The Bus – Waipahu to Waianae (2019-03-18)

Sunrise at the Waipahu Transit Center. It doesn’t get any better than this. So many busing possibilities. Spin the dial and board a bus. $5.50 for a day pass, and you can grab buses all day and night. The island of Oahu is mine for the taking.

0 Waipahu Transit Center — Sunrise at the Waipahu Transit Center

This morning, I’m waiting for the #40 Makaha Towers bus heading west. Waianae is my destination. I plan on getting off at the Waianae Boat Harbor, which is on the back side of Waianae, and then walking back through Waianae and into Maili. Should be a 3 or 4 mile stroll, depending on how many side excursions I take.

Waianae 1

Waianae 2 — Large, permanent, and apparently well-organized homeless encampment next to the Boat Harbor. This is the one that has been in the news the past year…….first, the city was going to sweep it all up, but now is looking for an alternate location for these folks….at least according to the last time it was featured on Channel 7 news!

Waianae 4

Waianae 5 — Farrington Highway in Waianae

Waianae 6 — Farrington Highway in Waianae

Waianae 7 - Army St — On Farrington, looking across to Army Street, which leads to Pililaau Army Recreation Center

Waianae 8 — This “law building” looks more like a fortified artillery battery

Waianae 9 — Fellow traveler at bus stop….are you digging that turquoise background!

Waianae 92 — Pōkaī Bay Beach Park……rumor has it, Waipahu Bob is occasionally spotted here on his stand-up paddleboard

Waianae 94 — Next to Pōkaī Bay Beach Park

Waianae 96

Waianae 97

Waianae 992 — I wonder how many of the posted prohibitions this camper is breaking

Waianae 994 — Potential car trouble at an otherwise pristine campsite

Waianae 995 — I wonder if anybody up ahead has a spare cold beer?

I must admit, I was surprised at how few people were out and about on the streets and parks in Waianae. In the past, I’ve driven through this area mostly on weekends, when the parks are popping and more people are out and about. On this Monday morning, while there are plenty of cars moving up and down Farrington Highway, there are not many people on foot, out on the streets or parks or shoreline.

I’m also thinking there is a different kind of homeless out here. Maybe I’m wrong, but the downtown homeless seem to be more haole, druggy, panhandling, criminal, and more single dudes; while west-side homeless seem to be a higher percentage of locals and families just trying to get by. You can’t make it panhandling tourists out here, because there aren’t many tourists out here.

There weren’t many homeless out and about for me to interview, you know, to test my theory, but I’m sticking to my story until proven otherwise.

There was one old silver-haired local who greeted me at Pokai Bay park. He said “good morning bruddah” in a genuinely friendly manner, while his hands were busy weaving something (from grass, I think). Not sure if he was homeless, but he and I were the only two people in that end of the park. Likely he thought I was a homeless guy. That’s cool….the Waipahu Bob camouflage clothing was working. Not to mention my shifty demeanor.

Lots of people on Oahu avoid this side of the island. It has a reputation for toughness, and not welcoming to outsiders. But Waipahu Bob, not unlike a Maoist guerilla, swims in the sea of the people, even in this part of Oahu. I share a traveling philosophy with my older brother David, who once told me, “Don’t be afraid to get off the beaten track, and don’t be afraid of strangers. When you treat people with respect, they will almost always respond in kind.” Rest in peace, brother. I love you.

Waianae 996