Ayumi Hamasaki Sekai - From Hawaii with Love...

Sep. 3, 2006
Mission Report

Summary:
The purpose of this mission was to seek out places in Hawaii where Ayu has been confirmed to have been.

Objectives Overview:
Primary:
1. Matsumoto Shave Ice
2. Waimea Falls
3. Giovanni's Shrimp Truck
Secondary:
1. Ala Moana Mall and Bookoff Honolulu
2. Dole Plantation
Tertiary:
1. Avex Honolulu
2. L&L

Objective Reports:
P1. Matsumoto Shave Ice
Walked around, took pics, got some shave ice, it was hella good. In total, I visited Matsumoto's twice. Some people said that Aoki's next door has better shave ice but whatever. There's sentimental value here. First time, I walked in looking for her pic. Didn't see it until I turned around and looked above the entrance; there she was shining in all her glory. However, it wasn't the 2001 pic I expected from Matsumoto's website. Rather, it was a new pic from her 2005 visit recorded in the (miss)understood photobooks. My first reaction was to take a picture because I surmised that this pic has never been published. However, lacking my tripod, I knew I had to return. Second time around, having the tripod, I set my Lumix DMC-LZ10 to ISO50 and tried to get it as high up as possible to minimize vertical distortion. I emailed them about the old 2001 pic but they haven’t replied yet.

From the first visit:
http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/5...0926vu0.th.jpg

Shave ice with vanilla at the bottom is good :). I also saved the plastic flower holder thingies hehe.

Comparison:
http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/708...pareqs3.th.jpg

My gift to AHS, the unpublished portrait from Matsumoto’s, max quality I could get:
(Used transform functions in photoshop to correct for perspective and used levels to enhance color; inside of the shop was quite dark.)

http://www.mediafire.com/imageview.p...db9nzn&thumb=4
lol I hope this hasn’t already been posted on the internet…

P2. Waimea Falls
Thanks to truehappiness, I knew that it was within Waimea Valley Audubon Center. Real pretty walk all the way to the end, where the waterfall is. I took a dip in the pool, swam around, and stood up on the rocks beneath the waterfall. But I didn’t reenact the fairyland scene…hehe. The high hills above were so clear, I could see every detail. They were truly beautiful because they were panoramic…same goes for the rocks surrounding the waterfall. The whole scene had incredible texture.

Comparison:
http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/4...pareap3.th.jpg

P3. Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck
This wasn’t very hard to find because of their big sign. Unfortunately, Ayu’s signature has been lost. There are nasty grease stains where her sig should be, and the grease even ruined the HP sticker nearby. In my Hawaii thread in the enquires section, truehappiness posted some pictures from Jan 2006 showing the truck very much bare, corroborating the loss of Ayu’s sig. Nevertheless, this objective is a partial success because at least I was able to track down another place she had stood.

The first time I came by, I had just eaten, so I wanted to wait till next time. In addition, my friend didn’t like how there were some flies around the area. The second time, they had sold out, so I didn’t get to try the shrimp :(.

Comparison:
http://img366.imageshack.us/img366/8...paregt1.th.jpg

S1. Ala Moana Mall and Bookoff Honolulu
It’s like the biggest mall in Hawaii…not hard to find haha. However, the Bookoff inside was a bit difficult to spot. At first, I thought it was outside of the mall judging from the map on Bookoff’s website. However, as I was leaving the mall to search for it, I looked to my left and saw a big Bookoff banner. Turned out that it was a little corner of the Shirokiya; that’s why it didn’t show up in the directory. I saw evolution for $2 but I didn’t want to get it…no obi, and I know better now. When I go to Japan next summer, I’m going to have a field day. However, I did pick up a used vogue with obi for $4 and an apparently new & for $6. Only saw one mag, the recent Sweet, but it was like $6 so I said screw dat. I went to the dvd section (it was quite small) and didn’t see any. I looked up and at sitting atop the shelf was…was…what I’d been seeking…Complete Live Box…Oh damn it’s like a dream. I got it for $100 and it is FREAKING MINT. Japan version with all four DVDs of course.

Anyway, I couldn’t find the exact spots where Ayu had been. I walked around the whole mall though, so Ala Moana Mall is 80% success. Bookoff is 1000% success :D.

S2. Dole Plantation
I didn’t try the maze, but I took the little train ride tour. Best of all, I took pics of where Ayu was and ate that awesome ice cream. Pineapple ice cream on a waffle cone mmmmmm. They stick in a pineapple core for decoration too hehe.

Comparison:
http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/4...parepv7.th.jpg

T1. Avex Honolulu
I really didn’t think I’d be able to come here. Scans of Vivi Deji Deji Diary vol.73 which contained the location came out while I was in Hawaii. The last day of my trip, I had a chance. It was way the hell over to the southeast corner of O’ahu on the outskirts of Honolulu. It was in this random plaza with grocery stores, restaurants, etc. Not only that, it was as single door secluded in the very corner of the place. You’d think it was a military intelligence base…:P. I didn’t touch it, but that’s ok because Ayu probably had someone open the door for her, being the little princess she is. I went around asking workers if they knew where D-3 was. One of them asked, “What exactly are you looking for?” I said “Avex” and they responded with instant recognition, “Oh, Avex! The recording studio, right?” My friend who drove me there was quite disappointed when he learned that I had dragged him all the way out there so that he could take pictures of me posing next to a door to an office :P. I could’ve used the call box or jumped the door…but I wanted to leave things be. I had a secret fear of Ayu suddenly coming out of that door. I didn’t want to lose my only chance to convey my feelings. Thus, I resolved that I would compose a letter to her in Japanese when I got home, one which I would always keep in my wallet in case we ever met.

It’s a very pretty door, isn’t it? I was proud to have found it.

Comparison:
http://img475.imageshack.us/img475/9...parewn5.th.jpg
(I don't ever do that peace/V sign but I thought it was appropriate here...it's such a happy sign :D)

T2. L&L
truehappiness told me about the L&L she had been to which shows up in the photobooks, but there are simply too many on O’ahu. I ate at one near where I lived, but that wasn’t it. Also, there was one in the same plaza as the Avex recording studio, but that wasn’t it either. Oh well…maybe one of our Hawaiian AHS members can tell which one it is specifically?

Conclusion:
Overall, the mission was a success. The degree to which the exclusive picture in Matsumoto's was recovered far surpassed expectation. Moreover, having the opportunity to find Avex Honolulu was indeed fortunate. Although the signature at Giovanni's has been lost forever, at least this is good information we now know. It is also a pity that I could not locate the exact places in Ala Moana Mall shown in the photobooks. Needless to say, this mission was a covert one. Secrecy was always in danger of being compromised. I weirded out a lot of people. Nevertheless, it was awesome fun going on this scavenger hunt. I recommend walking the Ayu Trail to any rabid fan. It was a wonderful pleasure standing, sitting, and swimming where Ayu once stood, sat, and swam, as well as eating what Ayu once ate. A minty Live Box is an excellent bonus as well ;).