Picturing Palm Trees

A few years ago I found my first palm tree photo and a new collection was born.  Since then I’ve found or have been given a few more, including some of my dear father taken during his time in the navy. 
I love these photos-and all old photos for that matter-for their depiction of people in different eras from today, simply  living their lives.  The glimpses into the past these pictures offer connect us to people we’ll never meet or times we’ll never get to live in-and I find that connection comforting.
Since today is rainy and cold, I thought it would be the perfect day to share my palm tree photo collection with you.  They are fun to look at, and they even help me feel like I too am in a tropical paradise somewhere-if only vicariously through the wonderful, mysterious people in the photos.
I’ve put any actual captions written on these photos in italics.  The rest of the observations are mine.  There are quite a few photographs here-so go ahead and get yourself something to drink  first-a cup of tea, or a Pina Colada perhaps, and enjoy!

I love their dresses.  I bet they were colorful!





Miami Beach, June 1942
“High Price! and Low Price!”





This is an old post card. Classic palm tree beauty!





I like how the photographer included a bit of his or her car in this one.





Lee Shatson at Pago Pago
February 1946





I love those swimsuits!  I was lucky enough to come across an old 1940’s pattern for suits just like these!





Roaring glamour in this photo!  I love the women’s hats and coats!





I bet these two were best friends-was the soldier home on leave, I wonder, or the first of the two to join up?





My dad on Guam.  





Anyone recognize where this was taken?  I’m not sure.





This photo appears to have been taken around the turn of the century-in the teens perhaps.  I’m glad there were palm tree lovers back then!





Tobe Boyd in Los Angeles California August 1937





This looks like Waikiki.





I’ve taken a palm tree photo from this angle too-a connection!




 
These two look like a couple of nice high school boys.  I bet they were nice to their mothers, too.




 
Roger and Shirley March 30-1953





A reunion of some kind, is my assumption about this one.




 
Snow on palm tree is written on the back, and you can see the tiny white dots of snow flakes in the foreground too.




 
I love her sun glasses, and her smiling face.




 
My dad.  What a cutie pie!





We can only wonder who these two were.  They are dressed so nicely.







Two photos taken on Guam by my father.

Hawaii

It’s hard for me to believe that just last week I was in Hawaii. I knew before I went it was inevitable that “We are going to Hawaii” would become “We went to Hawaii.” As I sit writing this post (and drinking a good strong cup of 100% Kona coffee) I’ll try to relive the week again.

What I love about going to Hawaii, is that just being there-in this place so different from where I live-is enough in itself. You don’t have to try hard at all to see some of the most stunningly beautiful scenery on earth-the mountains, the ocean, the tropical flowers…

We found a little beach cottage in Kailua, a town not too far from Honolulu. It was cute, stocked with everything we could possible need for the week, and just steps from the beach. I was impressed, because even though the cottage is just a beach rental-it was furnished with beautiful antique furniture, nice art work, and vintage china . I was thrilled to see that the living room furniture was upholstered in gorgeous palm tree barkcloth too! (And that I was able to get 7 yards of it myself for a song!)

The cottage was situated in a lush garden setting, full of many kinds of birds that sang for us all day.

Each day we found a different part of the Island to explore. Here are just a few of the places we saw:

Diamond Head

La’ie Point-where we saw a natural arch created by an April Fool’s Day tsunami in 1946.

The ocean literally punched a hole in the rock!

Halona Beach-the famous love scene in ''From Here to Eternity" took place on this section.

(We wondered how the actors got down there to do the filming?)

The Royal Hawaiian Hotel on Waikiki.

Built in 1927, it was one of only two hotels on Waikiki at the time. I’d love to stay here but it’s way (and I mean way) out of our price range!

It is famous for it’s lovely pink color, and is in the shape of an H when seen from above.

The beautiful Haiku gardens in Kane’ohe-a lush tropical paradise and also the location of Hale’iwa Joe’s where I had some excellent coconut shrimp.

Pu’u o Mahuka Heiau. This shows the remnants of an ancient Hawaiian temple-the place

of many human sacrifices.

Taken in Chinatown, this bar is called Amy’s Place! Luckily my Amy still prefers a nice cold glass of milk!

Several years ago, we had our first apple bananas in Chinatown-they are really good, and Chinatown in general is an extremely interesting place to walk around.

The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl, founded in 1949. In ancient times Hawaiian royalty was buried here, and it was also a place of human sacrifice. In fact, the Hawaiian name Pu’u-o-waina means “hill of human sacrifice.”

My Uncle Pete (site Q-99) My Dad was last here in 1969.

Sailor Jerry (site T-124)

Dole pineapple plantation. My Mom recalled how years ago there was a fountain that was filled with pineapple juice, and a person could fill a cup and have a drink.

Times have changed, but how that would have been fun to see.

It was interesting to see a pineapple growing though, and the grounds have a nice collection of tropical plants, and a koi pond where the koi come up out of the water when food is tossed to them.

Good ‘ole Hilo Hattie’s-where you can get beautiful Aloha clothing and souvenirs. Hilo Hattie was a performer years ago and founded the Hilo Hattie stores in the 60’s to promote Hawaiian goodwill and the spirit of Aloha. I love her. She appears in some of my favorite movies and was a talented singer and actress.

We saw much more than the few things I’ve highlighted here, but this post was harder to write than I thought it would be. It’s hard to put experiences into words that really capture my impressions, and what I have written barely does justice. My advice-go to Hawaii if you can and discover it for yourself. I can guarantee you will never be the same!

Willow would like the last word:

“My Parents went to Hawaii and all I got were some shell necklaces!”