My 2013 Trip to Oahu, Hawaii
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How to Go to Heaven
God blessed me
again in February of 2013
by allowing me to visit Honolulu in Oahu and the Big Island for two weeks. I first went to the island of
Oahu. Then three days later I headed over to Hilo
on the Big Island and saw some awesome things.
Above: Some of my friends
that I met along Waikiki Drive in Honolulu. The beautiful exotic parrot in
my hands is from Brazil. He was warm and cuddly. The white bird is from the
Solomon Islands and the green bird from Australia (both 8 years old). I
bought the nice shirt the day before for about $20 at an ABC store on
Waikiki.
Above: I had an awesome
view from the Queen Kapiolani Hotel in Honolulu. It's the PH (penthouse)
apartment on the very top floor. Rainbows are an everyday occurrence in
Oahu, reminding us that God always keeps His promises!
Above: Again, an awesome
view toward Waikiki Beach from the penthouse apartment which the hotel
upgraded me to. I just reserved a standard room. They didn't say why and I
didn't ask. It was a welcome treat. Also, a 40-foot stretched white
limousine drove me from the airport to the hotel. I just ordered a standard
taxi, but God welcomed me in a special way. It didn't cost me a dime extra,
but I gave the driver a nice tip anyway as if I were financially wealthy.
That's a fun way to live when you aren't rich. The Bible says where our
treasure is, there will our heart be also. OTHERS!
That's the first time I
ever rode in a limo or stayed in a high-rise penthouse apartment. The limo
had a gigantic L-shaped seat in front of me that could have seated 7 or 8
more people. It was just me in the back seat. If I had needed to say
anything to the chauffeur, I would have had to shout across the limo. The
doors had champagne glasses and ice coolers built in. There were TV's,
stereos and all kinds of electronic gadgets that I dare not touch!
Above: A gorgeous view of
downtown Honolulu. I wouldn't want to live here though. It's a concrete
jungle which can become a lonely place very quickly. You can't stand still
without being charged taxes! Everything is very expensive and you won't
reserve a hotel (except maybe the gay one down the street) for less than
$160 a night!
Below: Here are some more
photos that I took from my outdoor penthouse balcony. It was about a 30 foot
walkway and then when you turned the corner, about another 25 feet. There
was a bench and multiple chairs to sit on. Look at that full beautiful
rainbow in the bottom photo. Isn't God wonderful and awesome!!!
Above: Diamond Head, an
extinct volcano, as seen from my balcony. I walked to the top of the volcano
back in 2007 before my neck surgeries in 2009/2010. There's grass and a
radio station broadcasting from within the volcano. It's about a half mile
across I'd guess, but am not sure. Pretty neat!
I'll never forget that
they handed me a brochure at the bottom of the volcano. I hiked all the way
to the top. After hundreds of stairs and about a 30 minute grueling climb I
finally opened the brochure at the top, totally exhausted and mega thirsty
and the first thing I read was... MAKE SURE YOU BUY BOTTLED WATER AT THE
BOTTOM, BECAUSE THERE'S NO WATER AT THE TOP! Oh boy! I was dehydrated. I
tried to buy some water from a guy with about 6 bottles at the top, but he
refused. I offered him $20 but he said no way. I don't blame him. I'll tell
you, water is priceless when you are thirsty! I drank about a quart when I
came back down!
Above: I get weak knees
just looking at this photo. I couldn't look over the side of my railing to
take this photo. I just held the camera over the railing and pointed down.
It's scary looking down from heights! I think everyone has experienced
thoughts of jumping over the railing when they see how easy it would be to
jump to one's death. That very thought scares me to death (no pun intended).
Thinking about it makes it feel really creepy when you're looking over the
side.
Anyone who has ever been
in a really high place with a small railing knows exactly what I'm talking
about. That's why if I have a bad day, or my feelings are hurt, I don't even
go outside on the balcony. The Devil is sneaky! My whole body gets weak with
goosebumps just being in a high place with an average height railing. If I
built hotels, I'd make it enclosed so that no one could jump or be blown by
a gust of wind, or thrown off. Despite my fear of falling, I did spend a
couple hours sitting out on the balcony around midnight... praying, praising
and talking with my Lord Jesus Christ, but I was really glad to get back
inside.
Above: another photo from
my balcony. Those are all houses in Honolulu. By law, all new houses must
have solar panels installed on the roof, which greatly reduced one's monthly
electric bill. I noticed a drastic difference as viewed from driving along
the main highway between my 2007 visit and 2010 when I returned. I asked the
taxi driver what all those panels were and he told me it's a new law. I
think it's a great idea. The sun is the largest source of untapped energy in
the world.
Below: I met this
gentleman, Robert, while walking down Waikiki drive (or Kalakaua street).
His nylon guitar playing was beautiful a Flamenco style. He's
originally from Tennessee, moved to Miami and became a musician for many
years and then moved to Honolulu in 1973. He went back to Miami but returned
to Honolulu in 1996 to be near his daughter. He plays on the street and
people toss money in his open guitar case. I tossed in $20 and he loved
that. I spent about an hour admiring his music and learning about his setup.
Under all that shaggy white hair is a really nice tenderhearted man.
Robert uses a
Roland AC-33 acoustic amplifier, which sells new for around $400. The
amp has a built in Loop Function, which allows you to record a
40-second piece and then play over that first piece. You can record numerous
takes and play over each, creating multiple guitars playing at the same
time. So he strums his background chords first and records them, and then he
plays solo over that as it plays back. Really awesome stuff! He was playing
the theme from Hawaii 50 and everyone loved it. He uses an optional
PS-6 floor pedal to control the Loop circuit. The amp also has numerous
built in guitar effects which really sound nice. His guitar is a
Cordoba
brand.
A black man walked by and
tossed $5 in Robert's guitar case and then grabbed a handful of dollars to
make change for himself. After the guy quickly walked away Robert looked at
me and said, “He took one dollar bills right?” I honestly didn't know for
certain, but I think he took $3. You have to really watch your back (and
your front) in Honolulu. He asked if I would watch his equipment while he
used the bathroom and I did. I saw the relief on his face when he turned the
corner and saw that I was still there with his equipment. Some people would
have walked off with everything! I bought him a bottle of cold water and we
enjoyed each other's company as he played his music.
He told me that a
Honolulu rookie cop once cited him with a $73 fine for playing too loud at
Waikiki. If it were heavy-metal noise I could understand, but this guy's
classical style, nylon string, guitar playing is so soothing and pretty to
the ear. I heard many people compliment his music as they passed by. I
enjoyed it so much that I hope to learn to play the same kind of guitar,
Lord willing, in the future once I get settled down from moving. Robert is
using a standard guitar tuning (bass-to-treble: E - A - D - G - B - E).
His fingernails aren't
long, but he picks sometimes with his finger tips, which is easy on the
fingers with nylon strings. Most of the time he uses a regular guitar pick.
He's really quick on playing single string notes, playing a scale run on the
first 3 strings in just a second (I'm not sure musically what you'd call it,
because it's faster than triplets). He makes it look easy, playing the notes
fluidly. I love the melody. I think they're called triads and fifths. The
looping feature in the amplifier makes it sound like a whole band is
playing, but it's just one guy. God is truly amazing! Music is a gift from
the Lord. Music makes the world a better place.
As Robert was playing, a
man with a cinder block (yes, a full-sized concrete cinderblock) ran by
along Waikiki with flashing lights across his baseball cap. I looked twice
in disbelief of what I had just saw. It was hilarious! Waikiki is a weird
place! I guess the guy does it for attention and exercise. He sure turns
people's heads! I thought he was an older man, but some guy said he's a
local and not that old. I saw a big grin on the guy's face when I looked
twice in amazement. He loves the attention! I wanted to snap a picture, but
he was on the move before I could even get my camera out.
I've never seen so much
public talent (excluding running around with a big cinderblock on your
shoulder... lol) than along the Waikiki strip. One man was playing a big
cello. Another woman was doing oil paintings and selling them. There are
many artists. Some do mime, others break dancing (I hate break-dancing, but
a lot of people really love it). Waikiki beats all the demonic psychics,
tarot card readers, palm readers and séances around the Hollywood,
California area when I was there for surgery in 2009. Still, Waikiki is
ground zero for homelessness, drunkenness and poverty. The stench of urine
is horrible in many spots along Waikiki. I saw people sleeping in inflated
mattresses right along Waikiki next to the street. There are literally
hundreds of homeless people living along Waikiki strip and the adjacent
streets. Hawaii has a very ugly and dark side to it. The homeless
congregate, others all alone. Some are lying along the sidewalk as you pass
by, others sitting in lawn-chairs, most just sitting on the hard concrete.
I handed one fella a $20
bill, but then realized that he had hands without arms, and feet with no
legs. So I gently set the money at his feet and he looked up with a great
big smile. I was humbled by that. If that man can smile in his affliction,
then we all can! We are all so blessed of God. I told the Lord that I won't
dare complain about anything! I sincerely hope that you have enjoyed these
pictures as much as I did taking them. God bless!
My 2011 Visit to Oahu, Hawaii
