Spotted on the Roadside: The Pali Lookout

May 29, 2015 Comments Off read Hawaii, Pacific, Spotted on the Roadside, The Great Outdoors, Travel, USA, West

Not merely a breathtaking view, the Pali Lookout (or Nuʻuanu Pali) is an important historical site. Kamehameha I, later known as Kamehameha the Great, conquered the island of Oahu at this site in the late 1700s in one of the bloodiest battles in Hawaiian history. Referred to as the Battle of Nu’uanu, it also came to be known as Kaleleka’anae, or the leaping of the ‘anae fish, in reference to the nearly 400 warriors who were forced off the cliff during the conflict to their deaths, 1,000 feet below. Kamehameha I later went on to unite all of the Hawaiian islands under his rule in 1810, becoming the first king of Hawai’i.

It’s also home to winds so strong it blew someone’s underwear straight off. Spotted on the Pali highway in Oahu, HI

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Spotted on the Roadside: The World’s Largest Aloha Shirt in Honolulu, HI

May 22, 2015 Comments Off read Attractions, Hawaii, Pacific, Spotted on the Roadside, Travel, USA, West

With a chest measurement of 168 inches, a waist measurement of 161 inches, and a neck measurement of 60.5 inches, this 400XL aloha shirt was Guinness verified as a world record in March of 1999. However, I don’t know if that record still stands–the only current Guinness record I could find for shirts are for a t-shirt in Brazil and a button down shirt in Germany that both make this aloha shirt look like a shirt for babies. But it’s still pretty big. I guess. Hilo Hattie, home of the giant shirt, is just ok. They’ve got pretty much the same stuff you’ll find in every souvenir shop all around Oahu with the added ‘bonus’ of having a cosmetics clerk who tries to make you feel like you’re a decrepit mummy with undereye bags the size of your carry-on and a checkout clerk who comments on the caloric density of the snacks you’re purchasing as though you were buying a pizza the size of their aloha shirt instead of a fifty cent snack pack of cookies. Mahalo for that, ladies. Spotted on Nimitz Highway in Honolulu, HI

Spotted on the Roadside: Washington’s Golden Gate Bridge

May 15, 2015 Comments Off read Pacific, Spotted on the Roadside, Travel, USA, Washington, West

The best part about owning your own property (I prefer to be called a land baron) is that you can customize everything to your liking. I know nothing about this little Golden Gate bridge that’s spanning a pond on private property in Ridgefield other than the fact that I love it, and I think some giant koi would take the whole thing to the next level. Or maybe some other wee versions of American landmarks? Or, I guess they could keep it the way it is. That’s fine, too.

Spotted at the intersection of NE 10th Ave & NE 209th St in Ridgefield, WA