Halape

Halape

Posted to OHE on 17 November 2002 by Grant Oka

The five-day, three-day weekend:

Hmmm…

Hālape — ʻopihi so big it takes four bites to eat just one… fish… fish… fish
(thanks to Reuben, Ken, Arnold, Tom, and a friendly spearfisherman).
Wonderful snorkeling. Beautiful hot days. Clear nights with stars by the zillions.

Sharing a tent with Joyce. Sounds of the surf at night and the rustling of palm leaves.
Sunburnt skin. Attack of the puhi. Reuben’s bloody finger after the puhi attack.

Pancakes and bacon for breakfast…
ants… ants… ants…
cockroaches… cockroaches… ants… ants…

Cornbread. Biscuits. More fish. More ʻopihi.
More snorkeling.

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Keauhou — wonderful snorkeling with Debbie and Joyce. Beautiful coral and reef fish.
Wild and rugged scenery.

Fish… fish…
ants… ants… ants…
cockroaches… cockroaches… ants… ants…

Cleaning fish and washing dishes while avoiding another puhi bite.
Feeding the puhi. Stargazing.

Cool night in the tent with Joyce. Sounds of the surf.
Next day: more snorkeling with Debbie and Joyce.

Hiking to ʻĀpua with an extra two gallons of water in my pack.
Debbie, Arnold, and Reuben stayed at Keauhou another night.

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ʻĀpua Point — three beautiful babes in bikinis
(volunteer turtle watchers; one hiked out that day).

Watching 109 hawksbill turtles hatch and scramble for the sea.
Stargazing. Cornbread.

Climbing down into the crack to submerge in cool, dark brackish water.
Petroglyphs.

Hiking out over lava under a blazing blue sky and into a 20-mph hot wind.

Cold sodas, chips, and beer at the end—thanks to Justin.

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Dinner at Kay’s in Hilo:
Seven scruffy local bruddas (Justin, Ken, Lester, Tom, Arnold, Reuben, Grant)
and one haole girl (Joyce)… drawing a few second looks.

Long flight back to Honolulu.
A tired but happy Grant finally showers and crawls his aching, sunburnt body into bed.

How am I ever going to get up for work tomorrow???

Happy Trails,
Grant