North Shore
@Mar/'04 Hawaii

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North Shore: Big wave splashes year around which surfers love most

Passing through the immigration, I arrived to the bus stop on level 1. Now, I was free from mass of Japanese tourists. I prefer to enjoy being in the exotic feeling without seeing a lot of Japanese like being in middle of Tokyo, while I am in the foreign country. Waves of Japanese group tour make me sick wherever I found them in outside Japan. People waiting bus in this bus stop might be airport workers who do not own their own car. I like very much to be this kind of local air. Soon, the yellow bus labeled #19 came and stopped at the bus stop. This was a b us to Waikiki, where I am going to stay this time. Pay 2 bucks on ride to the bus. Bus ride took nearly one hour to Waikiki stopping numbers of the stops through downtown. Watching local people come and out is a lot fun.

One could enjoy watching casual people at giant Makaino Foods Corner in Ala Moana Shopping Center. Too many Japanese tourists are slightly offensive to my preference. Except this small offensive, I like this foods corner very much. In addition to the variety of foods in reasonable prices, seeing variety of people is another special spicy menu. I went to Mexican foods corner. A elegant looking middle aged lady, perhaps she came from mainland and should have no problem in English language, seemed got into little trouble understanding the system of choosing menu. The elegant looking lady might not be experienced this kind of typical American style fast foods restaurant. It seems that she is a high school girl sitting in few seats away from me. Putting large day-pack beside her, her looks is like Japanese. Suddenly she stood up and called her mother in loud American English, “Mummy”. Her mother came to her and started conversation between them. I looked up my face when I heard her mother speaks. She speaks perfect Oosaka-Ben (strong character local language of Osaka Japan). Her daughter speaks perfect American English. This unbalanced situation happens as everyday life. This is one of the unique things that I like to experience in Hawaii

Kewalo Basin: Magnificent sunset seen everyday

North Shore is one of my best favorite to visit in Oahu. Let's get on the bus 52 at Ala Moana Center. The bus came in a short time. It is approx, one hour drive to the North Shore. Two bucks is really bargain for this long bus ride. The bus drives through central part of the island, stopping major town on the way. When the past the Honolulu City, it crosses the island driving Kamehameha High Way stretches between Honolulu and North Shore. You can even enjoy tour of giant Dole pineapple plant on the way. Most of the passengers are local people. But even in this bus, you could find Japanese tourists, usually young ladies, holding tourist guide in her hands. I always admire their spirits of adventure and abundant fund to travel around the world. In about half way to the North Shore, the bus driver got off and another driver seated behind the wheel. The new driver was a lady with particular Hawaiian shape. The bus continued its journey rounding the island in clock wise. A group of school boys got in to the bus. A label placed in the bus saying “No eating and drink in the car”. Boys do not care at all these attentions. They started to take out sandwiches, potatoes and Cokes from their day-packs, and shared these among them with chatting things in loud voice. Youngsters are all same every part of the world.

Where a large parabolic antenna for the satellite communications is seen on the right hand side mountain, this is the destination I come whenever I visit Hawaii. I pulled wire connected to the driver seat to signal that I ma going to get off at the next stop. A large “STOP REQUESTED” sign lit above the driver seat. I got of the bus. In this area, high way looks just like rural country road. Houses and cottages are along the road. Parking areas are made in about half a mile interval along the coast side. Cars of surfers and galleries are lined in parallel. Watch tower of life guard is also seen in some of these parking lots. Walk down to the beach. A long white sand beach stretches miles away.

I wander every time I see this white sandy beach in Hawaii. Hawaii is islands made of volcanic activities millions years back. In my knowledge, beach of volcanic island should be dark gray color that I really do not like. But to my surprise, beaches in Hawaii are covered with shining white sand that I found of it very much. Memory of one’s childhood shall be so important, and should influences to his mind forming. I was grown up in tiny island in Seto-Inland-Sea mid west of Japan. There, I loved beautiful white sandy beach in every season around the year. Since I moved to Kanto area of Japan where I started my job in Kanagawa Prefecture, I always miss this white sandy beach. Beaches around Kanto area are all colored dark gray due to volcanic ashes and rock fallen down from ancient eruption of famous Fuji Mountain, the highest mountain in Japan. In Hawaii, I enjoy this white sandy beach deep in my soul. No watch is required. Stroll around till the sun sets.

A man who wears worn Aloha and short pants is setting professional camera in the tree shade. His handling camera is enough to tell that he is professional. At that time, I remembered the man who got into the same bus I rode at Ala Moana bus center. He seemed late 50 in well tanned face, nearly same age of me, wearing beach sandals. He held a big and obviously long used camera bag on his lap. He would gaze finder hoping to shoot even one good shot of big surfer on the big wave till sun sets, or he would get on the bus wanting another good day without shooting any. This is one of the severe scenes of professional job.

Walking local pass way is like bathing in the woods

Before the sun set, I decided to continue my trip on bus further. The bus #52 is circling the island Oahu in clockwise. The bus came after waited nearly one hour. A group of local high school students got into the bus. They all have shoes on their hands, were in bear foot. This is probably their original culture. Their ancestors might not have a custom to wear shoes. Thinking this simple example of human habit is still learned to present day, it is even a little surprise, how conservative the creature has in their inwards.

Seafood restaurant: Fisherman's Wharf (1st floor is made as ship's bridge) in Kewalo Basin

Fisherman's Wharf in Kewalo Basin, this is one of the must restaurants written in every tourist guide. This might be a chance to try the restaurant. I walked down the seaside promenade from Ala Moana to Kewalo Basin. A dozen of ocean fishing boats is resting in the basin. Fisherman's Wharf is on the east pier of the basin. Outer looks is rather out of fashioned little rusted building. It was a pleasant surprise to find a chic woody interior of the dining room. This narrowness between the tables might be designed as if we are in the cabin of the ship cruising in the ocean. Tables are made of dark colored extremely thick wood reflecting romantic dim light. 1st floor is made just like bridge of the ship, equips numerous real ship gears as dining room interior. A pair of thick decorated ropes guides guests to the spiral dark wood staircase connected to the 1st floor deck.

I took a seat on the window side table in ground floor, looking fishing boat floating Kewalo Basin. I seldom drink, but I ordered local beer named Tsunami, taken from Japanese language. It tasted light, might be less alcoholic percentage than normal beer. I was glad of this light taste of beer and enjoyed it. Large stuffed fishes hanged on the wall. In the dark room, they are looked as if looking us down with their big sharp eyes. I ordered white meat fish caked Mahimahi. The boy said this is the same meat of that big hanging big fish on the wall behind me. It was a moment of happiness in my mind. Twilight thin light was reflecting the fishing boat seen in the window, changed into dark as the time went on.

North Shore: Where a big wave that veteran surfers love splashes

10/Mar/'04 Rinzo＠Honolulu Hawaii (Updated on 29/Aug/'05)

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