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Thursday, October 30, 2008

Trick or Tiki



By A.J. Llewellyn

So I am back in Waikiki for five days for some heated council hearings on the new proposed rail transit system which will wipe out the entire neighborhood where I want to re-open the bookstore that has now been closed for three years.
The current mayor has divided loyalties on this issue which up until now has taken place on Hawaii Time, meaning, nothing has happened. The measure to approve it is now on the ballot for November 4 and I am hoping of course it is not approved.
My mate Tony, he of the dithering sexual persuasion (though if current events are anything to go by, he is straight, mate) picked me up from Honolulu airport in my car, brandishing a perfect crown flower lei, my favorite, because it was the preferred flower of the last ruling monarch of the islands, Queen Liliuokalani.
I got leid!
Tony has done a nice job looking after my car, which I shipped to the islands in preparation of a move next year.
He informed me the entire neighborhood where we live in the mountain area above Hawaii Kai has decided to celebrate Halloween.
“We’ve got to buy a pumpkin, mate,” he said, blithely skipping by red lights and even a uniformed cop who stood, hands on hips as Tony gave him a finger wave, ignoring his hand raised in the universally-recognized STOP sign.
I slunk down in my seat.
“Cool,” I said, when I was certain we weren’t about to be shot from the sky by police snipers. Took me a moment to remember we were in Hawaii, not Los Angeles. “I need to stop at Duke’s for a Mai Tai and some crab mac wantons, Tony.”
“No worries, mate,” he grinned, narrowly missing a skateboarder who gave us the shaka sign. In Los Angeles, he would have skated after us and beaten us half to death.
Fortified an hour later, I let Tony take the wheel again only because after one Mai Tai and no sleep I was embarrassingly hammered. I was therefore in a convivial mood to hunt the island for a pumpkin.
Crisis!
Foodland and various hippie-herbal grocery stores swore they had started the day with loads of pumpkins…but they’d just sold out. I have never grooved to Halloween since my childhood in Australia didn’t include it. But since we were expecting children on Friday afternoon and into the evening, we had to have at least one pumpkin.
Then we got creative and bought pineapples. The results of which are above. I think they’re not bad. They actually look a lot like me and Tony. Unfortunately, we got busy barbecuing and forgot about ‘em. They fried to a bloody crisp, so now we’re going to have to start again.
Anyway, on our pineapple-pumpkin hunt, we loaded up on candy for the trick or treaters. Tony and I had a wonderful afternoon buying li hing mango and even li-hing gummy bears in cellophane packets. We bought all the things island kids love and we drove up the mountain road to our house after buying salmon steaks and vegetables.
The feeling I get from being on the mountain property we bought is indescribable. Four of us chipped in and bought it. I love this place and readers of my books will recognize it as the house Lopaka and Kimo live in. Their version of it is far more glamorous than the real thing, but what I haven’t embellished is the sheer natural splendor of the place.
The cool thing is the four of us are great friends, the place is huge and right now Tony is back with his girlfriend. He casually mentioned this on the drive home and I was so happy when he told me she and her little boy are spending a lot of time at our house.
It is my first Halloween ever with a child in my home and he is beyond excited. His joy in the details has transmitted itself to the adults and I got a huge kick out of watching Tony carving pineapples with him last night.
There is a zing in the air here, a scent of promise. I am listening to Keali’i Reichel whose music permeates this island, this house and I am pleased to hear Tony laughing, really laughing for the first time in weeks.
This is Halloween. Hawaiian-style.
Trick...or Tiki.
Aloha oe,
A.J.

12 comments:

Wendi said...

Love the jack-o-lanterns, AJ! I have pineapples growing all around my pool deck...hmmm...ok, I won't copy you EXACTLY! LOL!

Wendi Darlin

AJ Llewellyn said...

Hi Wendi,

You are SO lucky! I am so jealous you grow pineapples. Go ahead and copy me. They are fun to make!! Post pics when you're done...lol...

Amelia Picklewiggle said...

What an awesome idea AJ! As you know I love your stories in here they have kept me going all month long when I needed a good laugh...

hugs a bunch,

AP

AJ Llewellyn said...

Hey thanks AP!
What a lovely thing to say!
xoxo

Erin Sinclair said...

I keep hoping Tony finds his shooting star to make a wish and the most wonderful mate just perfect for him will appear. Clever idea for the pineapples! There are little mini lights you can purchase that flicker like candles, no burn no mess :).

AJ Llewellyn said...

Hey Erin,

What a beautiful thing to say re Tony and thanks for the light tips!

xo

Marianne said...

Oh wow, AJ, I have been out of touch. Moving to Islands. Congrats to you as I know your heart has always been there!

Loved the pineapples, very creative!

Jambrea said...

The pineapples are PRICELESS! I love them!

I'm SO happy for Tony and to have a child on Halloween is SO much fun!

I wish I was there with you, it sounds beautiful! Have a great Halloween!

PS I hope the council doesn't ruin your plans for the book store! :(

AJ Llewellyn said...

Aloha Marianne, so nice to see you back in action! Thanks for your good wishes.
Jambrea, thanks so much hon! You'll have to bring your son out for a visit!

P. Robinson said...

Hee hee hee hee

AJ got leid!


Kissa

sandra said...

AJ,

Fantastic pinapples...what a wonderful idea! Halloween Hawaiian style sounds great and to share it with a child will forever change you. Tony is very lucky to have them and you. good luck with the board and hope all goes well for you, know how much you love hawaii...have a great halloween hawaiian style!!!

Stephani Hecht said...

I am so doing some Jack 'O Pineapples next year. They are too cute, AJ.

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