Sunday, March 5, 2023

Guam

Guam is a U.S. territory in Micronesia. Tumon Bay is where most of the resorts on the island are located.

The Guam Museum was recently remodeled. It tells the story of the Chamorro people, the natives of Guam.

A model of a Chamorro Sakman outrigger canoe. Chamorros came to Guam over 3,500 years ago.

Initial settlers may have found Guam by following birds.

A traditional Latte structure

The native language of Guam has roots in Southeast Asia and is not closely related to Polynesian.

Glass fishing floats from Japan from the 1900s

Large portions of Guam are U.S. military bases and training areas.

Guam was occupied by the Japanese during World War II and was subject to extremely harsh conditions, solidifying Guam's positive relationship with the U.S. after liberation.

An artistic depiction of latte stones

An artistic rendition of an old Chamorro village

Latte stones and wild chickens at a park in the capital of Guam, Hagatna

Latte stones were building supports for ancient Chamorro buildings.

A nuclear shelter. Guam is an extremely strategic island for the U.S. Navy and Air Force.

A cute park in downtown Hagatna.

Ferdinand Magellan was the first European to travel to Guam in 1521. Guam became a formal Spanish colony in 1565.

The Spanish built its first settlement on Guam in 1668.

Guam was a key re-supply point for the Spanish Manila treasure fleet between the Philippines and Acapulco.

The native Chamorro rose up against the Spanish but disease and failed rebellion reduced their population to 1/10th pre-Spanish numbers.

The United States acquired Guam from Spain after the Spanish-American War in 1898.

Fort Nuestra Senora de la Soledad was a Spanish fort on the southern portion of the island.

The bay Magellan landed in is to the north of it, Umatac Bay.

Magellan called Guam the island of thieves because the natives tried to take everything they could from Magellan and his crew.

Dogs feast on the remnants of a coconut milk salesman's refuse.

Japan occupied Guam at the same time as the attack on Pearl Harbor. 

Guam was occupied by the Japanese for almost three years before being liberated by U.S. Marines.

A Japanese two-man submarine, one of its more ineffective weapons during World War II.

Asan Beach, one of the American amphibious landing points.

A WWII memorial at Asan Beach

The Japanese positioned the Piti guns on a hill to protect Asan Beach.

It is a short but steep hike up to their position from a church near Asan Beach.

Guam Community College is located on the eastern side of the island in Mangilao.

Gadao's Cave is located in on the south eastern side of the island.

Nobody is sure how old the Chamorro pictographs are inside. 

Gadao was a legendary chief of a village in Inarajan, located next to the cave.

Fossils located in the side of the walkway to the cave

Free-roaming roosters are everywhere!

You can ride a Carabao at the Chamorro Night Market.

The Chamorro Night Market is the most happening place on Guam.

Calamansi is a citrus plant common on the Philippines.

Christmas meets traditional Chamorro dance

Hagatna at night

Tropical drinks!

Some traditional food from Guam at Jeff's Pirates Cove, including red rice, fina'denne,' and kelaguen.

Gotta eat fish on an island.

Latte stones are kind of a big deal.

A B-52 destroyed in a typhoon in 1976

A pristine beach at one of Guam's military bases

Friday, February 24, 2023

Honolulu

 

Honolulu is located on the island of Oahu, the capital of Hawaii, and the home of Pearl Harbor. The USS Missouri is a museum ship there.

The Missouri participated in the Battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

The Empire of Japan surrendered on the deck of the USS Missouri.

The Missouri also participated in the Korean War, was mothballed for 30 years, then reactivated to patrol the Persian Gulf in the 80s.

The Missouri provided fire support during Operation Desert Storm, and was finally decommissioned in 1992.

Rounds en-route to the main gun

The USS Missouri watches over the USS Arizona, sunk during the attack on Pearl Harbor. 

Bubbles and oil still leak from the ship.

1,177 seamen died aboard the Arizona. Survivors can have their ashes placed in the ship to be buried with their comrades.

Iolani Palace was the royal residence of the rulers of the Kingdom of Hawaii.

There are some pretty cool trees next to it.

The palace was built in 1879.

The building was used as the capital of Hawaii from the overthrow of the monarch in 1893 until 1969.

The bathroom was very nice for the time.

Queen Liliuokalani was overthrown to secure the economic interests of US immigrants to Hawaii, especially sugar plantations. She was held captive at the palace for a time after her deposition.

A nice pipe!

Santa enjoying the weather on Hawaii

The Bishop Museum houses the world's largest collection of Polynesian artifacts.

The museum was founded by Charles Reed Bishop, husband of the last legal heir of the Kamehameha Dynasty, Princess Bernice Pahuahi Bishop, in 1889.

The cloak and helmet Hawaiian Chief Kalaniopu presented to Captain Cook. It was sent back to Britain, then was moved to New Zealand, then finally made its way back to Hawaii.

The Chief Mourner's costume from 1800s Tahiti

Palaoas are a symbol of high Hawaiian rank made of human hair and whale teeth.

What a difference 40 years makes.

A very unpleasant weapon called the leiomano

Hawaii is full of free-roam chickens.

They're even in the trees!

There are many different types of birds you commonly see around Oahu. How many can you see?

Even the intersections on Oahu are beautiful.

We went on a hike on the west side of the island up Pu'u Ma'eli'eli.

The area used to be part of a military base with concrete bunkers.

The trail is a little treacherous.

And there are plants with weird bumpy leaves.

But the view is worth it.

The peninsula on the left is the most beautiful marine airfield in the world.

Madea was here.

The Byodo-In Temple is near the trail in a cemetery.

It is a replica of an ancient Japanese temple in a cemetery for Japanese immigrants to Hawaii.

Most importantly it has a giant koi pond.

Honolulu has many amazing restaurants and bars.

Some common Hawaiian food you can find in restaurants and supermarkets. We ate this at Young's Fish Market.

The king of snow cones.

Taro donuts near North Shore

Mai Tais!

Skull & Crown Trading Co. in Chinatown is a vey cool tiki bar.

Waikiki Beach is always crowded.

But it's a great place to watch fireworks.

Happy New Year!