Saturday, April 11, 2009

No Tourists

Big Taro Leaves
the Hawaiian "staff of life"



"What is patriotism but the love of the food one ate as a child?"

Lin Yutang





Birds in Frame!



"How strange that Nature does not knock, and yet does not intrude!"

Emily Dickinson, letter to Mrs. J.S. Cooper, 1880





Lum Yip Kee & Sky

"If you cannot be a poet, be the poem."

David Carradine




No Tourists in Town!

That's right. We call them "visitors" as in Hawaii Visitors Bureau.






I've always liked that old fashioned way of thinking about folks from elsewhere. It speaks of our local pride, identification with our island home & our traditional spirit of welcome. Yes, they all manage to hang on somehow – even in our topsy-turvy day.



It's called Aloha!











Yes, the real Waikiki, the genuine Hawaii, they do still exist.











Some visitors are fooled by our modern tempo and amenities, but for those with a heart to see more deeply, there is authenticity.




The key (as always) to finding it, is to bring your own along with you. . .











Actually, I've made my peace with tourism.









It used to bother me to see visitors shopping at chain stores, eating in chain restaurants, spending their days on



"Activities"



and never tasting, or even glimpsing,



the authentic treasures



that I love about my



unique Honolulu Town.











Now I realize that "authentic experience" is not the same
for everyone.








Some folks just want to lie on a beach,



and have drinks with umbrellas in them.









That's cool.










I've stopped judging them



or wondering at their



in-curiosity.












To each their own!






And I'm certainly grateful to each one who does visit us.









But if you want living history,



a wide palate of food choices,



people & places unique in all the world,



then you will find all that here in Honolulu



and MORE.













If you want a package deal,



that product called a



"vacation"



you can find that here



too.



One of the best you ever had!












If you Comfort Spiralers would like to look at some authentic Hawaiian fabrics,



perhaps to make some lovely Spring/Summer clothes,



visit this website for Fabric Mart.



Check out their hula implements too!








The world's premier Hula event,



the Merrie Monarch Festival,



begins next week



for the 45th year.



And many of the dancers will be clad in Fabric Mart patterns!






But more about that laters!



(Including information about watching it on line!)









Aloha to each of YOU



my friends



!