There are quite a few things that we enjoyed about visiting Portland, Oregon. These photos illustrate just a few.

The transit system displays local artists’ work on electrical cabinets at train stations. I’m guessing that they don’t get vandalized because they have local roots. The trains also display poetry. That’s right. And not plain vanilla poetry, some is pretty hard hitting. And then there are the trees, even downtown. The city has kept itself green.

The rail runs through downtown at ground level. Perhaps it’s a bit slower, but it integrates transit right into the city. Step out of a store or hotel, and step right onto the train.

There’s “Fareless Square”, the free-ride zone that includes all of the central downtown. It’s supported by a payroll tax on downtown businesses, which can then use the public transit system for their in-town transit.

People are generally very friendly. It seems like you’re as likely to run into the Aloha Spirit in Portland as at home. Visitors may find it an even friendlier place than Honolulu.

There’s a beautiful park along the river that runs along downtown. It’s heavily used. In the early mornings when we walked, there were joggers, walkers, and bicyclists enjoying the river views. The park was created in the late 1960s by bulldozing a 4-lane highway run the length of the riverfront. Can you imagine Honolulu destroying a highway to create a park? Frank Fasi got close when he dug up hotel street and the parking lots behind Honolulu Hale back in the 70s to create the green space that now exists. Could we dig up parts of Nimitz for a waterfront part near downtown? Doubtful.

After 8 p.m., people riding a Portland bus alone can ask to be dropped off anywhere along the route, not only at designated bus stops. Honolulu only aspires to such flexibility.

At Portland Airport, stores are not allowed to charge higher prices than at off-airport locations, making for a much improved visitor experience. You don’t leave the city with the edge of resentment after being gouged when buying something before getting on your plane.

Lots more could be said, including comments on the general consciousness of sustainability issues in Portland, which is far greater than in Honolulu.

It’s not perfect. The young and homeless are more visible. Unemployment is higher than in Hawaii.

And we were lucky and didn’t get much rain during our visit. That may not be a fair sample of Portland weather, which usually measures something over 200 days of rain per year.