Connie Marcum Wong Poet Free verse

A Glimpse of Hawaii

A tunnel of branches with leafy green shade
Arc over the winding quiet road
On our windward island’s side
Heading toward the north shore
Where giant waves treat surfers
To the thrill of a lifetime in winter season.
Look deeper into the tunnel of leafy branches
To espy the trail of ants busy at work
And see the gecko capture his breakfast roach.
Look beyond the giant surf
Down through the teal colored waves
And see honu swim with schools of fish,
In unison, as they go about their exciting day.

One cannot help but sense that deeper flow,
That serenity of our island’s glow,
Which surges forth through verdant
Flapping leaves with bright bananas
Peeking out, or not be moved by radiant blossoms
Of varied hues of the ever blooming China rose.
As the sun rises over Diamond Head 
And birds take flight--to any soul’s delight--
They begin their chatter amidst the fluid air,
The day begins just as it ends,
 In paradise.

© 2010 Connie Marcum Wong

Aloha, and Mele Kalikimaka! (Merry Christmas!) 


Gecko: is a small, mostly nocturnal tropical lizard of the family Gekkonidae, usually 
having toe pads that can cling to smooth surfaces: the largest species, Gekko gecko,  is 
sometimes kept as a pet. 
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Honu: The Pacific green sea turtle is called honu
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China rose: Another name for Hawaii’s state flower the hibiscus

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Side note* The Pacific Green Sea Turtle


Did you know that all the hatchlings in the nest of the Pacific green sea turtle are either 
male or female? The sex of the turtles is determined by the temperature of the nest. 
Cooler nests produce a clutch of males, while warmer nests produce females.

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Pandita Sietesantos June 18, 2014 at 7:44 PM Aaaaaah, Hawaii - so beautiful. Thank you for sharing this gem. Yes, I must do a Hawaiian trip (it's on my bucket list:-) ) Warm regards!

Suzanne Delaney April 7, 2013 at 3:54 PM A beautiful picture of where we live. Lovely flow of words. Love, SuZ

Robert A. Dufresne November 26, 2011 at 4:19 PM Thank you so much for the tour! I've always wanted to go but never could cause life gets in the way I guess. My brother went and loved it. Thank you for this wonderful poem Connie and the education. I heard they have no snakes in Hawai. Is that true? Connie Marcum Wong November 26, 2011 at 4:54 PM Yes it is and that is one of the reasons hikers love to visit Hawaii. It is so sad that on the island of Guam the brown tree snake has obliterated the bird population. You can do jail time for trying to smuggle any species into our islands for reasons such as the problems of Guam. Thank you for your kind comments Robert.

Elizabeth Wesley September 26, 2011 at 9:41 AM Have been to this fascinating island and your poem brings back the sublime memories of the visit. Thanks for the explanations below and also for your sweet visit Connie

Kabuteng P.Ink K. August 18, 2011 at 12:25 PM Oh wow, Sorry I missed reading this very informative and picture perfect poem from before, Connie :) But I sure am glad to read this now-- this made me smile so much, thank you for bringing a bit of Hawaii to your readers :) This is such a charming read :) Really enjoyed this! And I didn't know that other name for hibiscus, over here we call it gumamela :) -- thank you so much for your inspiring comments in my poem, they really mean a lot :) enjoy your day! hugs to you!

The Fringe June 30, 2011 at 8:40 PM In regards to the sea turtles, that makes sense to me that the warmer ones are females, haha--males being colder. This makes me think of what it was like before "civlilzation". I imagine Captain Cook seeing this very scene before the end. How the islands must have seemed before becoming incorporated. Aloof, havens on the depths. Perhaps a paradise to be attained in another dimension. Perhaps visions to act as training wheels for a young species, sigh. perhaps.....

Robert Pettit February 13, 2011 at 7:20 PM I've been to Hawaii once, but never left the airport. It was a stopover while crossing the Pacific to Tokyo. Your work contains great descriptiveness. Thanks for the added information. All of it was interesting.

Poet Destroyer A January 17, 2011 at 8:21 AM Thanks for sharing Connie, the glimpse and information,, enjoyed,..p.d.

Sara Kendrick January 1, 2011 at 12:13 PM So very descriptive and expressive work..I am glad that you gave the explanations and definitions..A Gecko is something that every home needs but something no one would want anyone to know that they owned..Sara