February 15th, 1999
About 3 p.m.

Welcome to Fantasy Island!

or at least Welcome to Waikane Pier. Yes, it's the very same pier used as greeting/departure point for guests on the recently cancelled ABC television remake of "Fantasy Island," the tv series.

This pier was originally built around the turn of the century so boats could drop supplies off for the construction of the very controversial Waikane - Waiahole water project which for years has sent windward water over to the leeward side of the island principally for the benefit of the sugar and pineappple plantations of central and leeward O'ahu who also paid for the system's construction.

According to Susan, the lady who lives down near the pier and manages it's use for the city and county of Honolulu, the Waikane Pier was also used by the Army during World War 2 as a supply drop. Her home which is hidden behind the trees at the shore's end of the pier, sits near the site of four old Army supply buildings, of which only one survives today alongside Susan's home.

In case you're wondering about other uses of this famour pier, your hunches are correct. This pier has appeared in dozens of television and big screen movies over the years. The latest movie to make use of it's wonderous span was Disney's "Mighty Joe Young". Also recent films with a shot of Waikane Pier include "Jurassic Park" and "Godzilla".

Susan also related how the movie industry has been very good to the pier over the years. It's been rebuilt several times by Hollywood's best.

The Waikane Pier extends out into Kaneohe and Kualoa Bays which flow together at about this point. It's also quite long...my guess is a good 300 yards. It takes one over flat shallow waters where the bottom is a mix of sand, dirt and sediments from the mountains and a medium size coral gravel. The water is less than 2 feet deep almost all the way out.

Long a dream of mine, my impromptu visit and shoot ended with the sun disappearing behind the clouds for the day literally ten seconds after I shot the last frame of 16 which make up this VR.

Mahalo to Alden of the Waikane Store for the discreet introductions, directions and pointers necessary to make my dream visit and shot come true. Access to the Waikane Pier is not public, is restricted, very well hidden and guarded by several big ole German Shepherds.

The Waikane Store is celebrating it's 101st year of business this year (1999). If you're ever doing the circle island tour make sure you plan a stop at the Waikane Store. Try the boiled peanuts, fresh and warm. So ono (delicious), or try some of their other goodies - Alden's Mom, Aunties and Grandmother bake peanut butter cookies and roll sushi every day...yummm.

I may have to go back and shoot the store next week ;)