The family of our dear Tokyo friend, "Sam" who passed away last year came to visit recently. We offered to take them to places they might be interested in on Oahu.
Sam's granddaughter really wanted to see Kakaako's Wall art. Art and I hadn't heard of it so it was a good thing my brother, Dennis did.
A short distance from Waikiki are walls covered with whimsical, colorful murals.
Dennis drove our car with mom, "Sam's" wife, and his eldest daughter while we took the rest of the crew in our van.
Mom absolutely loved being able to speak to everyone in Japanese.
One of the places our friends from Japan put at the top of their list to visit was the Hitachi Tree at Moanalua Gardens.
I got this information from a Hitachi website:
So that's where we went. It's where we take all our Japanese tourist friends and relatives when they come to Oahu.
Sam's 12 year old grandson was learning about Pearl Harbor and wanted to see it so that was our next destination.
We couldn't go to the Arizona Memorial, but we did see the Bowfin submarine from the outside and then visited the Arizona Museum with stories about that terrible day, December 7, 1941. The museum displayed the aircraft carrier, Akagi.
We then had a wonderful luncheon at the Jade Garden Chinese Restaurant in Waipahu. Art took this photo a little too late. We'd already eaten up most of it. We did still have enough for two days of left overs though.
We then dropped the group off at the Waikele Outlet Mall while Art, mom, my brother and I went home and waited for them to call for a pick up.
After a couple of hours, we picked them up and headed out to the Iolani Palace. It was getting quite late and they asked to be dropped off at the Ala Moana Shopping Center where they would be getting their dinner.
It was wonderful to see our friends again and to feel the presence of their very special husband, father and grandfather. We really feel Sam was smiling down at us the entire day.
Sam's granddaughter really wanted to see Kakaako's Wall art. Art and I hadn't heard of it so it was a good thing my brother, Dennis did.
A short distance from Waikiki are walls covered with whimsical, colorful murals.
Dennis drove our car with mom, "Sam's" wife, and his eldest daughter while we took the rest of the crew in our van.
Mom absolutely loved being able to speak to everyone in Japanese.
One of the places our friends from Japan put at the top of their list to visit was the Hitachi Tree at Moanalua Gardens.
I got this information from a Hitachi website:
The Hitachi Tree first originated through a TV commercial that aired in Japan in 1973. It symbolized the "comprehensive drive" and the "wide business range" of the Hitachi Group. It continues today as an image of the Hitachi Group's working for communities through leveraging of its collective capacities and technologies, and the dedication of the individuals that the Group comprises.
So that's where we went. It's where we take all our Japanese tourist friends and relatives when they come to Oahu.
Sam's 12 year old grandson was learning about Pearl Harbor and wanted to see it so that was our next destination.
We couldn't go to the Arizona Memorial, but we did see the Bowfin submarine from the outside and then visited the Arizona Museum with stories about that terrible day, December 7, 1941. The museum displayed the aircraft carrier, Akagi.
We then had a wonderful luncheon at the Jade Garden Chinese Restaurant in Waipahu. Art took this photo a little too late. We'd already eaten up most of it. We did still have enough for two days of left overs though.
We then dropped the group off at the Waikele Outlet Mall while Art, mom, my brother and I went home and waited for them to call for a pick up.
After a couple of hours, we picked them up and headed out to the Iolani Palace. It was getting quite late and they asked to be dropped off at the Ala Moana Shopping Center where they would be getting their dinner.
It was wonderful to see our friends again and to feel the presence of their very special husband, father and grandfather. We really feel Sam was smiling down at us the entire day.
It’s nice your friends family came to visit, I’m sure your Mom must enjoy speaking in Japanese to them, what a wonderful time you showed them!
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful you were able to host them.
ReplyDeletesounds like a busy and lovely time...
ReplyDeleteThat tree is amazing!
ReplyDeleteGood for them for knowing what they wanted to see, and good for you for making it happen. And then there was all of the lovely time to share the experiences with the family of a man you all loved.
A perfect day! Thanks w sharing. Bless mom!!!🌺
ReplyDeleteIt's always lots of fun when visitors come and you can show them around.
ReplyDeleteYou are wonderful hosts!!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to have special friends like this.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice full day! Great pictures of the wall art!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great visit!!!! I love all the pictures!!! Thank you for sharing - Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting how we seldom see the cool local sights till we have visitors. Then we get to see things thru their eyes. So glad your Mom got to speak in Japanese. What a comfort for her.
ReplyDeleteLoved the murals.
I think it was a lovely visit, and the art is perfect!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great visit. Those murals were worth it. Before my family moved from Oahu back to Washington in the 50's Mom spent the better part of the last two weeks visiting all the places we'd postponed in the two years we were there. Human nature :-)
ReplyDeleteI sure enjoyed this visit, too. Everything was new to me, and I smiled again at how wonderful your family is to everyone who has a chance to get to know them. Sam must have been a very special person. Thank you so much for bringing him into my life, too. :-)
ReplyDeleteThis is so eloquent! I felt this, too.
Deletepretty neat art
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that you could take Sam's family around the sights. So, Mom could be a full-fledged interpreter for her next job! Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteOMG you dropped them off at Waikele and picked them up again. Good grief you guys don't mind driving. I use to only go there 1x a year when I lived in town, plus it's soooo small there isn't much to shop at over there. I haven't been down to your end of the island in over 10+ years I think! -BB
ReplyDeleteWhat a delightful,time for all.
ReplyDeleteCame over to your blog from DJan. Love the murals, and of course it's great to be able to show international people all around your hometown.
ReplyDeleteHello Tom! It's so nice to meet you.
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