Stink eye; comments from the Mainland

I've heard a few comments lately, from people concerned that Ron and I will settle in here, only to be ostracize. They fear that because we are white and a minority, we will not fit in and will be treated as unwelcome outsiders. They say they've known people who moved here and had that experience. Those people have since moved back, having acquired a bitter taste for Hawaii.
So far, we have experienced only limited "stink eye" as they say here. No more so than if we'd walked into the wrong bar in any city USA and found we did not match the typical clientele. In fact, with the exception of one cranky, overworked haoli waitress, everyone has been as friendly as can be. The neighbors we've met so far have all been welcoming and nice, more than willing to talk story for a while if you happen to pass by when they are out in their yards. I'm sure we won't become best friends with everyone we meet, but I also trust there will be plenty of people we encounter who we'll find we really like and who really like us. My personal belief is that if you are friendly with people and treat them with respect, they will more often than not, do the same in return. My theory is that those haolis that have moved from the mainland and had bad experiences were not as open as they might have been to people of different cultures and backgrounds than themselves. There are no doubt many who live in the islands who resent the invasion of their homeland from afar. That's no different from many mainlanders who dislike the wave of immigrants coming to their towns. The bottom line, in my mind anyway, is that if you choose to play nice with others, they will, in turn, play nice with you.
Today, we began our mini farm with an experience in herbs. I planted several of my favorites in small pots. We'll see how they grow. I also wacked a bunch of bananas from the tree today. They are a bit small. I'll wait longer before harvesting the next bunch.
There are some public hearings to discuss such riveting topics as community planning and solid waste management coming up in the next few weeks. I plan to attend to get a feel for the dynamics of such meetings here. Who knows. Maybe I'll even kick in my two cents worth of comments. I'll be sure to report on my impressions in this very

Comments

Born and bred

The creature stared at me, wide-eyed through the florescent glare, Saran Wrap stretched tight across its broad back. Alone in the seafood cooler, he was the only one of his kind, there among the farmed, color-added Atlantic salmon and mud-flavored tilapia, perched on a blue foam tray, legs tucked 'round him like a comfy kitten. He didn't blink. He was dead, red, cooked and chilled, ready to eat. Such a find is rare in the City Market fish department in Gunnison, Colorado. What if nobody takes him home? I thought. This beautiful animal will have died needlessly, ripped from his home, family and friends (Dory, Nemo, Crush and Gill?) only to be tossed in the trash when his expiration date came and went. I lifted him for closer inspection, checked that date, felt the heft of him, scanned his surface for cracks and blemishes. The creature was perfect. I lowered him back into the cooler, nodded farewell, turned to walk away, took one step, and stopped. Shoppers strolled past, stud

On Tennis and Writing and Being Too Nice

I've recently been recruited to play tennis for a local 4.0 ladies tennis league team, referred to as either "Team Debbie" for the nice woman who manages us, or "Have Fun," which is our pre-match chant. We're still looking for a proper name. But we do have fun, despite getting creamed most outings. Last Saturday, we played in the Edith Kanakaole Tennis Stadium in Hilo. Good thing, too, since outside it was pouring, complete with thunder and lightning. It's a substantial structure, covered, yet open all around, most famous for hosting the annual Merrie Monarch Hula Festival in April. It was about 85 degrees outside and 100 percent humidity, air so thick it took three sucks of my albuterol inhaler just to breath. Several of us arrived early to warm up, but after twenty minutes' steady rallying with my teammate, Keiko, the human backboard, I was drenched. I played doubles with a nice, extremely fit and excellent ground-stroker named Cynthia from Pahoa.

Fruity booty

It was a long drive from Glenwood to the northern tip of the island -- three hours -- so for sustenance, we stopped at Baker Tom's for malasadas on the way. My pal Kathy and I were headed to Kapa'au for a hike, one we'd read about in the local newspaper. The couple who run Baker Tom's (not sure if the husband is actually Tom or not) are delightful, with enduring stamina. They're as old as radio, yet they're always on duty, ready to serve behind the counter, as they have for many years, frying, baking, brewing and smiling, there in Papaikou , gateway to the Hamakua Coast. The malasadas are enormous, cheap and delicious, the coffee OK, the tourists all happy to have discovered this place, buzzing with sugar and caffeine. They make a killer pumpkin cheesecake at Baker Tom's, too. It's always a pleasant stop. Ahapua'a . It's a Hawaiian land division, usually a strip or wedge, stretching from mountain to sea. Hawaiians lived in villages wit

Mountains and Islands

Search This Blog