Hawaiian Keiki and Water Hyacinth Pool...

This little sweety was enjoying her visit to Kalakaua Park in downtown Hilo the other day, she was just so engrossed in the water weeds she had found to play with. The shallow pond she is standing next to is also home to some huge Koi! It's neat to watch the flash of orange slide in & out from under the water Hyacinth, especially when the hyacinth is in bloom, the blossoms are a striking purple and it shows off against the green leaf and the black rock so nicely...

Hawaii Telephone Company...

Blue skies smilin' at me, Nothin' but blue skies do I see...Blue days, all of them gone, Nothin' but blue skies from now on! (Thanks Willie!)

The blue Hawaii skies are reflected in the window of the old Hawaii Telephone Company Building located in downtown Hilo on Kalakaua st., Noted Architect C. W. Dickey is credited with designing this building, also referred to as the Mutual Telephone Company, in 1883.

It is a wonderful building with wide doorways, windows and lanais to capture the tradewinds, a beautiful double hipped roof, and colorful tiles picking out elements on the exterior, here are a few more pics...this building is right across the street from Kalakaua Park and next door to the East Hawaii Cultural Center (the old Police Station). Hilo has a veritable treasure trove of Architecture and History all interlaced with Romance and Tragedy in a Tropical Setting...sounds like the makings of a great book to me!

Kalakaua Park in downtown Hilo...

Kalakaua park in downtown Hilo is a wonderful resource for the community...but so few people know the history behind it, this statue for example...it is located behind the lily/koi pond and commemorates the soldiers of ALL wars. There are benches to either side and its a perfect place to sit and enjoy lunch. It is especially beautiful when the water lilies grow to cover the pool, and when they all bloom at once it is a veritable blanket of purple flowers.