I stayed at the White Swan Hotel, named for (I suppose) all the swans on the Avon.
A hui hou!
Tag: Oahu
Ukelele Shop
Walking down the street in Waikiki, I glanced into this ukulele shop and managed to get this shot. Although I have a newer one now, I also have an old one that was my father’s. Below is an old photo of him playing that same ukulele when he was in high school.
A hui hou!
Pearl Harbor Museum
One of the major attractions on Oahu is the exhibit at Pearl Harbor. Today is not the day we normally remember that occasion, yet I want to show you a few of the things you’ll see at the museum there.
There isn’t much more I can say about this. Anyone who was alive around that time will know what these photos represent. Enjoy the slide show.
http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf
If you want to see it in a larger form, please click here.
A hui hou!
Carp at Princess Kaiulani Hotel
One of my favorite places to stay on Oahu is the Princess Kailuani. Almost all of the hotels in Hawai`i have ponds where the beautiful carp swim, with orchids hanging down over the pond.
What more can I say? So simple, so serene!
Sayonara!
A Pink Birthday Party!
Every year on my birthday, I do something a little special on this blog in honor of myself. This year, I’m taking myself back to a “little girl in pink” with a trip to the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Honolulu.
For the past twelve years, always over Labor Day weekend, I have gone to the Hawaii Writers Conference. Until three years ago, it was held on Maui and known internationally as the “Maui Writers Conference.” Then they began holding it on Oahu where there were hotels who would handle the volume of people who came, and the name changed to “Hawaii Writers Conference.”
This year, it was held at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, well-known for its pink décor. Everything is designed around the theme of “pink.” And no matter where you are, you can see the pink hotel! This shot was taken from my window at the Princess Kaiulani Hotel, a block away. It almost looks artificial and Disneyesque among the modern hotels of Waikiki.
No matter what view you have of the Royal Hawaiian, it is always a distinctive pink.
And when you look toward the beach, there is a sea of pink umbrellas, actually quite colorful against the blue of the ocean and the sky.
There are pink columns, with pink flowers in the floral arrangements standing before them. Even though most of these tropical flowers last quite a while, someone comes around to redo all the arrangements with fresh flowers periodically.
I loved walking down this pink corridor with its display of Phaleonopsis orchids.
Here is a close up of one of the Phaleonopsis orchids. Even though they were white, they appear pink against the strong pink of the columns.
Tucked everywhere on tables or in corners, you will find little touches of pink in the floral arrangements.
Even the shops displayed their wares against pink walls, or in pink jewelry boxes. The dolls were made of pink sequins. I didn’t get the pink walls behind these silver and sequined shells but they were there.
One room showed an example of what to expect if you arranged for them to serve a special dinner for you and special guests, or just that special someone – and of course, all in pink! Very romantic, if you are into that sort of setting!
The pink theme is evident even when you are walking around the gardens outside the Royal Hawaiian Hotel.
WHITE HIBISCUS WITH PINK CENTER
Even if not the true pink you find in most of the hotel, some plants either looked pink or were in the same color value, like red or lavender.
Although I’m typically not a “pink person,” I had loads of fun taking pictures of all the “pink” at the hotel. I hope you enjoyed my “birthday pink” celebration!
A hui hou!