Life comes in chapters.
Sometimes you don't see what’s coming and something
different comes along. And sometimes things just drop in your lap.
When I was a young pup - only teaching three years, - I was
looking at the study opportunities posted with the National Science Foundation – and I thought “What the heck” – so - I applied for an academic year study at the University
of Hawaii in Honolulu. It was a small group, and much to my
surprise, I was selected to be part of the program. The grant paid all expenses including a living stipend. It wasn't a lot but adequate.
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| University of Hawaii - Manoa campus |
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| My science wing looked like thing |
When I arrived I went
to the university housing office to inquire about available accommodations – my living
stipend was barely enough to live on – but that was OK.
After viewing several cramped single rooms
for rent, I went out to check an old servents quarters behind a fine big house
up in the
Nuʻuanu highlands of Honolulu – it had a tiny
kitchen, narrow bedroom, and bathroom… I loved it and immediately rented
it.
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My fine little Dwelling
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There were holes in the screens that
let Gecko lizards in at night – but they are gentle and no problems – If I went
into the kitchen at night there was a great scuttling of giant cockroaches
running for cover –
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| Common house Geckos |
The setting was magnificent – out behind the
“apartment” flowed the Nuannu creek, the owner had an orchid garden adjacent to
the rooms, and there was a giant Avocado tree overhead.
It was tranquil.
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This dog 'Moki" came with the place - each night when we went for walks - Moki came with us carrying a coconut in his mouth
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My classes were high quality – My favorite was
Plant Physiology with really challenging lab activities.
Summary of Plant Physiology here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_physiology
I also had a class in Invertebrate Paleontology
that I loved – but the labs involved ‘field quality’ samples that we had to
work with...to give us something like real world experience.
Invertebrate Paleontology:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_invertebrate_paleozoology
I had professors from New Zealand, Hawaii,
and the “Mainland US”.
Those of us in
the program carried a full load of classes and with lab work it was a busy time of learning.
These were the
best classes I have had in my education – probably because I came from 3 years
of teaching experience.
I travelled from my home on the HRT –
(Honolulu Rapid Transit) … which were decrepit old busses – definitely not very
rapid.
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Judy at the Iao needle
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The only problem was that not long before accepting the
position I had met this really interesting woman named Judy – but you know how
it is – I didn't feel like I was ready to make any serious commitment at that
point… so here I was in my making long “expensive” phone calls to my sweetie in
California… We decided that it would be
a good thing for her to come visit over Christmas vacation – and seeing her I
was sure – I flew home semester break and we were married and she flew back to start
our married life in “our little grass shack” on Nuʻuanu
…she didn't even mind the geckos chirping in the night or the giant
cockroaches.
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One of our favorite places to snorkel - magnicent fish!
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I was still full time busy – so Judy did some substitute teaching
in the Honolulu schools – and with the extra money we could afford to see and
explore much more of Hawaii… we had such fun in the different parts of Oahu and
different regions of Honolulu… She came home each day from her teacher and
taught me the latest pidgin English that she had learned that day.
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Street sign written in Pidgin English
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We loved the beaches but also the trails
leading deep into the mountains.
It's
the only place I have hiked where I could pick guavas, papayas, and mangos
along the way…
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One of our camp sites with a rented cat
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Note the plastic rain jacket - just in case
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I successfully completed the academic year with good grades,
and then we stayed on into the summer to more seriously explore.
We bought an army surplus tent and put
together basic camping gear.
Also we had
had Judy’s small Renault shipped over to us – so we were set to explore.
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People think of "ocean" when they think Hawaii - but there are vast interior mountains with marvelous sights and hiking trails
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We camped in the vast system of county parks
in Hawaii – the local Kanakas, the surfers, and us… We loved snorkeling in the
warm gentle waters of the Pacific – I will never forget the great array of
small brightly colored fish and the beautiful corals.
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One day we stumbled onto this Luau put on by a Buddhist church - those are pigs in the background - of course they invited us to join them
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And when we returned to our campsite we
frequently found a Hawaiian party going on next to us and it was the custom of
the local people to bring up two plates filled with food and two open bottles
of Primo beer… we couldn't refuse… Good people – I will never forget their
kindness.
We visited Kauai, Molokai, Maui, and
the ‘big Island’ of Hawaii … each one is unique and we loved the different
sights, sounds, and smells of each.
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We fell in love with the ancient petrogliphs and searched high and low for them
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This is me making a rubbing of a group of petrogliphs
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We
were still on a rock bottom budget so we ate a lot of Japanese/Hawaiian rice
plates with a big scoop of white rice,
Kālua pork,
marinated vegetables… so “Ono” (delicious).
We ate the local sushi, the malasadas, and the fruits in the markets.
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Another time we stumbled onto a 'hukilau" where a bunch of people put out a net and then pull it in together and cook the fish in a big picnic - of course we were invited and we joined in
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We loved Hawaii dearly – but we have never gone back –we
hear reports that it has become much more commercial … and there are so many
other great places to visit… We loved the lay back easy going generous
Hawaiians that we remember – so sometimes it good to close a chapter. However
the chapter with Judy and me together is still filled with a lot of love, good times and good
adventures together.
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Black sand beach of S. ":Big Island" - sand is made of basalt
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