Waikiki
It hardly seems like Hawaii–at least not the laidback Hawaii I’ve come to love. The beaches, lined with high-priced high-rise hotels, packed to the gills with bikini clad women and surfers in flower-patterned board shorts. Blonde kiddies screech as the waves hit their tiny legs. They’ll screech louder later when the sunburn sets in; little black-haired Asian tots would suffer the same fate if not for parents obsessed with using a sunbrella. Mere steps away from the crowded beaches limos, rental cars, tour buses, and shuttles cram bumper to bumper down Waikiki strip. Several blocks away runs H-1 with crazy on and off ramps, merging lanes, roadway running below, packed with tourists and locals alike. Only the warmth of the air and the smell of the ocean attest to the fact that this bustling metropolis is, indeed, Hawaii.
Warm summer rain falls
But the calendar says it’s
October’s rainbow
——-
For Haibun Monday at dVerse Poets Pub this week, Bjorn is calling for non-traditional haibun with cityscape as the theme. I just spent four days on Oahu and am now blissfully on Maui away from the crazy that is Honolulu.
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Crazy hustle bustle, not my idea of fun…glad you found your peaceful retreat!
This is a perfect picture of Waikiki as it is today. I was there when it became a State in 1957 and it was a whole different world back then. Guess I’m getting old and grumpy. The haiku is just wonderful, Linda.
A place I’d like to visit…maybe a quieter side of island 😉
Just go to Maui. It’s much quieter.
I will keep that in mind!
Happy Hawaiian vacation! Nice haibun here. Love the contrast between the blonde and Asian kids.
Wonderfully presented contrast! Hope you will get to enjoy more sunsets away from the city lights and enjoy the warm air and your holiday :o)
So well done. We’ve been to the Big Island three times…….loved hiking in the national park — stayed in a rental home way off the beaten track. And then, one of those times, also went to Waikiki…and you’re right. Other than the weather, it seemed like millions of miles away from where we stayed. Different places — same state. Similar on the mainland too.
It’s fun to do both in one trip.
Sometimes cities take away the nature… when you’re inside it could be anywhere… have a wonderful vacation away from the city,
Although even in Waikiki nature intrudes with birds flying right in the open air restaurants.
Wow!
Reality and idealized meet head-on in this poem. Really nice
I have always wanted to go to Hawaii. Enjoy your vacation and thank you for writing such a descriptive chaotic poem.
I highly recommend it. Though I prefer Maui, Oahu is fun, too.