December 20, 2007
Anachronism in Aiea
You can’t drive Kamehameha highway in Aiea without seeing it. A cultivated patch of green sits surrounded by a multi-million (maybe billion?) dollar mall, just a stones throw from Pearl Harbor. I suspect most people have the same thought process I do each time they see Sumida Farms:
1. What a pleasant and peaceful place that is!
2. Wow! It’s surrounded by the mall! I bet they could sell that patch of ground for a fortune.
See the darker gray in the map? That Pearlridge Center, a huge mall and commercial building complex. See the lighter gray that it surrounds? That’s Sumida Farms. They’ve resisted the impulse to hand their little enterprise over to the real estate market. They’re content to grow their watercress. I think most other folks are every bit as glad of that as I am. There’s something delightful about seeing the few acres of green moving in the wind, sunlight glinting off of water between rows, and, always, a few birds stilt-walking and pecking, searching out garden pests. I took a couple of pictures through my car window as I sat in traffic a few days ago, something I’ve been meaning to do for ages.
I generally avoid malls. I don’t like the crowds and the hassles. I consider a trip to the mall a necessary evil of the holiday season, though, so I made my foray to Pearlridge. After an hour or so of shopping I was anxious to get home and annoyed with traffic almost as soon as I entered the highway, but the peace and tranquility of Sumida Farms turned my attitude around.
The palm frond covered hale is a constant feature, dressed in finery for this happy season. You can’t see it and not smile. I don’t need caribbean cruises or a visit to the spa to relax me. A drive down Kam Highway past Sumida Farms works just fine!
While searching for the map that was needed to illustrate this wonder I discovered that KGMB9 News recently did a story about the little watercress farm sitting tranquilly amid the bustle of modern urban life. I guess they stole my thunder, but I don’t really mind trailing behind them. Follow the link to see their video of this slice of paradise. Enjoy!
Technorati Tags: farming, gardening, Hawaii, Sumida Farms, watercress
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December 21st, 2007 at 12:39 pm, Evelyn Says:
This little watercress farm is the most interesting thing. I’m still trying to figure out what that little grass shack is doing there. It’s like a slice of old Hawaii that was picked up and dropped right in the middle of Pearl City!
I didn’t even know it had a name!
Some watercress with shoyu and mayonnaise sounds good right about now.
December 22nd, 2007 at 10:32 am, Tina Kubala Says:
I spent many happy hours at Pearlridge Mall as a young teen. I’d forgotten all about that little green patch.
January 11th, 2008 at 5:14 am, Mr. Niagara Falls Blog Says:
Evelyn:
It looks like it could be a fruit stand or something.