Hawaii - Land of my Birth

I grew up in Hawaii and I spent the first 20 years of my life there. I've been gone 31 years (math majors may submit their final answers here).

Bonnie and I just spent a week and a half there. We enjoyed the first three days alone. Actually my use of the word "enjoyed" is kind of like an Exxon exec recounting his experience in the thralls of Bush's bash, as merely "stimulating."

I fled (yes, that is an accurate word choice) Hawaii thirty-one years ago. When I return now, it is never without trepidation. It is never without encountering a cascade of memory undertows that threaten to wipe me out - at last. And I always return home in an exceptionally spent state.

This time was no exception. The inclusion, on this occasion, of my siblings, and the addition of our parents' final memorial service, only served to magnify any of the usual effects Hawaii has on me.

But Hawaii still carries a magic that I cannot escape. I've chosen photos here at random. Most are from Kauai. That's where Bonnie spent our three days in paradise - in Hanalei. The lava flow into the ocean is obviously not from Kauai. It's from the Big Island. Kauai is far too ancient to sport live volcanoes. These are just a few photos that I want to share. I will share more. And I will provide a story or two to go with them. For now these will have to do.