Our dear California friend, Mike had a longer layover in Hawaii last month. He's a pilot with Continental Airlines. We were so happy that we'd be able to see him this time.
We went first to the Waikiki Tonkatsu Ginza Bairin for some pork tonkatsu. It's always been fabulous before, but I have to tell you it was so so this time. We were a little disappointed, but that was OK. We had fun catching up with each other's family doings.
We rarely go down into the city, much less Waikiki where Mike was staying so this was a good excuse to see the International Marketplace one last time before they closed it down for good on New Year's Eve. It opened in 1957 and was filled with a lot ofcheap less expensive knick knacks.
This will all be replaced with high end stores like Saks Fifth Avenue.
It felt sad and nostalgic to walk around the shops under the old banyan trees.
I was happy to be able to capture a flavor of the area one last time.
The banyan trees are tall and beautiful.
Mike, Art and I watched a Hawaiian music show for a while.
All the vendors were trying to sell off their merchandise. We didn't see a lot of prices listed so you couldn't be absolutely sure you were going to really get a good price.
In the end we didn't buy anything. We actually prefer buying Hawaiian touristy items at the Aloha Stadium at their swap meets on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Although Aloha Stadium is where we take friends who want to buy Hawaiian gifts to bring home, it's still sad to see the International Marketplace closing down. It feels like more of older Hawaii giving way to high end, modern, mainland type, rich people stores.
I wonder if they'll keep the trees.
We went first to the Waikiki Tonkatsu Ginza Bairin for some pork tonkatsu. It's always been fabulous before, but I have to tell you it was so so this time. We were a little disappointed, but that was OK. We had fun catching up with each other's family doings.
We rarely go down into the city, much less Waikiki where Mike was staying so this was a good excuse to see the International Marketplace one last time before they closed it down for good on New Year's Eve. It opened in 1957 and was filled with a lot of
This will all be replaced with high end stores like Saks Fifth Avenue.
It felt sad and nostalgic to walk around the shops under the old banyan trees.
I was happy to be able to capture a flavor of the area one last time.
The banyan trees are tall and beautiful.
Mike, Art and I watched a Hawaiian music show for a while.
All the vendors were trying to sell off their merchandise. We didn't see a lot of prices listed so you couldn't be absolutely sure you were going to really get a good price.
In the end we didn't buy anything. We actually prefer buying Hawaiian touristy items at the Aloha Stadium at their swap meets on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Although Aloha Stadium is where we take friends who want to buy Hawaiian gifts to bring home, it's still sad to see the International Marketplace closing down. It feels like more of older Hawaii giving way to high end, modern, mainland type, rich people stores.
I wonder if they'll keep the trees.
Oh, Kay, I was wondering about the trees, too. Surely they will rebuild around them. Can't the citizens insist on new developments protecting the trees? Good luck.
ReplyDeleteDrumMajor
The area is privately owned so I don't think citizens can have a say. It's pretty sad.
DeleteOur country is becoming so homogenized--for good or bad I don't know, but certainly there is a lot of local flavor that will be missed.
ReplyDeleteWhat a loss, the good old market.
ReplyDeleteI don't even want to think of the probable fate of the trees.
It looks like an interesting and fun place. What a shame that it has to go to give way for much duller high end stores.
ReplyDeleteLet us know what happens with the trees.
I hope they save the trees!
ReplyDeleteStrange--the last post I saw from you was a New Years post and I was wondering what happened to you. Today when I opened your blog, there were all the posts between New Years and now!
I just discovered today that although I schedule to publish my posts at 12:30 AM Hawaiian time and they do go up, it's not showing up on anybody's side bar. Really peculiar. I have heard from many people that they are having Blogger problems. I do publish Monday to Friday at 12:30 AM Hawaiian time. On the positive side, I haven't seen very many spams lately.
DeleteBlogger has been giving me trouble for over a month. First it wouldn't let me upload photos to the blog, then only a few, or only on good days. Now I suspect that readers' comments are not coming through.
DeleteI was just thinking that. Can they save the trees. Can they move them an d replant them. I so hope so. Glad you were able to see your friend
ReplyDeleteI don't think they can move them. The trees are really, really massive and it would be a horrendous expense for the owners.
Deleteoh my goodness that is so sad, I certainly hope the trees stay!
ReplyDeleteMy blog is still all messed up, but I can still visit, lol
I know. I'm so sorry, Laurie. I noticed that last night. That is so aggravating and frustrating. I'm having Blogger problems too as Cynthia noticed. My posts are not showing up on everybody's sidebar. Sigh. It's not as bad as the problems you're having, irritating nonetheless. This is why I've been doing a back up blog on Wordpress, just in case.
Deletewe were there, fun to see the small booths-it is an interesting place, too bad it's going out of business.
ReplyDeletesad to see such a beautiful, cultural place go.
ReplyDeleteHilo Hattie on Nimitz Highway is surprisingly good when looking for tourist mementos and souvenirs of Hawaii. Much of their merchandise is high quality. I say "surprisingly" only because one sometimes hears Hilo Hattie being looked down upon by some locals.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Hank! I don't think I've ever been there. When you say "high quality" do you mean expensive?
DeleteBy "high quality," I guess I mean something more like NOT CHEESY. I had heard negative things about the Hilo Hattie store, but liked it--that's where I'm coming from, basically.
DeleteThe sad thing is that the changes that have been made and are still being made to Ala Moana Shopping Center target high-end shoppers, too. This is far different than it was some 40 years ago when Ala Moana focused on what the average person wanted to buy (and could afford to buy). Are there really that many gazillionaires that these places have to cater to them?
ReplyDeleteWell... now they're building those gazillion dollar super luxury condos at Ala Moana right next to the shopping center too, aren't they? I guess the whole place will be for the super rich.
DeleteUnless they are protected by some law, the trees will go to. That's happening around here too and sometimes I hate it. Dianne
ReplyDeleteSigh... I'm afraid so. The Waikiki International Marketplace is privately owned.
DeleteThose trees are amazing. They should remain no matter what else goes in there. They alone are a tourist attraction.
ReplyDeleteI too hope they save those lovely trees. It would be a real shame if they cut them down!
ReplyDeleteMy youngest daughter sat under one of those tall banyan trees and sipped on a fresh coconut when she visited Hawaii a few
years ago. A beautiful place! She loved her trip to Oahu.
I'm so glad your daughter enjoyed Oahu, Karin. Do you know I've never had one of those coconut juice things? Hmmm... I'll have to try it one of these days.
DeletePlease let us know what happens to those beautiful trees. I'm still sad about the hacking "trim" my local trees got, but at least they are still alive. I would hate to think of that banyan tree gone for no good reason. :-(
ReplyDeleteI have always loved the banyans and it is sickening to think they will probably be bulldozed for the new stores. It will be a shame to lose such a quaint place. Progress doesn't care.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me sad that the markets are becoming more and more scarce :(
ReplyDeleteThey have a place kinda like that in Charleston SC,I think they call it The Market.
ReplyDeleteAhhhh--how sad to close that International Marketplace.... Sometimes progress and modern stuff is not a good idea... I am one who would much rather go to a marketplace like that--instead of some fancy/dancy stores... That is just so sad. Thanks for sharing the photos.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Betsy
PS----I forgot to say that I'd hate to see them lose those gorgeous trees.... GADS---can't something be done to protect them???
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Betsy
It was great that Mike came to town so I could take one last look at the banyans and just walk around the tourist spot.
DeleteOh, yes, the trees! What a shame it would be to lose the trees.
ReplyDeleteThat is too bad. I know there is a school of thought that such places are cheap and tacky, but must they be replaced with high end retail?
ReplyDeleteAnd so great traditions pass in the guise of progress.
ReplyDeleteHi Kay, According to this article the banyan tree at International Market Place will be saved.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.hawaiimagazine.com/blogs/hawaii_today/2013/12/23/waikiki_international_marketplace_closing
Winnie
That is fabulous news, Winnie! I'm so glad they're not going to just plow it over. There are two giant banyans though. I wonder if they'll keep both or just the bigger one. I guess we'll see.
DeleteHi Kay - Greetings from New York City. I have been reading your blog for a while. Our family has fond memories of the International Market Place. We dined there a couple of times and bought some souvenirs the last time we were there. I am glad that those banyan trees will be saved. I also remember fondly the beautiful banyan tree in the Westin Moana Surfrider hotel court yard across the street.
ReplyDeleteHi Pearl! It's wonderful to meet you. Thank you so much for writing. I do love to hear from my readers. I hope you'll be able to return to Hawaii some day. I know New York is awfully cold right now. I don't get into Waikiki much, but I'm sorry to see the Marketplace go. It feels like another part of the Hawaii I knew being modernized for the wealthy tourists. Still....It's the tourist industry that keeps our island afloat so that's a good thing.
Delete