Aloha. Saab Pride - Hawaiian Style!
Time for another instalment in the Saab Pride of Ownership competition. Thanks are due to Elkparts, who in 2008 are twice as fast, strong and smart as they were in 2007.
The competition really is stretching far and wide, and it’s time now for our first Pacific Islands entry. All we need now is one from South America!
This latest entry comes to us from WillyD and the last photo especially is a cracker!
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Aloha from Oahu, Hawaii! I’m submitting my Pride of Ownership entry as I celebrate the one-year anniversay of the purchase of my 9-5 SportCombi! It’s been a great car to drive, and the POO has given me reason to steal it from my wife (she hates to part with it!) and trek around the island a few times. I bought the car here on Oahu and traded in a ’02 Volvo Cross Country – a smart move from a reliability perspective, but even better in terms of being fun-to-drive. There’s just something about the car (a lot of things, actually) that makes me miss it & want to drive it more often. I bought the car (a 2.3T) w/ the visibility package and auto transmission.
I’ve attached photos of the car at two landmarks on Oahu. The first photo was taken from the end of Waikiki Beach, and shows one of the best-known landmarks of Hawaii – Diamond Head. This volcanic crater was originally called Laeahi, which I’m told means ‘brow of the tuna.’ (You can see the resemblance by looking at it from this angle.) The current name was apparently given by British sailors in the 1800s, when shiny calcite crystals in the lava rock were mistaken for diamonds. In the early 1900’s, an observation post was built at the summit to help with harbor defense. (The observation post is right where the darn bird is in the photo - what luck!) The trails, stairways, and tunnels built to ascend the interior of the crater are still there and offer a fun hike with awesome views of Waikiki and the leeward coast of Oahu. The crater is approximately 3500 feet in diameter with a 760-foot peak above the shore.
The next photo was taken on the Windward (northeastern) side of Oahu. The island in the background is formally known as Mokoli’i Island, but known locally as Chinaman’s Hat… for obvious reasons. The island covers about 12.5 acres, is 200 feet tall, and is located about one-third of a mile off shore. It makes for a great kayak trip out there to swim and explore, and the views of the coast from the top are fantastic. You can also walk out to the island at low tide. The photos were taken from Kua’loa Park.
The last photo was also taken at Kua’loa Park, but with the Ko’olau mountains in the background. At the base of the mountains is Kua’loa Ranch, a popular site for both tourists and local folks as it has horseback, ATV, and 4WD expeditions into the mountains. The mountains in the background may also look familiar. Some popular movies and shows have been filmed there at Kualoa Ranch, including Jurassic Park, Windtalkers, Tears of the Sun, 50 First Dates, and LOST.
I hope everyone enjoys the photos. It’s been fun to get out in the 9-5 to take them. Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas) and Happy New Year.
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Very nice last photo! My Saab is also white at the moment - of snow. So it’s nice to dream away to these pictures.
A beautiful car in a great colour, well done. The location looks fab too…:-)
I heard once that saying “aloha” to a Hawai’ian is like saying “g’day, mate” to an Australian, but I guess not.
Hawai’i is third on my list of “Places I’d like to move if I ever just get bleedin’ tired of the East Coast” after Arizona and California.
Thanks for those pictures, I remember my 3 years in Hawaii at Schofield Barracks. It was the greatest time of my life. The Army shipped me my 1989 Saab 9000CD and I had it the entire time I was there. The Saab dealership was a little hole in the wall type place but the service was excellent.
Awesome! That 9-5 looks fabulous in that colour. The combi is also a better looking car than the saloon, and looks much less dated as a design in my opinion. I still like the saloon, but the Combi is a MUCH better looking vehicle!
Mahalo for the awesome pictures WillyD, makes me homesick for the Islands, and those yummy Malasadas…Mmmmmmm!!!Beautiful Combi too…nice rims!!! Aloha!!!
Last photo is fantastic.
Here a suggestion for Saab.
Owners submitting photos for use in printed material. Like retailers using staff in flyers or pictures to sell wares.
Incredible pictures ! Never seen such great shots before ! 9-5 in white looks great.
Those are really cool pictures - especially the last one, as I love LOST.
How many Saab dealers are in Hawaii? That would be a cool place to visit.
nice photos! as i look out the window at the dreary cold day outside, i’m taking this as an opportunity to live vicariously. oddly, i’ve never seen a white 9-5 wagon before. i really like yours, a gorgeous car.
Thanks for the feedback! After all of the other great wintertime photos, I’ve been missing snow!
There’s only one dealer on Oahu (Saab of Hawaii) - still in the same place, but they’ve been great to deal with & they move some cars.
Wayner - love the malasadas too. Leonard’s is the best!
Saabboy, my Dad often takls about Schofield Barracks. What were the years that you served?
man i love hawaii.
i think that last shot might be the best POO entry we’ve seen. compositionally, i wish the car was on the lower left to balance the mountains on the upper right…..even still, you’re right Swade, it’s a great one.
Hi ,
since Magnum , my dream is to have a trip to Hawaï !
But a trip on this extraordinary island aboard your gorgeous white 9.5 would be the top !
Oh Boy…My favorite place on earth. Wonder if a dealer in Hawaii is looking for sales people. Hmmmmm…
Golfhunter - just let me know when you’re coming. We’ll give you the tour!
Mike C: Hey I served from 99-03 in Hawaii and then went to Germany after that. They shipped my 9000CD to Germany and had it on the Autobahn all the time. I traded it in for the 9-3SS when it first came out in November 2002. I still have it and it runs great
I think we have a winner! These photos combine a great car with great scenery and great photography skills.
WillyD - You win! Nice backdrop for the photos. Hawaii is the place to be!