The Cock's Roost in Waikiki is literally a tree house bar that featured rockin good music when I discovered it years ago.

Then to the Big Island for an authentic luau. Here the kalua pig is ready to come out of the imu and be served.



And I was amazed at the shots I got of big surf spraying off the volcanic rock of the Big Island.



The Kona Inn boasted perhaps the wildest sign I ever saw.



And, no, I haven't seen all of Hawaii nor done all there is to do in Hawaii. Ah but the wealth of experiences on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island.

And if only there were time and money enough to go wherever and whenever the spirit moved me I'd have many more!

I sometimes wonder when the idea of Hawaii occurred. Now it seems elementary that I would go, fall in love with the people, the history, the music and keep going back for more.



At one point I met a unique Hawaiian musician (now deceased) ...


In time he became a character in my novel but at the time he introduced me to the family, who are collateral descendants of Kamehameha the Great. They had petitioned the US Congress for "taking" of the Crown Lands and convinced me to write their story.


Hawaiin Royal Princesses

I was invited to the rededication of the tomb of Queen Keopuolani, the first Alii to convert to Christianity.

After doing some research, I realized I didn't have the wherewithall to tell their story but many ofmy Hawaii experiences went into my novel, Sweet Compulsions.


Keopuolani's Tomb flanked by Royal Kahilis