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USA, MEXICO #6/6
1977
HAWAII
USA and Mexico Research Trip
Lake Tahoe, CA ⇒ Hawaii
Lake Tahoe
Towards the end of my tour of the United States and Mexico, I returned to San Francisco and decided to visit Lake Tahoe for a day trip. Lake Tahoe is a lakeside resort on the California-Nevada border. From San Francisco, I took a train to Oakland on the other side of the river, and then drive further into the city via Sacramento, the capital of California.
On the Nevada side across Lake Tahoe, casinos and gambling halls are legal, just like Las Vegas.
The photo below shows a cozy mountain resort under development on the California side, where there is no casino.
Since it is not a desert climate, there are many trees, and it is a more elegant recreational destination in contrast to Las Vegas.
Photo by author, 1977
Even in mid-March, snow remains. The resort’s houses are made of wood, with no fences and verandas open to the outside. A fireplace chimney is installed in these wooden building.
Photo by author, 1977
A resort in the forest. It reminds me of the lake area in Finland.
Photo by author, 1977
The administration building at the entrance to the estate.
Photo by author, 1977
I came across a high-rise building under construction. It’s an all-steel structure. I’m concerned that the pillars are thin for an earthquake zone.
Photo by author, 1977
From San Francisco to Hawaii
Oahu, Hawaii
When I arrived in Honolulu, the weather was humid and subtropical, completely different from the snowy Lake Tahoe of the previous day. For the time being, I stayed at the Hyatt Regency in Waikiki Beach and visited the Ala Moana shopping mall and the Hilton Hotel as part of my usual architectural inspection. At Oahu, there are many Japan and second-generation immigrants, and the Japanese is widely used on the street corners, which seemed strange.
Ala Moana shopping mall in Honolulu.
Photo by author, 1977
Photo by author, 1977
Condominium in Waikiki
Photo by author, 1977
Photo by author, 1977
Honolulu Hilton
Photo by author, 1977
Maui, Hawaii
The next morning, I took a small plane from Honolulu to Maui.
Flight distance ⇒ Honolulu to Maui, is about 160 km.
Honolulu/Maui Air Route
Taking off from the airfield in Honolulu and heading to Maui.
Photo by author, 1977
Photo by author, 1977
Photo by author, 1977
Maui, Hawaii
From Honolulu, take a light plane to the airport in Maui.
From the airport to the hotel, there were a series of sugarcane fields at the foot of the volcano that swayed in the wind.
Maui Sheraton Resort on the Edge of a Cliff
Maui Sheraton Resort
After passing through a long road of sugarcane fields, I arrive at an ordinary low-rise building. I entered the lobby of the building and checked in. To get to my room, I took the elevator down.
The room was on the lowest floor. When I entered the room, the balcony view is the Pacific Ocean, which had been hidden from view until then. The shoreline was so close I could almost reach out and touch it.
The lobby and lounge were on top of a cliff, and I realized that the five floors of guest rooms were designed to cling to the cliffs facing the sea. This design technique was brilliant.
Most of the hotel guests were from the mainland United States, and the atmosphere was different from Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, where there are many Orientals. The guests were relaxed but lively, and seemed to be enjoying this private resort.
From the reception lobby of the Maui Sheraton, I can see the Kukui volcano over the sugarcane fields.
Photo by author, 1977
The reception at the Maui Sheraton is perched on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Photo by author, 1977
Exterior view of Maui Sheraton from the beach.
Photo by author, 1977
There was a large white sand beach reserved for the hotel.
Photo by author, 1977
View from the hotel room.
Photo by author, 1977
View from the hotel room.
Photo by author, 1977
Hotel room.
Photo by author, 1977
Maui Sheraton
The finishes of the rooms and curved balconies was considerably inferior to that of the continental United States. At that time, it must have been difficult to gather materials and craftsmen on this remote island.
Maui Sheraton Resort, Source: Expedia
In March 1977, I was able to successfully complete a 10-day trans Pacific architectural study trip.
Places I had visited in March 1977
1.San Francisco
2. Las Vegas
3. Los Angeles
4. Acapulco
5. Mexico City
6. Honolulu
7. Maui
