Flat Stanley Letter from Oahu

March 26, 2012

Aloha, Zachary!

I am enjoying my visit to Hawai’i, where I am staying on the island of Oahu. Everyone has been so friendly that it is no wonder they call Hawai’i the Aloha State. Temperatures are about 81° during the day, so I have changed to short sleeves, shorts, and slippers. Quite a change from winter in Liberty Corner! I have learned so much since coming to the islands that it is hard to know where to begin. Hope this gives you an idea of some of the neat things about the 50^th State!

Hawai’i is made up of eight main islands (Ni’ihau, Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, and the Big Island of Hawai’i) plus several atolls, islets, and undersea seamounts that form a string about 1,500 miles long. What we call islands are actually the tops of a great undersea mountain range known as the Hawaiian-Emperor seamount chain. The chain formed by volcanic activity over a hotspot in the Earth's mantle and is still growing. Mauna Kea on the Big Island is the tallest mountain in the world at 13,796 feet when measured from bottom (undersea) to top (in the clouds). Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa (also on the Big Island) even get snow on them so you can surf and ski on the same day at times. Because of Hawai’i’s isolated location (1,860 miles from the nearest continent), many unique bird and plant species developed in the Hawaiian islands. In fact, the only native mammal in Hawai’i before humans arrived (around 300 A.D.) was the hoary bat.

The main city on Oahu is Honolulu, which is also the capital of Hawai’i. Hawai’i has the only royal palace on U.S. soil, Iolani Palace, and today is Prince Kuhio Day, which is a state holiday. People have been celebrating the holiday with parades and festivals (or ho’olaule’a) to celebrate the birthday of Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaʻole Piʻikoi (1871–1922), a prince of the reigning House of Kalakaua when the Kingdom of Hawai’i was overthrown in 1893. He went on to become a politician in the Territory of Hawai’i as delegate to the U.S. Congress, which made him the first native Hawaiian and only person ever elected to Congress who was born a royal. Some people are not happy that the monarchy was overthrown, but many realize the benefits Hawai’i has gained over the years as a part of the U.S. People here are very proud of the Hawaiian monarchs and the chiefs (ali’i) from whom they descended. Kamehameha I was the ali’i who united the islands and formally established the kingdom of Hawai’i in 1810. Before he did so, each island was governed separately. After Kamehameha I united the islands, he built alliances with the major Pacific colonial powers and preserved Hawai’i's independence under his rule.

Many famous people came from or now make their homes in the islands. A few well-known people born in Hawai’i include: Olympic swimmer Duke Kahanamoku, actress Tia Carrere, Father Damien, singer Don Ho, singer Alfred Apaka, Kamehameha I (first Hawaiian king), Queen Liliuokalani (last Hawaiian monarch), entertainer Bette Midler, actress Nicole Kidman, entertainer Bruno Mars, Senator Daniel Inouye, Senator Daniel Akaka, Representative Patsy Mink, President Barack Obama, astronaut Ellison Onizuka, U.S. Army general Eric Shinseki, and golfer Michelle Wie. Some well-known people also came to live in Hawai’i. They are: actor Jack Lord, actor Richard Chamberlain, philanthropist Doris Duke, surfer Laird Hamilton, industrialist Henry J. Kaiser, entertainer Jim Nabors, singer/activist Buffy Sainte-Marie, and artist Robert Wyland.

Here is a picture of me and my friend, Andrea, with a bust of Jack Lord at Kahala Mall in Waialae. Jack Lord is famous as the star of the original Hawaii 5-0 series.

I have met many friendly people during my visit to Hawaii. Following are a few photos of those people and the places we visited.

Here I am with Uncle Clay and Matt at Uncle Clay’s House of Pure Aloha in Aina Haina for some shave ice. They fixed me a nice, cold cup of shave ice with which to cool off—including their own syrups with local fruits. I’m not sure what lychee are (or is), but it sure tasted good!

This picture is of me with one of the most famous landmarks of Hawaii—Diamond Head (Le’ahi to Hawaiians). I am standing at the plaque recognizing Diamond Head as a registered national landmark. The crater was formed about 300,000 years ago during a single, explosive eruption that sent ash and fine particles in the air. The trail to the summit of Le'ahi was built in 1908 as part of Oahu's coastal defense system. The 0.8 mile hike from trailhead to the summit is steep and strenuous, gaining 560 feet as it ascends from the crater floor. The ascent continues up steep stairs and through a lighted 225-foot tunnel to enter the Fire Control Station completed in 1911. Built on the summit, the station directed artillery fire from batteries in Waikiki and Fort Ruger outside Diamond Head crater. At the summit, you can see bunkers and a huge navigational lighthouse built in 1917.

This picture was taken at the entrance to the Waikiki Aquarium, opposite Kapiolani Park at the Diamond Head end of Waikiki. Tiffany was kind enough to pose with me (she said some of my cousins had already visited). The aquarium is the third oldest in the U.S. It opened on March 19, 1904 to show the world the riches of Hawai’i's reefs. Today, the aquarium seeks to inspire and promote understanding, appreciation and conservation of Pacific marine life through its exhibits, research, and special programs.

Here I am with my friend, Mana, at the Honolulu Zoo. The zoo is also near Kapiolani Park and Diamond Head. Honolulu Zoo is the largest zoo within a radius of 2,300 miles and unique in that it is the only zoo in the United States originating from a King's grant of royal lands to the people. King David Kalakaua, Monarch of Hawai`i from 1874 to 1891, made lands of the Le'ahi Land Holdings available in 1876 to the people for a thirty year lease. Kapiolani Park was permanently established in 1896 and the City and County of Honolulu assumed administration of city parks in 1914. Today, the zoo continues under the administration of the City.

This is a photo of my friend, Rick, and me standing next to a description of the battle of Nu’uanu at the Pali Lookout. The battle is one of the most famous events in the history of Hawai’i as it was one of Kamehameha I’s final acts to unite the islands of Hawai’i. According to legend, Kamehameha I chased native warriors up Nu’uanu Valley to, and over, the pali (cliff) overlooking today’s Kailua and Kaneohe. It must have been a very calm day as the tradewinds (Hawai’i’s prevailing winds) can blow very strongly up the cliff, making it almost impossible to jump or fall over the cliff.

This is a picture of Rick and me with the view from the Pali lookout. In the distance is Kaneohe Bay.

This photo shows Rick and me with Koko Crater in the background. Koko Crater is a massive cinder cone that visually dominates the area. Within the crater are horse stables and the Koko Crater Botanical Garden, which was set aside in 1958 and features rare and endangered dryland plants. The crater overlooks Hawaii Kai, which was built on the site of an old Hawaiian fish pond.

Here I am at Makapu’u with Mrs. Johnson. You can barely see the Makapu’u lighthouse in the distance (it’s a little speck on the face of the cliffs). The lighthouse was built in 1909. This is the most southeastern point on Oahu.

This is another picture of me and Mrs. Johnson with another famous landmark of Oahu—Rabbit Island (or Manana island in Hawaiian). In front of it is Kaohikaipu islet. Both islands are remnants of old volcanoes that are now set aside as bird sanctuaries.

Here I am with Uncle Bobby Puakea at the He’eia State Park, where Uncle Bobby teachers the art of canoe building. The canoes are outrigger canoes that Hawaiians used for local fishing as well as long distance ocean travel. Today, outriggers are mostly used for recreation. The park overlooks He’eia fishpond, which is one of the few remaining ancient Hawaiian fishponds. When I visited He’eia State Park, the first thing I saw was a bunch of chickens calmly walking around as several cats rested nearby.

Here are Mrs. Johnson and me at the Tropical Farms Macadamia Nut Farm Outlet in Kaneohe. We couldn’t resist taking a picture with these statues near the entrance to the outlet, which represent the Farms owners’ ancestors who were Aloha Week King and Queen for Maui island in 1959. What is known today as Aloha Festivals was created in 1946, as Aloha Week - a cultural celebration of Hawai'i’s music, dance and history intended to perpetuate our unique traditions. The Aloha Festivals are celebrated on six islands—Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and the Big Island of Hawaii—for six weeks in September and October.

Here are two photos taken at Kualoa Beach Park. In the background of the right hand photo is Mokoli'i island (Chinaman's Hat), with Mokapu peninsula in the distance. According to legend, Mokoli’i island is a fluke from the tail of a large dragon. Hi’iaka, sister of the goddess Pele, slew the creature and threw its tail into the bay. Mokoli’i, which means “little lizard,” is said to be part of the tail. The photo below is an inland view of the Ko’olau mountains from Kualoa Beach Park. At the base of the mountains is Kualoa Ranch, which was established in 1850. Kualoa is a 4,000-acre working cattle ranch, spread from the steep mountain cliffs to the sparkling sea.

I am enjoying the island warmth and especially swimming in the calm ocean. Beaches here are quite different as there are protective reefs at most beaches, creating safe swimming areas near the shore and beautiful waves outside the reefs. Here I am at Sans Souci beach near Kapiolani Park. The beach is next to the Kaimana Beach Hotel, which was originally the residence of the McInerny family, a kama’aina haole family that owned a major mercantile business in Honolulu. The McInerny residence had an ocean lanai and wood railing under a distinctive hau tree whose shade was enjoyed by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Wow. I’ve done and learned a lot, but there is so much more to share. I wish you were here so we could learn together. Here are a few things I have learned:

· Hawai'i is also the only American state to have two official languages, Hawaiian and English. However, a third unofficial language is also widely spoken, Pidgin, which is a slang combining words from many aspects of island life and culture.

· When Captain Cook discovered the Hawaiian Islands in 1778, he also discovered that Hawaiians had a totally oral tradition. There was, up until western contact, no written version of the Hawaiian language. In 1820 western missionaries living in the islands first standardized a written version of the Hawaiian language.

· The written Hawaiian language is based on English letters. There are 8 consonants and five vowels:

Consonants
H	As in English
K	As in English
L	As in English
M	As in English
N	As in English
P	As in English
W	After i and e pronounced v After u and o pronounced like w At the start of a word or after a pronounced like w or v
'	'Okina - a glottal stop (more on this below)
Vowels
A	Like the a in *far*
E	Like the e in *bet*
I	Like the y in *city*
O	Like the o in *sole*
U	Like the oo in *moon*

· Generally speaking, the state of Hawaii is tropical, but the temperature and climate can vary dramatically depending on where you are located on a particular island. For example, on the Big Island of Hawaii, it is possible to hit the beach and go for a swim and then drive up to the top of Mauna Kea and walk in snow in the same day. The Big Island's majestic mountains, the tallest of which is Mauna Kea rising 13,796 feet (4,205 m), contain a climatic range from the tropic to the sub-Arctic.

· Most of Hawaii has only two seasons – summer, from May to October, and winter, from November to April. The early Hawaiians named them kau, the warm season (when the sun is almost directly overhead and the weather is warmer and drier and winds blow reliably from the northeast) and ho'olio, the cooler season (when the sun is lower in the south, the winds are more variable and there is more rainfall and cloud cover).

· When visiting Hawaii, leave your compass at home—islanders have a different sense of direction than mainlanders do. Although locals do think of the islands as having north shores and south shores, west coasts and east coasts, seldom will anybody direct you by using the most common directional terms. Instead, they'll send you either makai (ma-kai), meaning toward the sea, or mauka (mow-kah), meaning toward the mountains. Because each island is basically a volcano with a single coastal road circling it, those two terms are often enough to do the trick. When they aren’t enough, locals are likely to use landmarks. In Honolulu, people use Diamond Head when they mean to the east (in the direction of the world-famous crater called Diamond Head), and Ewa (e-va) when they mean to the west (in the direction of the town called Ewa, beyond Pearl Harbor). So if you ask an islander for directions on Oahu, you're likely to hear something like this: "Turn left and go 2 miles Diamond Head [east], turn at the light and go 2 blocks makai [toward the sea], and then turn at the stop light. Go 2 more blocks and turn Ewa [west]; the address you want is on the mauka [mountain] side of the street."

· Some common local words you might hear: