The peaceful chill life in Hawai'i is what visitors become enamored by when they first arrive in the islands.
It's understandably intoxicating, considering the fast-paced city lifestyle they are used to on the continent. However, as it is with every locale in the world, so is it the same with Hawai'i. We, too, have the underlying current of unexpectedly sinister things that live within the small cracks and crevices of our city. Unless you're paying attention to the subtle signs, you'll miss it entirely. By the time these transplants realized it was happening, it's too late. They either accept it or they pack up and leave.Richard Parks was tired of the L.A. life. It became too dangerous to take public transportation. You couldn't look anyone in the eye, even by happenstance, for fear of being attacked. Like Dale Bozio said in her song, you couldn't walk in L.A. anymore because no one did it. If you didn't look like you belonged, you'd be mugged, robbed, killed, and not necessarily in that order. Under those circumstances, Richard realized that he didn't want to live and die in the city. So, he moved to Hawai'i.
His job with an accounting firm was disconcerting because everyone was so friendly. On his first day, he was invited to lunch with a bunch of people and then to hang out at Ala Moana for a hibachi cookout on a weeknight. The beef was magic because it had been marinated in a sauce that included beer. It melted in your mouth. Richard also noticed the copious amount of rice that disappeared in an hour. Most captivating to Richard was the garlic chicken, but above all was the affability of his co-workers. They'd just met him that day and already treated him like he belonged. However, Richard was mindful not to cross the line or take advantage of the friendliness, as it was still his first day. Life went on, and work was work, and home was home. Within a year, Richard was able to buy a two-hundred-thousand-dollar two-bedroom condo in Hawaii Kai, right on Kuapa Pond. The housewarming party Richard hosted lasted most of the day because everyone from the office showed up and brought so much food. So did the neighbors who were also invited. Life in and of itself was easy. Richard knew that this was where he wanted to live and die.
One morning, while walking to his parking space, he noticed that many neighbors used part of his space to reverse into before driving off to their destinations. Many of them came close to hitting his car, missing it by just a fraction of an inch. To remedy the problem, Richard put up two posts with a chain hanging between them. That is when the problems began. Neighbors first attempted to talk to Richard and ask him why he would do such a thing. When he explained the reason, his neighbors balked at him and told him he was being selfish.
"Just be flexible," Mr. Aiona told him. "Everybody here will remember you for that, and they'll show their appreciation. Say you want to build a new wall in your condo, need help fixing your car, or whatever. Your neighbors will help you because of this one courtesy. In Hawai'i, we all know there are inconveniences, and that's why we help each other out. To lessen the burden."
"Well," Richard replied. "I'm just worried that someone is going to smash into my car, is all. I've also heard that a lot of people in Hawai'i don't have insurance. That worries me."
"Richard," Mr. Aiona placed his hand on Richard's shoulder. "Have you seen the kinds of people that live here? Have you seen the kinds of vehicles that park in this place? Do you think even for a second that no one who lives here has insurance? People here have got insurance up the ass and well into the next century. The insurance is so prevalent that their feelings are insured. I'll put the word out, and you won't have to worry about your car."
Reluctantly, Richard agreed, and life went on. Within two years, Richard married Haunani Kamakea, and a year after that, they had a son. One of the first things Richard told Haunani about was reversing into their parking space, which surprised her because Richard didn't get it the first time.
"It's only the Haoles and other people who move here from somewhere else that make a big stink about small things," she told Richard. "Otherwise, everyone works together in big and small ways. We live on an island, and life is too short."
One day, Derrick Damon, a retired club owner from L.A., moved into the complex. Unlike Richard, he wasn't easy-going and was not accepted right away by his neighbors, even though they would say hello or invite him to a cookout. He'd growl at them or scoff at their audacity. He had loud late-night parties in his condo, and people were constantly going in and out of his place, mainly women. Lots of women. As luck would have it, one day, Derrick, drunk out of his mind, reversed his 75 Vette out of his parking space into Richard's car. Once Derrick found out who the owner of the car was, he marched up to his door and began pounding on it. Richard answered, and Derrick started to bellow at him.
"Your car isn't supposed to be where it is," he pointed his finger at Richard's chest. "I was reversing, and your car damaged mine because it wasn't supposed to be parked where it is!
"It's parked in my parking space, so it does belong there," Richard replied.
Derrick hauled off and punched Richard, and the fight began. The police were called and Derrick was hauled in for criminal property damage and first degree assault. He was given a year in jail, and after he got out, he moved back to L.A.
On a weekend when Richard and his little boy, Likeke, were washing Richard's car, Mr. Aiona appeared and asked Richard if he needed any help.
"We're good, Mr. Aiona," Richard thanked him. "Likeke is learning how to wash a car today."
"Pretty soon, he'll be driving before you know it," Mr.Aiona chuckled. "I'm glad to see that you're doing ok after what happened with that Derrick guy."
"Yeah, man, they really threw the book at him," Richard replied. "If anything, I thought they were going to fine that guy and make me do a restraining order."
"It's what happens when you do small courtesies," Mr. Aiona replied. "People don't forget things like that. Especially judges who might live in a complex like this."
There and then, Richard felt the weight of what Mr. Aiona had been saying all along. This may have been the underlying thread that held everything together in Hawaii: doing one's best to make life easy for oneself and those around you.
"Small courtesies," Richard confirmed.
"Small courtesies," Mr. Aiona agreed.
No comments:
Post a Comment