The second week of November with local temperatures in the 20's and 30's, Will and I and his cousin Terri from Arizona pooled our resources and decided to head to Hawaii for some warmth and Aloha spirit. I had the condo needing to be used; Will had the airline credits and Terri had a deal on a rental car. We got the available condo which was in Makaha. This is the "land of the locals"...it's where Rell Sunn (the Queen of Makaha) lived and for some time where Iz also lived. There are few high rises and lots of poverty on the West side; there are also great waves and surfers! Just down the road from our condo were some state beaches filled with homeless folks. There is also a political ideology here. It is believed the US stole the Islands from the Natives (read the history...it's true!) There were areas...likeMakaha and Waianae which were promised to the Hawaiians but the tourist business, expensive housing,and "progress" left the natives and locals without jobs, housing or resources to live in their communities. They can't afford it and so of course, there's a resentment of the "outsiders." This doesn't translate to individuals but to the institution of tourism and "the ugly Americans." We were welcomed, treated with the Aloha spirit, and enjoyed the quiet beauty of the West side of Oahu. Waikiki is where most tourist go...and it is a big City with all that that implies. Since Obama and other dignitaries were meeting in Honolulu for the APEC..we stayed away from the area. In Makaha we had a lanai with a 180 degree view of the beach. We could just walk outside and go snorkeling. Lots of turtles on the beach in the mornings and the beach wasn't crowded. Ah...what a life!
We took a hike to Kaena Point, a sacred spot on the Leeward, which was amazing! We saw all kinds of wild birds and monk seals. The Albatross and Shearwater come there and nest in holes in the ground. Will fished a bit and caught 7 different species including the Hawaiian State fish the Humuhumunukunukuapuaha....all catch and release. We had dinner at Buzz's Original Steakhouse with Will's cousin Tim and Pam Dittrick who live neare West side. He works at Pearl Harbor and his wife works for the coast guard. Fun people and what a great dinner we had. We drove around the Island a couple times and across it once, being careful to avoid Honolulu. There was only one negative experience...when we returned from hiking Kaena Point, our rental car back seat passenger side window was broken. The only thing taken from the car was Will's cell phone since it was the only thing left in the car. The trip to Waianae police department to fill out the police report and the late night drive back into the airport to exchange the rental car wasn't fun.
But...you know what? I'd go back again tomorrow!! Terri was fun to share time with and Will as always never meets a stranger. He met John Makele on the beach, a local artist and pure Hawaiian, and they shared old stories of surfing and the islands. The picture with all of us and John is included in this series.
We enjoyed shave ice at Aoki's in Haliewa, home cooking and eating local, including a little Poi, the experience of engaging with the condo owners and renters who come to Makaha for months at a time, the local snorkle shop owners and picking up deals for grandkids and friends as well as for ourselves! It's the best....being in Hawaii. Will did surf but my camera couldn't capture him that far out in the surf. It was the first time he has been in the ocean since Folley Beach last year in South Carolina! We said a brief goodby to Terri in the airport van and took the red-eye home.
