Here are some pick, white and a purple water lily growing over in McCoy Pavilion at Ala Moana Beach Park.  Somehow almost reminds me of the Frogger video game when you jump across the lily pads.  Looking forward to the start of a nice long 3 day weekend.

Happy Friday the 13th.  Today we bring you out ot La’ie point on the Windward/North Shore of Oahu.   While out at La’iePoint you can learn about the legend of Laniloa the Mo’o (giant lizard).  This one so giant it killed people until Kana set out to kill the Mo’o and here in La’ie chopped it into five pieces where it can still be seen as five islands off La’ie point.  This is the biggest most famous piece since it has a hole in the center perhaps where the heart of the Mo’o was pierced by a spear.   Either way it makes a good Friday the 13th tale.

We end our series with a view of the Sagres at night.  Lights decorate the mast of this tall ship.  While on a 4th of July cruise in the harbor it was amazing to see the lights at a distance and how tall it was in comparison to Aloha Tower.  Aloha Tower is 10 stories tall which is 184 feet and the Sagres comes in at 45.5 meters which is about 150 feet tall.   Besides training the Sagres is considered an “Ambassador of Portugal” and has called in at 113 foreign ports in 45 countries.  It has also carried out two world circumnavigations in 1978/79 and 1983/84.  After visiting Hawaii it is off to continue on to Japan.  I hope you enjoyed our look at the Sagres and got a chance to step aboard it.  Have a great weekend!

We interrupt our look at Hawaiian Hall to celebrate Boy’s Day.  This is a picture of traditional Japanese Carp well not the actual carp but candy filled carp that are commonly handed out to kids in Hawaii.   The carp represnt boys (or children) and are flown above the house one for each kid.  Originally Boy’s Day now is also Kodomo no Hi (Children’s Day).   It falls on 5/5 (girls day falls on 3/3).   Mochi (rice cakes willed with red beans) are traditionally served on this day.  Today is also in other cultures known as Cinco De Mayo so time to party up.  We return to Bishop Museum tomorrow.

We end the week overlooking Keehi Lagoon Park.  In the distance you can see flags set up for a paddling regatta.  On August 8, 2008 President Barack Obama paid a visit to this park while he was still a senator running for president.   Now that Felicia is behind us it should be a nice an beautiful weekend.  So I hope everybody has a great weekend.

We here at Global Hawaii would like to thank those who gave their lives to defend this country and ask everybody to pause for at least a moment in their weekend to give thanks.  Below is a list of Memorial Day activities I highly recommend the Punchbowl ceremony and the Lantern Floating.  You can also take a moment at Punchbowl to see all the graves with flags and leis as shown in our photo of the day above.

 Natatorium Memorial Day Ceremony10am Sunday at Waikiki War Memorial

60th Annual Honolulu Mayor’s Memorial Day Ceremony8:30am Monday at National Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl

Governor’s Memorial Day Ceremony1pm Monday at the Hawaii State Veterens Cemetery, Kaneohe

Lantern Floating Ceremony6:30 pm Monday at Magic Island, Ala Moana Beach Park 

Also at the Maui Ocean Center the Moon Jellies who spend their lives driftign in the ocean in quiet bays and harbors pulsating their saucer-like shapes in a slow graceful motion.  Unlike the Sea Jellies thy use their stinging appendages to stun and capture prey such as small fish, plankton and crustaceans.  Don’t forget to look at our Moon JelliesVideo.

Here is a look at the outside of Honolulu Hale as the Honolulu City Lights winds down into its last weekend.  I tried to get this from a moving trolley but had to walk over and use a tripod to get a good shot.  If you do decide to take a Trolley tour be sure to sit on the left side for the best view.  Better yet walk by and also go inside Honolulu Hale to see the Christmas trees, wreaths and gingerbread houses. 

Hawaii Blog will be taking the weekend off to brave the high waves on the Hawaii SuperFerry and head off to Maui.  We can then let you know what its like to ride the SuperFerry during the winter months and will promptly begin our Maui series.  I hope you all have a great weekend and we will see everybody back on Tuesday.  Don’t forget to check out our Hawaii SuperFerry Review.

A pair of sheep come to greet the train and Kilohana Plantation.  We were lucky enough to be able to hand feed the sheep.