We joined the roughly 100,000 + visitors that are on this island at any given time and decided to pursue activities that were more of the cultural exploration genre.

Ulopu Heiau

Our ghost tour got off to a late start due to a multiple car crash that shut down H1 eastbound from 1720 to 1905, speeding was the most likely culprit. Met at Wendy’s and when everybody showed up, we drove to one of the oldest and largest Hawaiian temple that was reputedly built by Menehune’s and whose tiny footprints can still be seen in the mud from time to time.

Ulopu Heiau

The original heiau measured 140’x180’x30′ whose purpose evolved from agricultural to human sacrifices until finally being abandoned after Kamehameha conquered the island.

Ulopu Heiau

Robert told us stories of a mainland woman who disrespected the temple and kicked a couple rocks and the next day her legs were swollen as the angry spirits were clenching onto her legs until she apologized the next day and her legs began circulating normally. One other story was that a couple kids were playing in the area and came home with unexplained scratches on their legs. Bottom line like in life, you have to show respect to get respect.

Morgan’s Corner

We then parked along Nu’uanu Pali Drive where we heard stories of the murdered Wilder widow who was killed by two escaped convicts, who were sentenced to hang but later pardoned and subsequently the death penalty was abolished in 1957, two years before statehood. There was also the 1986 suspicious hanging at Judd bridge of a local man whose killer was never found. The most spooky story was that of a young girl skipping rope down the road whose lower jaw is missing, based on a body that was found with matching missing jawbone.

Morgan’s Corner

Going back to our cars and passing a homeless person with a blue orb hanging above him, reflection or spiritual energy?

Manoa Falls

We drove to a popular waterfall hike that is reputedly home to the night marchers or hukai po are usually preceded by blowing conch shells and beating drums and fiery torches whose shadows that are best not crossed paths with others on the trail. Fallen hikers that have died on the trail are also known to haunt the area of their untimely deaths.

Manoa Falls

The valley was also witness to one of the last civil conflicts when the royalist, Robert Wilcox, tried to restore Queen Lili’uokalani back to the throne. The rebellion was squashed by the Republic of Hawaii militia and three out of 100 rebels were killed and the rest captured. The leader hid out in the Ko’olau Mountains and surrendered a week later.

Manoa Chinese Cemetery

Our last stop was the final resting spot for Chinese immigrants and their offspring. The 10-acre plot of land was purchased by the Lin Yee Chung Association in 1852.

Manoa Chinese Cemetery

The association’s key leader, Lum Ching, used feng shui to determine that the area captured the “pulse of the watchful dragon of the valley.” Stories of fireballs and orbs shooting into the sky filled the air along with a story of a young girl that was found by a local man who attempted to take her home only to have her disappear from the back of his car.

Manoa Chinese Cemetery

Positive energy is the hallmark emanating from the oldest and largest Chinese cemetery on the island, rather than dark demonic forces at play. Which is a good thing for people like us hanging around here late at night, which is home to over 10,000 burial plots. Aida tested out the vortex supposedly contained within the banyan tree, only to have part of her leg disappear. Just in the photo.

Manoa Chinese Cemetery

Joss money that is not meant to be burned but rather to be used by our tour guide. Thanks to Robert and his skillful storytelling and everybody else for participating in the ghost tour. Post tour meal at Zippy’s, where the next stop is just an inordinate wait period to get our pre-cooked food.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=264KQPzZSqo

Video by Edgar Gamiao of our ghost tour.

Photos/Crew taken by Aida Gordon, Akira Suzuki, Allison Banks, Dwayne Pagente, Edgar Gamiao, Ferlino and Jasmin Carinio, Kenny Lui, Marilyn Bermudez, Robert Sepulveda, and yours truly. Not necessarily in order.

Iolani Palace

Sunday June 14, 2026

The next day for those that could rouse themselves from their sleepy slumber, we met in downtown for Kama’aina Sundays, where the only royal residence in the USA, opens up to the local public free of charge.

Iolani Palace

We all converged on Iolani Barracks, that was built in 1870 and was originally located where the State Capitol is currently located, it was moved coral block by coral block in 1965 to its present location.

Iolani Palace

The group waiting for Dale as we held onto the last ticket for the 0930 tour.

Iolani Palace

Bird’s eye view of the barracks whose architectural design was influenced by European medieval castles.

Iolani Palace

The sign doesn’t say you can’t climb the tree.

Iolani Palace

Group photo outside the palace built in 1882 at a cost of over $340,000, a princely sum back in the day.

Iolani Palace

The group getting briefed on how to use the audio players and issued shoe covers.

Iolani Palace

Shuffling into the palace as we tried to synchronize our movements with the audio narration.

Iolani Palace

Paintings of the Hawaiian monarchs and their consorts. Can you guess which one Akira favors?

Iolani Palace

Looking up at one of multiple chandeliers that provided electric lighting to the palace in 1887, five years before the White House was electrified.

Iolani Palace

The State Dining Room where many a royal banquet was served to visiting and local dignitaries.

Iolani Palace

Sitting on the royal throne. Literally the royal throne.

Iolani Palace

Ascending the koa wood staircase to the second floor.

Iolani Palace

The Throne Room is the largest room in the palace and is where diplomacy and state entertainment was practiced. This is also where Queen Lili’uokalani was tried and imprisoned in 1895 after royalist forces tried and failed to put her back on the throne after she was overthrown by Americans and Europeans in 1893. The appalling disrespect shown to the Queen to put her on trial in her former throne room and sentence her to five years of hard labor and lock her up in a room upstairs is indicative of the mindset of the colonizers.

Iolani Palace

Mirror selfie for those that were paying attention.

Iolani Palace

The spotted big cat rug is not original to the King’s bedroom as many of the original items were stolen, scattered or lost after the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893.

Iolani Palace

King Kalakaua was reported to have spent most of his time in the library as he interested in modern technology and would read up about it as he was fluent in English and Hawaiian.

Iolani Palace

Those are real elephant tusks in the Gold Room that was gifted to King Kalakaua in 1886 for his 50th birthday jubilee.

Iolani Palace

Not only was the palace wired for electricity, but they also had elevators. Talk about being ahead of the curve.

Iolani Palace

Separate sleeping quarters for royalty was the norm back in the day as evidenced by the Queen’s Bedroom.

Iolani Palace

Looking at the 95″ x 97″ Imprisonment Quilt that Queen Lili’uokalani made in the very same room she was imprisoned after her farce of a trial.

Iolani Palace

Walking back down the staircase, no photos while walking or chewing gum.

Iolani Palace

Thanks to the cab driver that volunteered to take our group photo. Mahalo!

Ali’iolani Hale

We walked across the street and took our picture with the second statue of King Kamehameha draped with leis from the previous King Kamehameha Holiday on Thursday.

State Capitol

Looking up at the bronze replica of the seal of the State of Hawaii that weighs 7,500 lbs and is 15′ in diameter.

State Capitol

Standing inside the seat of corruption, I mean government that opened for business in 1969.

State Capitol

Looking up into the open central rotunda that symbolizes a volcano.

State Capitol

Are we signing DEI?

CU

Checking out South Korea’s largest convenience store that opened its first location back in 2025.

CU

Why pay when you can take your own?

South Hotel Street

One of two marble guardian lions at the entrance to Chinatown meant to repel negative energy and bring good fortune, but apparently not homeless people.

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Park

F*ck that guy. Oh wait, he’s one of the good ones.

Hawaii Theater

Passing a Japanese couple having their wedding photos in front of “The Pride of the Pacific” that opened in 1922. Omedetou Gozaimasu.

MP Lei Shop

Any gardenias? Out of season. That’s okay, I’ll just buy them from the shop the next block over.

Pho 97

We had lunch where the Vietnamese go to eat. Some of us got our food quicker than others.

Maunakea Marketplace

Checking out the open-air shop that had trinkets, food, seafood and produce. In the end, some of us bought bags of lychee at reasonable prices.

Wo Fat Chop Sui

The oldest operating restaurant in Hawaii before it shuttered in 2009, now all we got left is the sign.

Sing Cheong Yuan Bakery

Squeezing our way into this popular Chinese bakery to buy some rice cake, jung and moon cake with egg yolk. Gotta have the egg yolk.

Lee’s Bakery & Kitchen

It’s not Thanksgiving yet. Come back in 165 days.

Oahu Market

Wandering around the open-air market that was opened in 1904.

North King Street

Group photo at the traditional Chinese gateway that marks the Northwestern boundary of Chinatown.

North Hotel Street

The fox guarding the hen house.

Chinatown Cultural Plaza

We ended our day on stage and decided to unwind by practicing tai chi movements for public consumption. The plaza was built in 1974 and is owned by the government of Taiwan and is slated to be demolished and redeveloped in 2027.

Chinatown Cultural Plaza

How many people does it take to pay a parking ticket? Is this a C&C job? It was a day well spent with good friends and fun times.

Photos/Crew taken by Aida Gordon, Akira Suzuki, Alexis Catarina, Cristy Meador, Dale Yoshizu, Ferlino Carinio, Jordan Baird, Kenny Lui, Mari Saito, Marilyn Bermudez, and yours truly. Not necessarily in order.

Note: I have been made aware that some hikers have been using my blog as a hiking guide and getting lost on the trails. Please note that this blog was made to document the hike for the crew(s) that did it. That is why some of my comments will seem to have no relevance or meaning to anybody outside of the crew(s) that hiked that trail. My blog was never meant as a hiking guide, so please do not treat it as such. If you find inspiration and entertainment from these hikes, that is more than enough. If you plan on replicating these hikes, do so in the knowledge that you should do your own research accordingly as trail conditions, access, legalities and so forth are constantly in flux. What was current today is most likely yesterdays news. Please be prepared to accept any risks and responsibilities on your own as you should know your own limitations, experience and abilities before you even set foot on a trail, as even the “simplest” or “easiest” of trails can present potential pitfalls for even the most “experienced” hikers. One should also always let somebody know of your hiking plans in case something doesn’t go as planned, better safe than sorry.