her roots and ancestors and making ties with the Scots and Hawaiians.

By the time Princess Victoria Ka'iulani returned to her homeland, Queen Lililioukalani was forced to relinquish her throne years earlier and the Hawaiian monarchy came to an end after 100 years. Hawaii was to become a republic of the United States. 

In December of 1898, several months after the formal annexation of Hawaii, Princess Ka'iulani went to  Big Island of Hawaii to attend the wedding of her friend, Eva Parker, of the infamous Parker Ranch. While horseback riding with a group of friends they were caught in a rainstorm "Waimea rain", which is said to be sharp and freezing cold. Princess Ka'iulani became very ill with complications of rheumatism and goiter. She was sent back to Oahu for treatments. She died on March 6, 1899 at the age of 23.


Princess Ka'iulani bronze statue was erected on Oct. 16, 1999 at Ka'iulani Triangular Park. It is her last remaining estate.

the power of positive thinking

exotic hybrid hibiscus plants