January 11, 2008
Another rainy day on the Windward Coast
I worked on the Windward Side of Oahu again yesterday. I really like it over there. They get a lot more rain than we get on the Leeward, and it’s usually noticably cooler over there, too. The views are killer, whether you’re looking makai (towads the ocean) or mauka (towards the mountains,) and whether there’s sunshine or rain. Yesterday was a good case in point. The home I inspected was on a mountainside overlooking Kaneohe Bay. You know how they say that the three most important factors in real estate are location, location and location? A neighbor came over to inquire about the home while I was inspecting. He mentioned that all of the homes that have recently sold in the neighborhood have gone for over a million dollars. I just looked up the sales data on the home I inpsected. The buyer got real bargain at only $855,000, especially when you consider that it’s only got two bedrooms and about 1600 square feet of finished area. I think maybe the view has something to do with the price, don’t you? I wouldn’t mind staring at that while drinking my morning coffee. 
It was sunny on the Leeward Coast when I left the house, but started getting gray while I was on H-3 going through the Ko’olau Mountains that form a ridge through the middle of the island. The clouds tend to snag on the mountains and stay on the other side. As I entered the Tetsuo Harano Tunnel I was getting light sprinkles on my windshield. When I came out the other side I entered a downpour. It was little drier by the time I got to the job site, but started pouring again just as I was getting my ladder out of the trunk so I could inspect the attic. When I got back on the freeway to come home I witnessed a phenomenon that I’ll never get used to. Waterfalls had sprung up all over the Ko’olau Range. It’s magical, no matter how often I see it. I did a point and snap photo for you while driving. I’m surprised I caught anything at all, considering that I didn’t look though the camera and that it was dark and rainy. I had to fool with the gamma a little on this so you could see it. It’s not the best photo in the world, but I hated not to share!
I need to make a trip to the Windward on a non-work day soon. Maybe we’ll all get lucky and it will rain so I can get some real photos of the instant waterfalls! Or maybe we’ll get lucky and the sun will be shining. Either way, I’ll get some good photos to share.
Technorati Tags: Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, Koolau Mountains, photos, scenery, waterfalls
Posted by skeet @ 2:41 pm • Environment, Hawaii
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January 12th, 2008 at 9:21 am, Lia Trocano Says:
Greetings sweet lady,
I love your blog. It helps me feel closer to my sister and her kids and their kids who grew up in Kailua and Waimanalo. Thank you for sharing photos!
Being a single mom struggling, I admire and am intrigued by what you do for a living. If you are ever inclined, I’d love to hear how you got into it and how it is for you.
I am on the North West Coast of California near the tiny town of Bodega Bay (yes, that’s where the movie “The Birds” was filmed years ago.)
Anyway, mostly I just wanted to reach out, say hi and thanks for all you that share
aloha
Lia
By the way, I’ve been dropped onto your blog three times will wandering on Stumble Upon.
January 12th, 2008 at 9:26 am, Lia Trocano Says:
Greetings sweet lady,
I’m Lia on the NW coast of Calif. I love your blog and pictures. Makes me miss my family is Kailua and Waimanalo.
Being a single struggling Mom, I’m intrigued with what you do for a living. Would you be willing to share how you got started and how it is for you?
Aloha,
Lia
January 12th, 2008 at 9:28 am, Lia Trocano Says:
Greetings from the NW coast of Calif. I love your blog and pictures. Miss my family in Kailua and Waimanalo. Aloha, Lia (love to hear back)
January 12th, 2008 at 9:29 am, Lia Trocano Says:
(whole body blush) Sorry…. seemed the first two weren’t going through. I’ll shut up now (grin)
January 12th, 2008 at 10:33 am, Whim Says:
Those are lovely pics Skeet. Thanks for sharing them.
January 12th, 2008 at 1:36 pm, skeet Says:
Lol! Welcome to skeet’s stuff, Lia! My comments are set to moderate new visitors. That means that when someone comments for the first time, their comment remains invisible until I approve it. Helps control spam, don’t you know? I’ve approved you now, so future comments from you will post automatically.
I’m really glad you’re enjoying my blog. I would still post if no one ever read, but it’s always gratifying to know that someone, somewhere finds value in my words and pictures.
I lived in San Mateo County for seven years before moving here and my son has returned to the area (Burlingame.) I know Bodega Bay well - the boy and I used to spend Saturdays making short road trips to discover things to see/do/eat. Bodega Bay is so charming, and has so much more than its movie fame to recommend it, though I’ll admit to being as starstruck by your little town as all of the other tourists.
The short version of how I got into pest control: I, too, was a single mom, struggling to pay bills with office temp and waitress wages. A friend suggested I apply for an opening in the pc company she was working for. She only lasted six months. I’ll have my twenty-eighth anniversery in the industry on February 1st. It seemed like a good fit for me and I’ve stuck with it. I limit myself now to providing termite inspections for the real estate sector, but at one time or another I’ve done almost every task the industry offers.
If you think you might be cut out for it, apply to a local pest control company. Most train in-house. The pay is better than most pink-collar, conventional jobs.
Hope you’ll come around regularly. I enjoy posting about life in these islands, so cruise my archives next time you need a fix. There are a lot of older posts about local stuff and will hopefully be much more in the future.
January 12th, 2008 at 1:38 pm, skeet Says:
Mahalo, Whim. I’m sorry I couldn’t get a good panoramic shot of the waterfalls - kinda hard to do when you’re driving at freeway speeds in the rain. I really will schedule some time over there soon, though. It’s an experience worth sharing.
January 15th, 2008 at 4:39 pm, Mrs. Mecomber Says:
Looovely photos.
I AM SO JEALOUS.
It’s 20 degrees and blustery snow in New York State.
January 15th, 2008 at 4:51 pm, skeet Says:
Would it make you feel better, Mrs. Mecomber, if I tell you I’be been having to use a heater to warm the bathroom so I can shower? It’s gotten into the sixties lately - cold!