Wednesday, February 19, 2014

WLEM AM

Where the rubber meets the road.

    

Ever been to Hawaii? I was stationed there awhile, and I wonder if I'll ever return.

I was surprised to learn recently that cruise lines go to Hawaii. Of course, the majority of time is spent on board during the voyage to and fro, but I always thought, even before the advent of cruise-mania, it would be neat to go by ship.

Is this not a lovely song?

24 comments:

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Hawaii Five O.

The Mets had a Hawaiian pitcher used to be called El Sid. Sid Fernandez. I have good memories of Sid at Shea.


bagoh20 said...

I've been there many times. Only a 5 hour flight from here, and surprisingly it's usually nonstop.

I love the Big Island of Hawaii. It is so diverse with nearly every climate possible somewhere on the island. Much of it has a small town America feel to it when you get out of the localized tourist spots. Many places remind me of my rural Pennsylvania hometown, and just a few minutes away some incredible volcanic landscape that looks like another planet, or a secluded beach with incredible waterfalls and crashing waves. At lower elevations on the wet side it's thick lush jungle, then on the dry side it's more Mediterranean, then up the mountains a few miles and it's a western cattle or horse ranch type climate with vast grassland, with arctic wasteland at the highest elevations. The ocean of course is just amazing with sea life that is stunningly varied, beautiful and easily accessible to anyone.

In my twenties I went with a girlfriend there where we stayed for a month living on the beaches in a tent. We only had enough money to rent a car, feed ourselves and occasionally stay in a hotel until the credit card ran dry ($500 limit). It was a fantastic experience. It has gotten more developed since then, and many of the most beautiful and secluded beaches are now incorporated into big hotel properties, but back then, it was wild, uncontrolled, and open to anyone who wanted to explore.

We would walk into the jungle along the shore and find abandoned villages full of ruins and artifacts just strewn about where people long ago had obviously lived off the sea, but these were entirely unmarked or protected. Just fascinating stuff to a couple of PA kids in the early 80's.

The Dude said...

My first impression of the Big Island was that it was just like West Virginia with better plants.

Then I realized that the reason every rural house was surrounded by ever burned out appliance, wrecked car, busted tv or broken sofa is that it costs money to ship that crap back to the mainland.

Hang in there, Hilo Hillbillies - and save a koa log for me.

deborah said...

The week or so I spent on the Big Island was cool. It was so massive and mysterious compared to Oahu.

What a blast, bago.

Sixty, I just looked up koa log...for a minute I thought you meant...

Trooper York said...

I love Hawaii. We have been there several times. Every week we watch Hawaii Five O and recognize the places we have visited.

It is a great place. I would love to cruise there.

chickelit said...

I was there once two years ago for two weeks. The Big Island with a brief day trip to Pearl Harbor.

deborah said...

gentle hula

What did you like best, chick?

Wouldn't a commenter cruise be amazing, Troop???

Trooper York said...

A commenter cruise would be great. I always have a great time on cruises.

I have to tone down the drinking and carousing because of my heart but I think it would be a blast.

Trooper York said...

Just imagine all the sights we get to see.

Lem in a speedo at the pool.

Shouting Thomas using his best moves to pick up the Filipina waitress.

Chip Ahoy sitting at the bar drinking grasshoppers and making pop up cards out of cocktail napkins and sizzle sticks.

It would be epic!!!!!

deborah said...

Count me in :)

Trooper York said...

You have your choice of Love Boat characters Debbie.

Joan Collins or Charo.

Bags will of course assay the role of Bert Convy.

deborah said...

You know damn well I'm Julie.

I think we should do the Love Boat rescuing Gilligan's Island. If I'm not mistaken, that makes you Mr. Howell.

Trooper York said...

Damn straight. I have the cigar and the hat ready to go.

I can borrow an ascot from Chip Ahoy. I bet he has a drawer full of them. Just sayn'

deborah said...

He's all class, that's for sure :)

deborah said...

Lem, here he is on a Dodgers card.

The Dude said...

I hear the Costa Concordia is almost ready to sail again.

If not that, how about the Achille Lauro?

chickelit said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
chickelit said...

Jim Bacchus is one of the many voices I can sorta do.

I will win every karaoke contest on board the cruise.

chickelit said...

What did you like best, chick?

Snorkeling and taking U/W photos. Go to the USS Missouri and the Arizona. Volcano National Park. The Portuguese influence. Discovering Maui beer. All the micro climates.

The Dude said...

Trooper could set up shop in Akona and live in Waipio Valley - what could possibly go wrong, am I right.

I hiked down to that valley and thought it was great. Too bad about the tidal waves.

deborah said...

So that's a no on the cruise, Sixty?

Karaoke, chick? From what I've heard of your voice, I'll bet you would win.

chickelit said...

Too bad about the tidal waves.

This could lead to a "Poseidon Adventure" remake for the commenters. I call dibs on the Borg character.

chickelit said...

Sixty will be the ships purser. Because of his lips.

deborah said...

Aye, the dour Scotsman.

Okay, so far, I'm Julie from the Love Boat.

You're Borgnine from Poseidon.

Troop is Mr. Howell

Sixty is some dour lip-pursing purser from some movie yet to be determined.