The other day, “Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region’ (Nagasaki, Kumamoto Prefecture) were declared registrations to the World Cultural Heritage, Today is about “Shirakami-Sanchi” which was registered World Natural Heritage Site.

Shirakami-Sanchi (literally white god mountain area) has been registered as a World Natural Heritage Site, and since this is the 25th anniversary this year, I went to “Beech School” because a special lecture was held by the local guides of Shirakami-Sanchi.

A man who embodied Dandyism who decorates the cover of the magazine even after thirty years after his death, which is described as such “The man who wore jeans for the first time in Japan”, “Japan’s coolest man”, “The only Japanese who is obedient”, “Oily boy”, “Principle guy”, Jiro Shirasu. I went to his and his wife’s house (Buaiso) the other day.

In 1943, the couple moved and lived in “Buaiso”, naming it because of the desire to twist Jiro’s unique in addition to this land in the border of Musashi and Sagami.

After walking down from Tsurukawa station and walking for about 15 minutes, you will see a green covered mountain. “Buaiso” which has come to be ahead of the wide walking path. On the right hand side of the reception building, the Jiro’s favorite agricultural equipment is placed in the barn, the semi-outdoor area like a barn was renovated, it became a cafe, the atmosphere of the British such as a favorite car and a bar was good. In addition, the cafe & restaurant which renewed was also a mixed Western and Japanese atmosphere.

The news of the eruption of the Kilauea volcano of Hawaii is reported every day, but it was temporarily paused when I visited the island of Hawaii this month (2018.5.6-11), and the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (which you can be near the crater) was also closed until the day before I visited the tour. The park was resumed on the morning of the day I participated in the tour, but the area that I could enter was limited.

I share the “Timelapse captures ‘blue’ glow from Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano” movie today, it was the pictures of Kilauea volcano taken from the clouds on the night of May 21 and 22. It was taken at Hawaii’S Gemini Observatory of Mauna Kea Volcano at an altitude of about 4,200 meters, located 64 kilometers from Kilauea Volcano.

The camera’s infrared filter has been removed, making the volcanic glow look blue.

How is it?

Hawaii Island – Breakfast –
Hawaii Island – Climate –
Hawaii Island – Living Things –
Hawaii Island – Dolphins –
Hawaii Island – People –

I wrote the above blogs in series about my travel to Hawaii Island, today is the last one. It is about “Language”.

I often hear “Aloha!” and “Mahalo” at my hotel, restaurant or shops and the announcement on the plane of Hawaii Airlines. Here are worlds that I have known before I visit to Hawaii; Hawaii, Oahu, Waikiki, Aloha, Mahalo, Mana, Ohana, Kauai, Hula, Lei, Loco, Mahi-mahi, Ukulele. I only thought about they sound pretty, so I learned about it by this trip.

– The vowels are five: a, e, i, o, u
– The consonants are seven: h, k, l, m, n, p, w
– Symbol indicating stuttering called ʻokina : ” ‘ ”
– Symbol emphasize sound and pronounce it slightly longer called kahakō: ” ¯ ”

*The meaning becomes different if it’s with ʻokina or kahakō
ono → fish name
‘ono → yummy

kau → put
kāu → your

Hawaii Island – Breakfast –
Hawaii Island – Climate –
Hawaii Island – Living Things –
Hawaii Island – Dolphins –

It seems like a series of Hawaii Island. It’s about plants, birds, and animals, so that today is about people.

I wrote about the history of Hawaii in the Hawaii Island – Living Things – , and I write about the detail.

About 1,500 years ago
Polynesians arrived at Island of Hawaii where nobody lived. They came with canoes relying solely on the starlight.

About 1,000 years ago
Many migrants came from Tahiti. The basic Hawaiian ancient foundation of faith that the gods or half-gods and half-person brought in at this time. Hawaiian culture has been prominent for centuries, and an art called Hula, a sport called surfing were born. (According to my tour guide, there were some internecine battles but they were more like sports than war)

Hawaii Island – Breakfast –
Hawaii Island – Climate –
Hawaii Island – Living Things –

The next one of Hawaii Island series is Dolphins.
One of my wish list when I visit to Hawaii was “Swimming with Dolphins”.

I sometimes swim in the pool to exercise and it was first time snorkeling, but my curiosity won and I applied for the tour.

An energetic and pretty tour guide picked us up and took us to the ocean. The captain and the photographer were nice as well. The weather was great, it was so nice condition. I wore the wetsuit, fins and the mask, then jumped into the ocean!

I was a bit nervous because it was first time for snorkeling and it was ocean! but I told myself “It’s okay, you wear lifejacket, you can do it”, and looked into the ocean.
A lot of small black fish were swimming in a clear and beautiful ocean. I saw coral reefs and rocky areas at the bottom of the ocean, and it was my first time to see such a scenery live, so already I was impressed.

Hawaii Island – Breakfast –
Hawaii Island – Climate –

Following these, today is about the living things in the Hawaii Island.

I introduced about the climate in Hawaii Island – Climate –, the 13 climatic zones on Earth and the 11 exist in Hawaii Island. What a special place to have 11 different climatic zones in the same island.

There are many animals and plants where people live, I felt them closely. One of my favourite things of Hawaii Island is birds live closely. When eating at an open-air restaurant, birds came and stopped in the table or chair and saw me. It is very pretty bird came close to me and leans it’s head to one side.

And you can hear birdsongs often in the town. I think that never heard the voice of the birds like this even when I went to some places where were rich nature in other countries and regions. Maybe that voice is also beautiful and passes well so it sounds easy to hear. Warm wind, relaxing air, the sound of the returning waves, the sound of the wind that shakes trees, and high and beautiful bird voice…

I felt Hawaii that I imagined like “This is Hawaii!” but there are things that I was taught by my tour guide. Almost all of plants in Hawaii is from other countries, non-native. Also most of the birds are from other countries, they brought by human begins.

The last blog was about Breakfast in Hawaii Island, today is about the climate.

The basic information is about Hawaiian Islands.
Maui Island, Moloka‘i Island, O‘ahu Island, Kaua‘i Island and Island of Hawai‘i are famous but there are 19 islands and corals.

This is the map of Hawaii Islands, the right one is Hawaii Island. (from Wikipedia)

And this is the satellite photo of Hawaii Island. (from Wikipedia and the picture is from NASA, what a great photo!)
It is said that the island shapes right side of a bear (the right is a nose and the left is ear)

I often go traveling but I haven’t been to Hawaii never before even thought it is very popular and easy to get there. I thought perhaps I will visit there sometime but I had a chance this time.
Because Hawaiian airline start to fo into service from Haneda to Kona directly! I thought that I had to go there after Golden Week (long holidays in Japan), first Hawaii and first Hawaii Island!

I got on Hawaiian Air for the first time but it was very comfortable. I don’t know why but the world “Hawaii” is magic, it makes me feel better. Hawaii Hawaii Hawaiiiiiiii.
And Hawaiian language such as Hawaii, Aloha or Mahalo sounds gentle and cheerful, it pas power people to make feel good.

I heard that there is fulled with Mana power as you get off at the Kona airport, and it was true. The airport is small and open-air, I had a homey feel.
My journey stared feeling so good!

I have many things to write but today is about breakfast in Hawaii Island.
I’m usually get up early, and earlier when I travel (don’t want to wast of time!). I was happy because morning starts early in Hawaii Island! Starbuck coffee shops are the earliest to be opened in the world, it’s 4am! It’s because the nice weather, also it is said that it was remnant people who worked at plantations stated early in the morning.

I introduced about Bruno Taut last blog, I write about the “Atami Villa (Kyu Huga Villa)” this time.

The client was Mr. Rihei Hyuga who was active in trade business in Asia. FYI – the wooden two-storied main house was designed by Jin Watanabe who also designed Wako department in Ginza, the Tokyo National Museum in Ueno and Aichi prefectural office. I think the client Mr. Hyuga knew about art & culture very well and had a nice sense of beauty. Also I heard that Mr. Hyuga said “You can design whatever you want no matter how much it costs” to Taut. Such a dream project it was that the client trusted Taut, left all of it up to Taut and no money restriction. I think client’s understanding for design is necessary to create something great.

This Atami Villa is well know as a “A cellar of the annex” but I think “A guest room for social place” is more suitable for this space. Because there are three rooms and there is also a big window that you can see the Pacific Ocean, it is very luxurious “cellar”.