A
great
archive in
Hawaiian Music is the Huapala.org
web site.
They also offer some beautiful Pa`u skirts.
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ISLAND
MAGIC – Stories, Experiences and Observations
Christmas on Front Street, Lahaina
©
2007 - 2008 Gilbert Belmudez
(Note:
Regard this
true story as a rough draft. I am
writing it from a few notes and a lot of memory. If
there are some inaccuracies in Hawaiian
spelling, geographical description, legend, custom or any other
details, feel
free to contact me with corrections and opinion. Critique
is more than welcome.)
1981 - 1982
If
you were on a limited budget renting an entire place on your own could
often be prohibitive. Especially in Lahaina. To compensate, one became
accustomed
to sharing a place with others and often renting by the room. In
1981 I had a good lead on an apartment outside of
Lahaina Town and on Front Street. Not far from what is known as The
Cannery. The apartment was on a stretch of road that was only
about ten feet from the ocean so aside from an occasional coconut tree
there was no obstruction. All you could see was clear glassy water, a
few moored boats and the island of Lanai less than ten miles
away. This was the view from the large picture window in the living
room.
When
I went to the landlord with money in hand, I discovered an older couple
had been there before me. Grace Nakoa and Ralph "Arata"
Yoshitaki. Grace was from Kahakuloa, Maui and "Arata" (as he preferred I call
him) was a native of Lahaina. He was in his 60's.
The
apartment was a three bedroom and I was asked if I would like to meet
the new tenants. They apparently only needed two of the bedrooms and
were willing to share their new place with a third person for one third
the rent. I agreed to meet with them and it turned out to be a good
match. I had few belongings and they had all the
furnishings. It became a comfortable home and I was fortunate to
be living with such wonderful people.
We
moved in after Thanksgiving and Christmas was rapidly approaching.
About the third week into December I was walking down the street at a
stretch of road where there were older cane houses on the ocean side. I
heard a commotion coming from the front yard of one of the houses where
my old friend Frank Neizman lived with his family. Frank was a
fisherman and the brother
of well known local artist, "Captain Kenny" Neizman. Using a
combination of pickup and ladder, Frank was having a hard time trying
to "top off" one of several stunted Norfolk Pines growing on his
property. Not a true Pine, the top of a Norfolk nevertheless
makes for a great looking Christmas tree and this is what my friend had
in mind.
"Frank!"
I called out. "You look like you could use some help!" "Yeah" he
answered back, "I
don't know where my sons are and . . . "
"Not to worry!", I quickly interrupted, I'll hold the ladder for you!"
With
the extra help Frank was able to cut his tree top with
ease. So much so that he offered to cut me another top to
take home and in no time I had my first home grown Maui Christmas
tree! Our apartment wasn't very far down the way and I dragged it
home. The tree top was dirty with cobwebs and island dust. It
needed a good washing but I had to get ready for work that afternoon so
I decided to leave it outside with a note to my house mates. In
the note I let them know how I acquired the tree and that I would clean
it the next morning. I was hoping they wouldn't mind.
I
was working as a cook for Longhi's restaurant and I clocked out about
10:30 pm. Even then, I would often stay a while longer to have a
couple of refreshments with my coworkers. I didn't get home until
shortly before midnight and hadn't even thought about the tree.
My house mates had already turned in and were fast asleep but what a
surprise they had left me!
Brightly lit and twinkling
through the darkness was the Christmas tree. Not only had Grace and
Arata read my note, they took it upon themselves to wash and dry it.
Then they set it up in the living room, decorated it and
hung strands of beautiful twinkling Christmas lights! A silver white
star glowed from its place at the top. Never again would I ever
have such a special Christmas on Maui and felt the love of true aloha
given me by Grace Nakoa and Arata Yoshitaki.
KUKUI NUTS and
FIRE BALLS
There were mornings I would awaken and prepare for the day but Grace
would not allow me to leave until I had a proper breakfast. "Oh
Grace" I would start and she would ignore whatever excuse I had by
serving me a plate of fried eggs, portuguese sausage and steaming white
rice. Her coffee was always good and I enjoyed it with raw sugar. The
sugar was plentiful and sitting in the living room with Arata, I asked
about it one day. He explained that he had retired from the Sugar
Mill up the way and sugar was no problem. Seems there were no
objections when he would occasionally show up at the mill, turn on the
spout and get his modest fill of raw sugar.
Arata and I always had interesting conversations in that living
room. I was inquisitive and would often ask him questions about
the islands. His answers were simple and yet would sometimes have
me thinking for days after.
For instance. I had come to learn that the kukui nut was used in
the older days as a torch because of its high oil content. I
asked if it was true that bunched together, their stems could be
stuffed into a fairly short bamboo pole and then the nuts lit like
candles at the end? My friend chuckled for a moment and then
answered, "yea and you can use them to make a good laxative."
Then another time I was hearing someone talk about the Kahuna and I
thought maybe Arata could enlighten me. The next morning he was
sitting in the living room enjoying the picture window view and I
joined him with my cup of coffee. "What can you tell me about
Kahunas?" I asked.
He sat there in his stuffed rocking chair and pondered my question for
a minute. It was as if he was searching his memory for something
special to tell me. I'll never forget his answer because it
wasn't typically scientific, of any religious value or even historical
in a textbook sense. He didn't go into an intense explanation
either. For me, it was an honest answer by a man who was born on
the island.
"Ah yes." he started. "The Kahuna. You know Gilbert, when I
was a little boy, every once in a while at night time, you would see a
fireball fly across the valley from the West Mountains (Eke Crater) to
Haleakala. Then later, you would see another fireball fly
back from Haleakala in the opposite direction." He paused for
what seemed an eternity before continuing. "That was when you
knew there was something going on between two Kahunas.!"
"You know what is strange Gilbert? You hardly ever see that
anymore." and then he changed the subject.
'When you go hiking in the mountains, especially where there is a lot
of grass and plants, make sure you always take a long bamboo pole with
you."
"Why" I asked.
"You don't want to fall into a hole."
"A hole?"
"There are people who have hiked into the mountains here and never come
back. They forget the islands are nothing but lava and there are
holes covered by brush that can swallow up a man. The
rock in the hole is sharp like glass and there is no way you can
survive if you fall in. With the bamboo pole you can feel ahead
of you and know if the ground is safe or not."
GRACE
NAKOA'S GARDENIA
LESSON
Not long after I had moved in, I entered the apartment and couldn't
help but notice a beautiful aroma. Grace was busy in the kitchen.
"What is that?" I asked and not knowing what I was talking about, she
just gave me a puzzled look.
"It smells so fresh and sweet" I said.
"Talking about the gardenia." she replied.
I looked around expecting to see a vase full of flowers but there was
none. She saw that I was wondering and took me into the living
room where there was a shallow dish with a few floating flowers.
"This is where the beautiful fragrance comes from?"
"Yes."
"But how?"
So Grace proceeded to explain to me how you can take some gardenia
flowers, put them in a little water and then leave them in the ice box
(refrigerator but not the freezer) for a couple of days. After that you
just place the dish of petals in whatever room. This process would
somehow preserve the flower and aroma a little longer and give the room
a fresh natural feeling. No need for spray cans and much
healthier for the environment.
* * *
More recently, I found the following obituaries.
Grace Salome Nakoa
Jan. 14, 2006
Grace Salome Nakoa, 73, of Lahaina, a Lahaina Sheraton Hotel gardener,
died at home. She was born in Hoolehua, Molokai. She is survived by
daughter Grace Boteilho; brothers Joseph and Junior Sarol, and Juan
Sanchez; sisters Annie Miyamoto and Josephine Quillayen; four
grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Services: 11 a.m. Thursday
at Nakamura Mortuary. Call after 10 a.m. Burial: 12:30 p.m. at Maui
Memorial Park.
Ralph A. Yoshitake,
84, of Lahaina, a carrier operator for Pioneer Mill Co., died Feb. 6,
1999 in Kaneohe. Born in Lahaina, he is survived by companion Grace Nakoa, sons Edwin H. and Richard T., daughters
Myrtle I. Kanemitsu and Sue K. King,
sisters Harue Harada and Momoyo Waiwaiole, seven grandchildren,
seven great-grandchildren, and former spouse Helen C.
*
* *
To Grace Nakoa and
Mr. Yoshitaki. My heart goes out to you.
- Gilbert Belmudez - June 1, 2008
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