Manny's Revenge

When I first came under the employ of the Hawaiian language immersion schools I worked at a location in Wai'anae and then transferred to a new school on the grounds of Koaloha church. Although the program itself was unique in that the curriculum was developed to be taught in the Hawaiian language it was really like any other school except that its lofty goals were particular toward its educational attributes and hope for the perpetuation of our culture.

In Plain Sight

Introductions were made all around and handshakes were exchanged but there were no pleasantries. The owner of the home who was a well-known recluse gestured toward the larger waiting room, everyone followed as he led the way.

The Far Swimming Son

Blue's happiness filled him with a knowledge of the wonderment and love that Honey would find once she returned home. The goodbyes and hugs and kisses and promises of not forgetting to write and to call every chance they had were expected at the Airport.

URBAN LEGENDS OF 'O'AHU

An interesting thing happens when factual accounts become Urban Legends. Such as the case of 'Janette Lum.' In 1951 at 15 years of age Janette and her friend, Anna Kalilikane were classmates at No Ka 'Oi school in Aiea. Every day after school Janette and Anna studied in the library at the intermediate school next to theirs.

Before The Son Met The Ocean

Blue and Honey spent most of the morning sharing intimacies and holding one another in such an embrace that it seemed neither would let go for some extent of time. Dave Loggins sang longingly from the old radio in the living room, "Please come to L.A. to live forever..."

The Son Giving Life

Leiana dragged Ola's lifeless broken body along the salt-encrusted red mud just outside the gates of the refinery which was across the street from the cafe'. It was a dried up canal when it wasn't filled with water coming in from Kawaihae bay.

The Life Giving Son

At 53 years old, Leiana worked a full-time job during the day at the Seafood Bar in Kawaihae and a part-time job on the weekends as a ticket agent at the airport in Kona. Her only real hobby was feather lei making, which she learned from a group of lei makers and lauhala weavers at Hulihe’e palace.

No Place to Ever Arrive ('elua)

Rachel’s home was a simple one and like herself, it was located off a beaten path that wasn’t easily found because of the propensity of Kiawe trees that kept it well hidden. But once you found it, once you stood within the confines of her domicile you realized that it was a home that was far away from the present day.

No Place to Ever Arrive

The woman pinched the delicately dyed goose feather between her forefinger and thumb and applied it to the backing and layered it on another feather of the same color. Winding the thread around the base of the feather, she secured it in place with a half hitch knot and repeated the process again and again with saint-like patience. She noticed the young man watching her from his table and could sense his interest.

Ke Ao vs Vortex

Vortex: A mass of whirling fluid or air, especially a whirlpool or whirlwind.

Portal: A doorway, a gate, or other entrance, especially a large and elaborate one.

Leyline: Any of various imaginary lines along which certain ancient, man-made structures are thought by some to have been aligned.

Electromagnetic Field: A field of force that consists of both electric and magnetic components, resulting from the motion of an electric charge and containing a definite amount of electromagnetic energy.

............

After much research, it was interesting to discover that not one of the words listed above has a partnered equivalent in the Hawaiian language. 

Hawaiian Storytelling

I wanted to broach the subject of "Hawaiian Storytelling" by sharing something that happened this past October on Hawai'i island. We've been lucky to go to the Kilauea Theater these past three years at the volcanoes national park during the Halloween season to share ghost stories. Recently someone left a comment on Facebook which said that I didn't tell any real Hawaiian stories.

Kai a Kahinali’i ( Deluge)

It was a three-day deluge that soaked most of west ‘O’ahu which consequently increased the number of phone calls exponentially. The larger concentration of the calls was centered in the Kapolei demographic and the issues were all the same, everyone felt that the increase of cold weather and rain precipitated paranormal activity in their homes, businesses, and schools.

FIDUCIA

If you are ever at Likelike Drive-Inn you will probably find me looking at the people sitting at the counter of this all night eatery, wondering why they're here? Perhaps there's some kind of simplistic comfort in being able to sit in a crowded place where people barely notice you?