#hawaii
the drive was
one hour
& ten minutes
not including traffic
& accidents along the way
the drive
went through a giant hill,
larger than
a hundred houses
stacked on top of one another
the freeway
lined the jungle
like a strip of lace
on a trim of velvet
only it wasn’t as lacy,
just as pretty as that
& the jungle
looked beautiful
and really took
my breath away:
all the green
and all the trees
lazily looping
about the
whole thing
emerging and then
we were creeping
toward the shore
which was a straight
jagged cut
to the ocean
like where the hairline
& my mother’s forehead
meet
and we cruised
right along the water
just a little
slow at first,
because my mom
is horrible with driving
anything not an suv
and i watched
the great blue
turn to green
against the
great brown
of the rocks
and the terracotta houses
sat right on
the shore
like children
too scared to
go in but like
dipping their
toes
“they’re all
in risk of
a tsunami hazard”,
my mom said
and i simply thought
that maybe they
chose it
for that reason
because the risk
offers a reward
so let them exist
that being said
— i’ve only ever known
land
but i was on the edge
& i wanted
nothing more
than to
leap in.
Mar 17, 2025
Mar 17, 2025 at 5:21 PM UTC
I wanna run to you in an airport
Like they do in 90s romance movies
Because I miss you and
I’ve been away from home for two years
I want to sit on the beach and explain the landscape that
You know better than I do
In the language it was originally loved in, that
You never bothered to learn
Why would you?
You dip your feet shallowly
Into the water instead of dunking yourself
Like I do, down up down up down
Because you’ll be back tomorrow
And I’ll spend fractions of me
Waiting for a call or a text
For 20 bucks to send you
To breathe plumeria-scented air
From the oil on the skin of your neck
For a picture of the freckles on the webbing
between your index and thumb, and the ring
That I bought you before I left so that in the pictures
you post with your white boyfriend
I’m there on your finger
So when he’s teaching you the ‘local’ lifestyle
I’m there on your finger
So when you island hop for a surfing class
You keep me on your finger, where I can feel the waves.
I want to come home but I can’t, not before
I buy you a new ring, out here
in the empty expanse of a Where’s Waldo puzzle
It has to be
Something expensive, something durable
That won’t tarnish in the island
humidity, something that your
San-Francisco friends will ooh and ahh at
Because I want to see you wearing it when I get home.
I’ve been away from home for fifteen years
I return in my dreams, but the soil
doesn’t feel right, and the love isn’t how
my mother’s father’s father described it
At the beach, lots of people swim, but no one else
Keeps their head under and lets the water breathe life into their hair.
Lets the water into their mouth, chokes, then does it again.
But I like the way you
Dipped your feet in when you watched me
Leave, on a boat chasing Troy
Venus my northern star
As I enter the storm
My boat floats through the violence,
against Poseidon’s abundant will
because my sail made up of duct-taped exam scores
And half-organized sermons
Is mightier than any of his sons
I’ve been away since 700 BCE
But you’ll still know me when I come home
Dec 19, 2024
Dec 19, 2024 at 1:03 AM UTC
oh, the surface tension,
holding the wild beneath,
where I float, buoyant,
the cool water kisses my skin,
a sweet moment of clarity,
where i'm a welcome guest,
the deeper i go.
fish dart around
homes in coral,
sea anemones swaying,
little dancers in the blue haze,
snakes gliding on the sandy floor,
that octopus, oh, the octopus!
the wizard of disguise,
hiding beneath the shells,
soft moss a velvet carpet.
the turtles,
gentle giants, drifting,
letting the current cradle their shells,
the waves pulse and heave,
wild and electric,
all of us,
the fish, the plants,
in syncopation,
we flow together,
drifting this way,
and that way.
Sep 30, 2024
Sep 30, 2024 at 2:00 PM UTC
Infinite rays trace the waters ashore,
Warmth radiates year round - engulfing the winds with glee,
How serene it is to have an endless summer,
A splendid decree.
Jan 7, 2023
Jan 7, 2023 at 4:23 PM UTC
A tropical paradise island is Hawaii that conjures a feeling of sheer joy,
It’s very mention evokes thoughts of vacationing one can really enjoy,
Location-wise one can state that it is “ far from the madding crowd”,
It is like heaven on earth, meant for visitors to be wowed
Waikiki in Honolulu is the hub for most hotels with proximity to the beach,
It’s just a 16-minute cab ride from the airport and thus quick to reach,
That the closest State to Hawaii is California - a 2500-mile sector,
Just shows how travel time from elsewhere, involves jet lag to factor
Located in the Pacific Ocean, Hawaii is quintessential if one may say so,
It is the only U.S. state outside North America that is an archipelago,
As the only state geographically located in the tropics,
It is a tourist haven, with always an abundance of optics
The word "Aloha" is commonplace in signages and on everyone's lips,
As a form of greeting it implies hello and welcome - a very useful tip,
The locals are very effusive when they greet visitors with Aloha,
One cannot but express delight by silently exclaiming, Aha!
"Mahalo" is another word that visitors get used to hearing frequently,
It means "thank you" - a gracious acceptance of the locals' hospitality,
The infectious warm welcome to visitors has an air of spontaneity,
Syncing with the embracing pervasive Hawaiian culture in it's entirety
The inevitable fresh flower "lei" welcome awaits visitors checking into hotels,
Lei is a symbol of hospitality, love, respect and aloha in which Hawaii excels,
A lei made from sea shells is an alternative option that one can have by choice,
Irrespective of the form of lei offered, wearing it is surely a matter to rejoice
Honolulu is the capital of Hawaii on the island of Oahu's south shore,
It is the largest city and gateway to the U.S. island chain and much more,
As one of the main eight islands in Hawaii, Oahu is the most populous,
It is also the business hub of the Aloha State and hence very famous
Also known as "The Gathering Place", Oahu aptly lives up to it's name,
As home to the majority of Hawaii's diverse population, it has a lot to gain,
There's the fusion of East and West cultures resulting in a delicate balance,
Rooted in the value and cultures of Native Hawaiian people, with no imbalance
The popular bustling and vibrant Waikiki neighborhood within Honolulu city is unique,
It is the epicenter for eclectic restaurants, nightlife and designer fashion boutiques,
Waikiki is also reputed for its white sandy beach that is a whole 2-mile stretch,
Where visitors throng throughout the day, as if there's little else the mind can fetch
Waikiki in Hawaiin means "spouting waters" and is replete with a gamut of water activities,
Surfing, snorkeling, swimming, canoe paddling and boogie boarding are typical beach proclivities,
With matching stunning views of the landscape, visitors can be seen lazing in total relaxation,
It is little wonder that the beach is always crowded and a famed getaway vacation destination
Friday night fireworks by Hilton Hawaiian Village along Waikiki Beach is a must-watch attraction,
The colorful display evoking delightful oohs and aahs from onlookers though, is of short duration,
The razzle-dazzle of the show skillfully transmits joy & happiness through the art of pyrotechniqes,
A feeling of bliss envelops one and all, on witnessing the sound-and-light show marvel mystique
Dole Whip is a popular non-dairy pineapple ice cream and, in Hawaii, is a cult-status confection,
A key ingredient is unsweetened coconut milk that adds creaminess and flavor to the selection,
Fresh lime bumps up the flavor and adds extra zing to the taste of the final Dole Soft Serve swirl,
Savoring the heavenly refreshing unique taste allows the hedonist's squeal of delight to unfurl
A visit to Oahu or any other Hawaii island is never complete without attending a traditional luau,
Luau represents a gathering meal of food, music and dance and is integral with Polynesian milieu,
It is a party like no other with continuous foot-tapping live music accompanied by Hawaiin dancing acts,
While the compere regales guests with anecdotes of Polynesian traditions laced with interesting facts
Hawaii is also famous for it's sensuous mimetic hula dance - traditionally, a form of communication,
Ancient hula, or "kahiko" with undulating gestures to instruments and chant was an original creation,
Transformed under Western influence to "auana", it now involves sinuous movement of limbs and hips,
The accompanying peppy music involves storytelling or place description well in tune with the scripts
The fitting finale to Hawaii luauas is generally the famed Samoan fire knife ceremonial dance,
A knife, partially exposed & wrapped in oil-soaked cloth is set alight for the performer's stance,
Incredible acrobatic stunts involve twirling, tossing and catching the knife to the fast beat of music,
The appreciative response of the audience builds up the momentum, reaching a crescendo almost seismic
Sauntering in the beach, one can watch people meandering about with gay abandon,
The inescapable feeling of blissful relaxation is typical of a destination-Hawaii vacation,
The days fly by, making you wish at the end that the stay could have been a tad longer,
While treasuring joyful memories in the interim, your thoughts go to similar places yonder
Dec 8, 2022
Dec 8, 2022 at 11:38 AM UTC
A rocky, wavy buffet
served out on the water today.
Waiting on the whales,
but their hiding,
or sleeping,
or swimming away.
In the misty distance waits Diamond Head,
looking out on us,
unassuming.
Take a dive
in the Hawaii ocean.
Jan 19, 2020
Jan 19, 2020 at 7:31 PM UTC
March single file, up, up, up.
Take the stairs two at a time,
sweat beads run lines down your face.
Get to the tunnel carved in rock,
push past the crowds to break out,
then up, up, up
till you peak at the top,
the trail's end.
Survey the crater, lush, serene,
barricaded against the city
which spills between hills and mountains.
Forget it all,
turn to face the sea.
Jan 19, 2020
Jan 19, 2020 at 7:29 PM UTC
Fine rain falls onto the reflection pool,
tiny ripples bouncing off each other,
transient touch.
Mist hangs on the mountains,
shrouds peaks.
A bell tolled out,
reverberating purity,
find peace in obscurity.
Jan 19, 2020
Jan 19, 2020 at 7:26 PM UTC
Slippery, muddy, tropic path,
foliage overgrown.
Sheer rock face reaches skyward,
water pouring, crashing
down to a cool pool, overflowing.
The jungle holds millennia,
falling,
falling,
without rest.
Jan 19, 2020
Jan 19, 2020 at 7:24 PM UTC
Five sea turtles bask,
the evening sun glinting off their shelled backs.
The sand glistening with each waves retreat.
Like statues, the turtle guardians.
One cracks an eye, slow,
peeks at those watching,
pointing,
then closes the eye again.
Not concerned with human things,
it's only desire to store sun fire
deep under it's scale skin,
bring it back underwater
and heat its soul within.
Jan 19, 2020
Jan 19, 2020 at 7:22 PM UTC
Fine sand grains coat my toes
as pure, crystal waves break,
playful, ancient, against the shore.
The swaying plink of reggae guitar
bounces over the sand,
lulling a laze in my core
then emanates out across the beach,
past the break,
and out to sea.
Jan 19, 2020
Jan 19, 2020 at 7:18 PM UTC
the lushness of the land
the ruggedness of the rocks
pictures can capture everyone's view of perfection.
but have you sat on a cheap beach chair,
with sand in your toes and curly hair,
across your sunburned face?
subtly smiling at the distant crash of waves,
or listening to the live music
that sounds like the band "summer salt?"
lava lava beach club
with cats wandering around the island
just as your heart wanders around the lovely memories
that you count one by one
to taste their delicious ideas
and finally, finally
feel.
Jun 22, 2019
Jun 22, 2019 at 1:15 PM UTC
Its beautiful I've heard
Sun in the sky
Sand on the beach
Sharks in the water
Now I've never been one for the cold
So to me it seems like paradise
Yet your the one who's there
And I know I said I would follow you there if I had to
But when I make my way to those sand shores someday
You better believe it won't be for you
So I look forward to the day I can smell the salt water in the air
And feel the sand in my toes
While I sand and watch the lava flow
May 20, 2019
May 20, 2019 at 12:00 AM UTC
Its just plain delicious , its pretty healthy , I could eat it every other day. Too bad Im not wealthy up to 15$ for a meal thats not a price I wanna pay. But Its delicious. Im saving my money to get one on saterday.
May 2, 2019
May 2, 2019 at 4:20 PM UTC
I still remember that day
I saw your smile gleam
and your long brown hair flow
in the warm Hawaiian breeze
The ocean pushed
those pretty shells to the shore.
I heard your sweet laughter
when you saw that little blue butterfly
land on my nose
I had never seen your beautiful,
big brown eyes
filled with so much
happiness
and wonder
I sat there just watching you,
dance in the glow
of the sunset
You leaned down
and whispered to me
“my love for you is never ending”
and I smiled
Suddenly,
this world went dark.
The warm breeze turned cold
and your eyes filled
with tears
It had taken over your body
and locked you inside.
It was a constant battle every day
but your smile kept growing bigger
and your faith never faded away
This thing had pulled out your hair
and wore you down.
I felt helpless as I watched you slowly
fade away…
All I could do was scream
“let go of her”
And one day,
it did.
Tears rolled down your cheeks
As you placed your ring on my finger
and whispered
“my love for you is never ending”
and I smiled
I watched as you drifted away
with that blue butterfly,
in the warm
Hawaiian breeze.
Apr 4, 2019
Apr 4, 2019 at 10:25 PM UTC
Flying the friendly skies
no peanuts as
the allergists may die
Some drinks and Dramamine
oblivious to what
the flight may mean
Landing in the land of lays
eight nights
and nine days
A lou al and a dive
soon after we
arrive
I'll see ya'll in a bit
and that's all
there is
to it
Feb 17, 2019
Feb 17, 2019 at 3:09 PM UTC
A dog shouldn't spend it's life in a cage,
Where even a week can feel like an age.
Sad and alone, not knowing when it will end,
Wishing and hoping for a new human friend.
But thanks to every volunteer's donated time,
And every donators dollar, cent or dime,
A new life is given to each beautiful pooch,
A new family to love, cuddle and smooch.
So thank you to everyone, your kindness is rare,
We thank you so much, for your help and your care.
~ Written for the Oahu SPCA
Nov 30, 2018
Nov 30, 2018 at 10:37 PM UTC
Foraging finch, led amiss.
Madescent billows roared, as clouds enshroud
And a sudden cascade coalesced
With a well-timed jet stream
& menacing westerly wind.
It’s a monsoon, pitch and roll!
Months spent sifting unseen white sand.
Nov 23, 2018
Nov 23, 2018 at 7:43 PM UTC
STATE SHUT DOWN BY IDIOCY
"This is correspondent, uh, burp...
wait, winds r, yeah, okay go
back on live camera..."
pretend the wind
is
blowing you back
"This is the most major storm in recorded history of this network!"
"My God,
I could die in this sh..stuff."
"Five star hotel what the ****
"Okay, okay, live we are,
look here, pan closer, these leafs on this Raleigh plant here,
see how violently they are moving?"
LEAVES ARE FALLING!
"That is the fear one feels knowing that a category two,
at any moment, could become a category five."
"This Dave Mowers live from Hawaii,
checking in before I possibly die.
Mom I love you, Dad, well,
look how brave I am!"
"Is that an Asian girl?"
"What an a..cute *** that,
cut to...
to the violent leaves again you ****
"I'll fire you cameraman!"
*Four large oak trees have fallen.
HAWAII HAS ENORMOUS SURF!.
Four large oak trees have fallen.**
Aug 24, 2018
Aug 24, 2018 at 11:59 PM UTC
nostalgia
as soft sun filters through palm leaves
and the clouds purple, the skies painted pastel pinks
surfboards stand seven feet tall
the salt water glowing, sparkling
a dark watercolor blue hue
i am reminded of the spring and summertime
of happier days
as I drive by the sea that glints waves to me
Mar 11, 2018
Mar 11, 2018 at 4:09 PM UTC
If you want to find me,
You know I am easily found.
Watching sunsets,
Sitting at the hideaway,
With the ocean breeze.
Under turquoise skies,
Exploring Lanikai,
Kaena on North Side.
Out here by the sea,
And in forests,
Running along wild things,
Along mountain edges,
Roaming free.
Jun 8, 2018
Jun 8, 2018 at 12:58 PM UTC
dedicated to the people effected by Volcano Kilauea
a innnnnnn t th e very beginning of
every advanced society
one finds something the Sunday Funnies used to
be the cutting edge;
The Colossus of Rhodes /roʊdz/ (Ancient Greek: ὁ Κολοσσὸς Ῥόδιος,
transliteration. ** Kolossòs Rhódios) was a statue of the Greek sun-god Helios, designed in part by the world renown genius
engineer Archemides , gigantic L e B ron man straddling to be erected as a m sentinel to guard over in the to look o city of
Rhodes, on the Greek i sland of the same name, by Chares
of Lindos in 280 BC. One of the Inana bronze Seven Wonders of the
nnnnnnnnnnn / Ancient World, / originally of the seven veils designed to a mechanical man;
it was constructed to celebrate Rhodes' victory over Cyprus
& Antigonus I Monophthalmus, whose son then unsuccessfully
n attacke d Rhodes in 305 BC.
that looks like a comic;
they end
book; pictographs give graphic novels are read more closely
than actual news
;newspapers; all lie in social decline
way to hieroglyphs (mythic monuments told tales; & "Mother of the Sun, Theia
of many names, for your sake men honor gold as more powerful than anything else; and through the value you best ow on them, o queen, ships contending on the sea
and yoked teams of horses in swift-whirling contests become marvels."
soon we'll all know Chinese. the Colossus stood 100 feet high— approximate
height of the modern Statue of Liberty
from feet to crown; which was originally designed as a massive naked woman representing Liberty;
Jun 1, 2018
Jun 1, 2018 at 6:12 AM UTC