Monday, June 10, 2019

Old Friends Book Ends

A  L  O  H  A !
Walking on Saturday evening 
to meet friends, I crossed 
the Kalakaua Avenue bridge.

Around me, our pocket sized 
city of Honolulu
with all the hustle and excitement
anyone could wish for - but no more.

All confined, EMBRACED! between
the rolling Pacific surf and these
glorious, forested, tropical mountains.

I in cool shadow, beheld Awaawaloa
gleaming above in the last full rays of the sun.









I came to Honolulu as an
immigrant from the continent. 
Knowing nothing but 
full of attitude! 
Working the bars, 
as a cleaning lady, as a taxi driver,
taught me this town 'mango tree mailbox'
as the old taxi driving 'uncles' used to say.

Now it is me: I know what used to be there,
 and the name before that. Through hard work, and love, and refusing to leave, 
I made this my town. Now
I am a holder of memory and culture here.
A Kupuna, a 'senior'.




I love this man's native Hawaiian features!
Being an older person here
is very different that what I
saw in my California sojourn.

Here we mix all ages, we never stop
singing, performing, telling dirty jokes,
dancing hula, and holding raffles for
some charity. Saturday night we sent off
an old friend of decades, Gladys, to live
in California with family. 

It's too common a story here. 
Folks built their whole life
and memories in the islands, 
contributed MUCH as Gladys has 
done more than most, yet 
cannot afford to remain as seniors.

I am a VERY lucky duck

that managed to return!






We honor them,
 and we do not spare
the emotion!








Gladys spoke what was on her mind,
surrounded by those she has loved.
 and been loved by for decades







Remember that the most 
valuable antiques are 
dear old friends.      
       H. Jackson Brown



Linking To

ꡤꡤꡤꡤꡤꡤꡤꡤꡤꡤꡤꡤꡤꡟ

Glad YOU
are my friend!
            Warmly, cloudia






Aloha `Oe








G did great in his first
concert on Saturday too!