Hawaiian Family Reunion Cont…

After the day of the tsunami we all didn’t feel like doing much at all, it felt good just to relax in this idyllic setting. Watching the occasional golfing activity, the clouds as they gathered around the mountains and Maui directly across the ocean from us. Plenty of conversation and lots of laughter as Amanda and Kate unpack a collection of photos that had arrived from their cousin Margie in Washington State. Their aunt Anne, now passed, a prolific photo taker and recorder of the family history had complied a large collection over the years. Pictures she had taken and that she had received from other branches of this close knit family. This too, the last day for Jimmy and Susan before they fly back to their San Diego home. The day ends with the now ritual lighting of the gas fired tiki torches, a glorious sunset and a bbq dinner in the warm tropical air.

The next day, Jimmy and Susan leave for San Diego and our party is down to three, just Kate, Amanda and me. It’s now our last full day at Mauna Lani, we leave for Honolulu tomorrow. For lunch we take the electric cart down to the Mauna Lani centre where there is a Tommy Bahamas restaurant above one of their clothing stores.

Tommy Bahamas are an Hawaiian institution specialising in Hawaiian shirts and leisure wear for men and women with a tropical theme. They have now branched out to restaurants offering food and drinks in a similar vein. We order a share serve of guacamole with some chips (American for potato crisps) as a starter, once we make a start on the dish it seems we have an obstacle taking up valuable guacamole space. A large brown object slowly emerges from the green mash, becoming an island in a sea of pureed avocado. It appears that the stone had inadvertently dropped into the bowl and we had became the lucky recipients. Now, eating in a foreign country can present problems, maybe that’s the way guacamole is meant to be served in far off exotic Hawaii. Kate assures me it’s not served that way in Honolulu, but I say we are on the Island of Hawaii. I call the waitress over and ask her if it is customary to serve the avocado stone with the guacamole, her quizzical look tells us it’s not and she whisks the bowl off to the kitchen to point out the mishap to some unlucky kitchen hand. The bemused waitress is soon back with a fresh bowl full of guacamole and loaded with a new batch of chips with more than a few apologies from the kitchen. A manager soon arrives with more apologies and a promise to remove the cost of the dish from the bill. No harm done, it’s not as if we could have choked on the over large seed. Nevertheless nothing like a bit of culinary excitement to brighten up your day.

After lunch and a little bit of retail therapy we return to the share house along the roads bordered by lava rock sprinkled with tufts of dry straw coloured grass. At one point along the road the golf course runs parallel for 200 metres or so complete with bunkers and a small lake. As we approach we can see movement, an unusual sight indeed as a herd of at least 20 dun coloured goats are grazing on the lush green course close to the road. Hawaii doesn’t have a great deal of animals but we learn that feral goats and pigs are making an unwelcome nuisance of themselves. Left here by Captain Cook himself as a future food sources, it appears with no natural predators it’s not only the mongoose that are thriving here. Luckily our experience with goats in the Australian outback is that they in tend to run from oncoming traffic. I slow down anyway not that the electric golf buggy I am driving (on the wrong side of the road mind you) goes that fast. But just in case. As we approach the animals are drifting across the road in ones or twos into the lava field on the opposite side. Where they disappear amongst the craggy landscape where only a goat could survive, these particular goats blending in with the landscape so that they are barely visible at all.

Evening closing in with a spectacular sunset, living in the Adelaide hills we see little of sunsets, just the reflection of the dying sun as it throws a pinkish light against that darkening clouds. Here the sun’s going down paints a new picture every day, the artist never tiring with the scene, creating new hues and cloud formations daily.

The next day we leave our dream island, an island within an island surrounded as it is by lava rock and ocean. Time to fly back to Honolulu for the last leg of our journey. We fly from Kona airport late morning with little of the hassle we had getting here.

Another island hopping short flight and we touch down in Honolulu, back in short time at home base, Kate’s apartment building. We are staying in one of the building’s comfortable guest suites on the terrace level with access to outdoor areas, large swimming pool, Gym and fully equiped bbq cabana’s. Our room has laid empty while we spent time in the Big Island giving the opportunity for the carpets to be cleaned. The furniture pieces as a consequence stacked high in the tiled entrance hallway. The building has its own staff, their existence it seems is to look after every need of the occupants, as a guest our bags are on the way up no sooner than we arrive, soon we have two staff members after delivering our bags happily sorting out the furniture while apologising profusely. Conversation ensues and we have the chance to question them about their tsunami experience. They tell how the traffic caused mayhem on the roads and the entire road network became grid locked as employees from businesses all over the city and Waikīkī left work for home has authorities ordered an immediate evacuation. Authorities hadn’t counted on those panicked drivers who when the traffic stood still abandoned their vehicles to walk to higher ground , therefore causing road blockages that could only be moved by tow trucks. Beach goers and holiday makers alike had to head for the hills or to their rooms if staying in a high rise hotel or building. The Hokua (meaning crest of a wave) building is 41 floors with apartments well above sea level, even the terrace where we are staying would not allow one to have wet feet. The employees emergency procedures ensured they stay in place, with any new shift unable to travel to work while the emergency slowly unfolded. Not able to go home until the all clear later that night but managing to obtain some pizza for a staff party while they waited. Before the all clear came and they could go home to their families.

As one online reporter put it “I don’t remember ever hearing about a tsunami hitting Hawaii, that was worth worrying about. BUT, people freaked out this week… and suddenly, the state has a worry about gridlock traffic making an evacuation impossible.

Cars were backed up for hours, and miles, on Tuesday in Honolulu as residents responded to alerts by jumping in their cars.

If, instead, they had walked 20 minutes inland, I shit you not, they would have been at far higher elevation than any tidal wave could reach. Yeah, mountain islands, are like that. The first widespread tsunami warning blared out from the state’s Emergency Management Agency at 2:44 p.m. to every cellphone in Hawaiʻi, urging people to leave coastal areas, and move to higher ground or inland immediately. It said nothing about heading to tall buildings”.

After settling in, it’s off to the nearby Whole Foods Market, grocery store, come takeaway outlet. Situated within walking distance in an architecturally attractive building befitting the modern vibe of the area. As the name suggests the store is very much about fresh healthy produce although they do sell other packaged or processed foods, even wine. The main point of difference is the range of hot foods and salads presented in rows of Bay Marie’s. Cardboard containers at the end of the rows in different sizes are then used to contain whatever you select, priced by weight at the checkout. The range is substantial, cooked veggies, meats, salad ingredients of all kinds. Even wood oven pizza sold by the slice, with triangular shaped to-go boxes at the ready. Quite remarkable and inexpensive. Our main aim today is fresh fruit and breakfast items to see us through tomorrow and the coming days.

The next day it’s time to explore the Ala Moana shopping centre. Just a short walk for us and we are there. With over 350 shops and restaurants it’s going to be a busy day.

The shopping centre has something for everyone, High end brands down to lower priced point shops. On this occasion, even a pop up market selling handicrafts and the usual market fare. At the centre there is a central stage that often hosts hula dancers and Hawaiian bands as well as shows for the kids while mum and dad shop away. Today there are a very graceful troupe of grandma’s strutting their stuff on stage. Terrific to see these octogenarians up there entertaining the tourists and having a great time doing it.

Lunch is in one of the department stores, Nordstrom’s have a bar located on the second floor right next to the escalators where they serve a light lunch menu. From here one can have a glass of wine with lunch and watch the shoppers as they meander their way around the various departments on this floor. An Innovative and successful idea judging by the amount of patrons refuelling today. After lunch we decide that we are done with shopping for the day, the mall is teaming with people, the stores are thumping out loud music and the heat of the day is wearing us out, must be getting old!

Later on as the day cools we return to whole Foods to complete our grocery shopping for the week. Kate still hasn’t heard from her car dealership in regards to the repairs to her Dodge Dart. Subject of a breakdown up at the Nu’aunu Pali (a mountain tourist spot with fabulous views to Waikiki and the coast). Jimmy and Susan had borrowed the car for a trip to the eastern shores, during our first week here, then returning via the Pali the vehicle refused to move after a sightseeing stop. After arranging for the vehicle to be towed to the dealership with apparent transmission problems, Kate had since not heard a peep. Leaving her with the thought, do I really need a car. The Ala Moana area is extremely well serviced, a modern high rise village with all one could need within walking distance. It’s a serious question to consider. The faithful Dart dearly loved by recently passed husband Jim is 13 years old with very few miles and in showroom condition. Which brings us back to grocery shopping, while home deliveries are all the rage again after a 70 year absence walking is still a great exercise and the district has so much to offer in regards to local cafes and food outlets. Making the use of a car less of a necessity and more of a nice to have situation. With all this in mind we will purchase a mobile shopping trolley for Kate once there. That will enable her in future shopping expeditions to walk to Whole Foods and return with relative ease. No car involved.

The next day we are off to see a local production of a play that began the TV series Columbo. “Prescription Murder” stars two local TV personalities, now retired in this murder mystery told from a different point of view. Where the audience knows who commits the felony but Columbo has to solve this almost perfect crime. More a how dunnit than a who dunnit.

The play is to be performed at the Hawaii Theatre that has played a significant role in Honolulu‘s cultural landscape since 1922. Originally built for vaudeville performances and the silent movie era, it transitioned to a full movie theatre but fell into disrepair by the 80’s. Fortunately local volunteers formed a group to save the theatre from demolition and becoming a car park, later restoring the venue to its former glory.

The Theatre is situated in one of the oldest parts of Honolulu, Chinatown. Chinatown has traditionally played host to restaurants, noodle shops and bars as well as crowded Asian markets full of antiques and stalls selling lei flower necklaces. The area is also an artistic hub, home to indie art galleries and the art deco Hawaii Theatre Center, that stages concerts, musicals and comedy. Temples include the Buddhist Kuan Yin Temple, with its striking green roof. The historic buildings make the site significant historically and culturally. The district does appear to have its challenges, with homelessness and increased crime. More police are on the job, but there is an underlining problem here that one would think that the people of such a wealthy state could solve. There is also the relentless impact of urban renewal, providing beautifully architectural buildings and utopian living spaces but the relentless push westward along the coast could see this areas place in Honolulu’s history suffer into the future.

Dinner tonight is at another of Hawaii’s most famous restaurants. Yiu will find a Merriman’s on every island. Merriman’s restaurant, founded by chef Peter Merriman, is known for its commitment to Hawaiian regional cuisine and its use of locally sourced ingredients. The first Merriman’s restaurant opened in Waimea on the Big Island in 1988, pioneering a movement to feature fresh, locally grown produce and meats. Like most of the islands restaurants we have visited the trend is less haute cuisine and more up market cafe. The menu usually simple fresh food served attractively. Salads, burgers, fish sandwiches and tacos are all staples. The price of dining is high here in Hawaii add to that the bizarre (to us Aussies) tipping ritual, thus the meals simplicity keeps the prices more affordable while not being pretentious. This particular restaurant chain branch has just reopened after some serious water damage from within the building, flooding the floors and destroying fixtures and fittings. Usually packed, it is a little less so today as patrons slowly discover their favourite eating place is back on line.

To be cont….