Here’s one from Paula – Places we used to go cruisin’
Remember back in the day when we first got our license? Some of us had our own car, some of us borrowed our siblings car. But most of us used our parents car. And just having that freedom allowed us to cruise all over the island. Sure, we’d go catch a movie, or a football game, or hang at the pool hall – but that was just one half of the evening. The other part was going cruisin’.
Almost no night was complete without passing through the McCully Zippys to check out who was there. Which hot rods were out that night. And to check out the chicks, of course. And being that we lived in Kailua back then, getting to the Pali Hwy often meant veering off to Hotel Street – just to check out the scene. We rolled up the windows, locked the doors and did not stop.
Then there was Tantalus.
Now, when we cruised Tantalus, we always went up the Makiki Drive way and came down the Mott-Smith way (unless we missed the turn and ended up going through Papakolea). That was the norm, right?
Another place that I liked to go cruising was in Manoa. Because I was into architecture in high school, I liked to go in Manoa and look at all the nice homes. My friends were probably bored out of their minds, but I was driving so they go where I go. Plus, the alternative was them vegging at home so they didn’t mind.
Waikiki – unlike today where we avoid Waikiki, we used to cruise through Waikiki all the time. Pass by the nightclubs and see who’s hanging out. Check out the girls standing in line to get into The Hula Hut. We’d do the normal pass going Kokohead on Kalakaua – look through the windows to see how crowed The Point After was, then turning onto Kapahulu and head Ewa on Kuhio. Then get to Ala Wai Blvd and decide whether we want to go on McCully to the King St. Jack In The Box or stay on the Ala Wai and end up eating at KC Drive Inn.
Some nights, our cruising took us into Kalihi – for late night saimin. The Saimin House or Palace Saimin. But normally we were in and out of Kalihi. Not someplace we wanted to hang out at.
But cruisin’ wasn’t always about nighttime. How about cruisin’ during the day? Our surfing took us cruisin’ a lot. We’d get into town, check out the waves at Ala Moana beach. If it’s not happening there, go to the heli-pad by the Ilikai and check out Kaisers/Rock Piles. Still not happening, cruise through Waikiki and check out the waves there. Too crowded, then it was up the hill to Diamond Head. By then we were pretty itchy to get into the water and Diamond Head it was. Sometimes we’d skip Diamond head because the size of the waves wasn’t worth the paddle out – and we’d check out Black Point. Nope – still nothing? Okay then, we’re headed to Sandy’s, or Pipe Littles, or Kaka Roach bay. Somedays we didn’t even get into the water! That’s why we also took our skateboards along.
Cruisin’ the North Shore. Did you guys go the Kaneohe to Haleiwa way or the Haleiwa to Kaneohe way? Because we lived in Kailua – it was the Kaneohe to Haleiwa way. And coming home was the reverse. But now that I live in town, if we go “cruise North Shore”, I like to go the Haleiwa to Kaneohe way. It’s just a nicer drive driving in the sun’s shadows of the Koolaus. Plus, can always stop in Kaneohe for some Time’s Coffee Shop fried rice, or KJ’s Chicken, or Kaneohe Bakery desserts.
What about the Waianae Coast? I haven’t been out there in years! The thing is, there is only one way in and the same way out. But get some nice shoreline over there. With gas prices down, maybe it’s time for an excursion. Well, maybe after the freeway closures pau.
You know, all the cruising that I did throughout my life really came in handy when I started working at TheBus. Knowing street names and areas like Manoa valley, St. Louis heights, Waimanalo, Salt Lake, etc. really came in handy. So all that cruisin’ wasn’t for nothing!
Thanks for the blog topic idea, Paula! I think we should go do some cruisin’ soon.
So where did you guys go cruisin’ back in the day? Or night? Have any stories to share?
