March 30, 2012

Left “Haoliwood” (the Princeville area) and went south and west today for errands and last day treats. The recycle center takes the same items as in Anchorage. We checked in with Mahjong John about returning the bike rack, and then had a picnic at Salt Pond Beach. Locals were eating lunch there, five tent camps were set up, and the ever-present feral chickens were waiting for handouts. A group of older men sat in the shade “talking story.”
My cousin agreed to store our bikes until next year, so we unloaded those at the helicopter hanger. Next we had shave ice at Jo Jo’s in Waimea – coconut flavor shave ice, over macadamia nut ice cream with coconut shreds and coconut cream. Mmmm. We checked out a bed and breakfast at Kakaha, and then drove around that town. People hang their laundry in the carports, or set these areas up as a patio for food and conversation.
Tonight was Hanapepe’s art walk. An old house is a taro chip factory. Buildings are renovated and selling old maps, books, ceramics, and polished koa wood furniture. Tents in front of the shops sell everything from lime pie slices to papayas, jewelry, roasted chilckens (not those tough old beggars/buggers), and rough-cut native woods.
Finally we drove all the way back, past Princeville at sunset, to Hanalei and the Nui Tahiti bar for mai-tais and an ono roll. The ukulele music and falsetto singing of the three-man band pulls at my heart and calls us to come again. Kauai! Aloha!