On the morning of Friday, January 26, 2024, I decided to take my second run in the Waialua neighborhood where we were staying. I wanted to see if I could complete a run that I had taken the last time we visited in Hawaii.
It looked to be another pretty day with more sunshine and blue sky. I made my way out to the Waialua Beach Road, and started my run.
My quads were still a bit touchy from my run on January 24. As I eased my way back on to the narrow single lane road that will carry me deeper into the neighborhood, I felt pretty good.
This is a nice place for an old guy to run as the road on this trek is flat. The only hills I see are the Waianae Mountains that form an appealing backdrop.
It is quiet back here. Occasionally, I hear the crow of a rooster, or a slowly passing car. But that’s it.
I enjoy running in a different environment. If I was back in Richmond taking a run on January 26, unless there was a significant winter warm up, I would not be running in shorts and a t-shirt.
My pacing is good, and I decide to push further into the neighborhood so that I can complete the full circuit. When I make my final left turn, I pass by a retreat center, Camp Homeland, that is run by the local Salvation Army. This center still appears to be in good shape since our visit to Hawaii in December 2021.
I work my way out of the neighborhood and end up on the asphalt trail. Gradually, I come to the street that takes me back to the house. I check the traffic and trot across the street. My run time clocks out at 38:15.
After breakfast, we figure out a plan for washing clothes, talk about our departure time for the port on Saturday morning, and coordinate our ride back into Haleiwa for some shopping and lunch.
Loaded in the van, we made the short drive into Haleiwa. We took advantage of the parking lots behind the shops.
We revisited some of the same shops, and made a few new stops too.
A unique shop is the Kokua General Store. The General Store is a part of the Kokua Hawaii Foundation. In 2003, the foundation was started by musician, Jack Johnson, and his wife, Kim.
A friendly staff and an array of unique products await visitors. The store prides itself as a “bulk, refill, and low-waste lifestyle product store.This space provides the community the tools needed to reduce waste in their lives.”(From website)
In close proximity to the Kokua General Store is the Waialua Courthouse. The courthouse opened in1913. The building became a part of the Hawaii Register of Historic Places in 1979. By 1989, the building was closed, and it fell into disrepair.
Thankfully, the Haleiwa Main Street Program helped to lead the renovation. By 1997, the restoration was completed. Now, the building is used for community meetings and native Hawaiian cultural activities. (Historical Marker)
Our shopping came to an end, and we walked to one of the parking areas where food trucks are located.
Betsy and I headed to the Crispy Grindz. Here, we ordered two Acai bowls loaded with fruit toppings.
After lunch, we drove back to the house. The washing of clothes continued, and more talk about Saturday took place.
Dan, Betsy, and I decided to take a walk down to the beach with the goal of taking a swim. Once on the beach, we walked in a westerly direction.
The water was exceptionally clear, and along the way we began to spot numerous turtles. In fact, there was a turtle up on the sandy shoreline.
And of course, neither Betsy, Dan, or I brought a camera or phone with us. So, we missed multiple opportunities for turtle photos.
We found a calm, pool of water between the reef breaking waves and the shallow shoreline. The Pacific’s water seems less salty than the Atlantic, but the clarity was unbelievable.
Refreshed from the swim, we reluctantly made the walk back to the house. The remainder of the afternoon passed quickly.
I did a bit of organizing for packing, and before we knew it, we were driving over to meet Brandy and Parker for dinner at the Haleiwa Beach House Restaurant.
Again, we had a delicious meal and enjoyable conversations. One of the nice things about this restaurant is its location.
The front of the restaurant runs parallel to the Kamehameha Highway, and just across this thoroughfare is the Haleiwa Harbor. With a little luck, diners are treated to some very pretty sunsets.
Our dining fun gradually came to an end. We said our goodbyes and thanks to Brandy and Parker for all of their hospitality during our visit.
Back at the house, the last of the laundry was being done, and the pace of the packing started to pickup.
My old body was asking for sleep.
Our last morning in Waialua would be here before I knew it.
And before dozing off, my mind wondered back to the short walk on the beach and the quick swim in the Pacific. I’m still amazed at the clarity of the water.
I imagine that clear water is critical for the survival of the turtles.
It would be my hope that we can continue to find ways to keep the water clean not only for the turtles, but all sea life, and ourselves too.
might be baloney 