Going Back in Time— My trip to Hawaii in 2020 part 2

Snorkeling

We then went snorkeling just outside the City of Refuge. It was an extremely rocky bay, so Jason and I went to where there were not as many people.

However, we chose an area where the waves and rocks are more dangerous (which is why the people were not there). Jason was snorkeling and so I went in. It was wonderful! The fish were so beautiful and exotic. Gradually, I was swept into the area where the waves pushed me into the rocks. I tried to climb out but couldn’t get a handhold. 

Jason had lost a flipper, so he was trying to find it. Someone came out and found Jason’s flipper and helped us get out. I discovered that my arm, legs, and hand were covered in sea urchin spines; the urchins had been hidden in the rocks I’d tried to climb out. They weren’t large spines, but I had quite a lot. Also, my right hand especially had been torn up because of the sharpness of the rocks where I’d tried to climb out.

Later, I ended up in the urgent care clinic trying to get my injuries repaired and to get a tetanus shot. The main treatment for sea urchins’ spines is to try to pull out the larger ones, soak the smaller ones in vinegar (and local tradition suggests urine). But the snorkeling was worth it.

Monday

Saddle Road

Ed at Pohakoloa Army Training

 are The first thing we did Monday was to drive across the Saddle Road from Kona to Hilo.

When we lived there, it was a narrow switchback road going up from Hilo; now it is a lovely two land road with climbing lanes. We drove by on the South side of the road, Ed’s old work—Pohakoloa Army Training area and Bradshaw Aviation site. They looked the same: Quonset huts and lava.

Ed enjoyed his time there. He was often able to fly to Oahu, or watch the whales swimming. 

Pohakoloa Army Training Area 2020

 He was also able to help the National Guard when they searched for marijuana planting areas hidden in the jungle. 

A number of his staff at the Airfield were native Hawaiians and they often invited him to their real luaus or the first birthday parties of their children (they don't celebrate the birth of their children much, because traditionally most didn't live long. Therefore on their first birthday, they had a party that rivaled a wedding. 

Wilder Road

We got off the main highway on Kaumana Drive and turned onto Wilder Drive about two

miles from Hilo. There we saw the house that we lived in all those years ago. Considering it is the same age as the house I live in today, it was newly renovated.

Our old home on Wilder R

When we lived in our house, there were sacred “ti” plants on the four corners, to keep the evil spirits out.

Marc on a pile of dirt as we made our back lawn

We had a small, untidy hedge consisting of poinsettia plants facing the road. The front yard was predominantly black lava rocks with various piles of lava representing mountains, rivers, etc.

We had “hapu’u” or tree ferns were about the yard, with Ed planting a row of them on the right side of the house and various small climbing orchids growing on it.

Our Hilo house in 2020

The backyard was a shallow layer of dirt planted in grass, over lava. Frogs loved to hide in the pockets of water in the backyard, and I recall turning on the back-patio light one night and watched the frogs jump in the yard. It wasn’t an ideal backyard to play football in, so Ed ordered a huge pile of dirt, leveled it out planted grass that made a real back yard.

The inside of the house had a dining room, three bedrooms, a kitchen, and two bathrooms. The master bedroom had in addition to an attaching bathroom, a dressing room with a mirror and a seat to sit and do your makeup. I loved the dressing room and when Ed and I finally retired from the military and built our home in Centerville, Ed remodeled the house and made me a dressing room (with a seat) as part of my bedroom.

Marc's jungle--a natural playground

Our subdivision was the last built on the side of the mountain and there was only jungle across the street from us. Marc and the other kids used to play in the jungle. I would go and yell, and they would hear me and come out. They were very familiar with the dangers of the jungle (bobby-trapped marijuana fields) and knew not to go near them.

Hilo

Hilo, itself hadn’t changed much. Walking along downtown I was reminded that we were all in tsunami territory. There was a terrible tsunami in 1946 that totally wiped out Hilo and Lau pahoehoe (which we’ll go to next). One of the reasons for being hit so hard was the bay in Hilo. It channeled the wave to become narrower and higher. 

I recalled years ago when we lived in Hawaii, we were in the downtown bay area (which does not have a lot of buildings) and the tsunami-warning horns blared. I didn’t know what to do and the kids kept running around. A uniformed man came and told us that it was just a warning, but if it had been real, we’d all have died because we didn’t head for high land.

Aiden, Diana, and Jason under the Banyan Tree

We ate at a place called “Lucy’s Taqueria” and had Mexican food. I had the hugest burrito I’ve ever seen. We went to a market and bought a coconut which we split open and had some coconut water.

On our way to Liliuokalani Park, we drove on Banyan Drive and saw lots of huge banyan trees. I recalled how in the summer when we lived in Hawaii, The Hilo Community Players (performing since 1938) always had a play in the park. I especially remember the year they

did “Midsummer’s Dream” under the Banyan Trees and it really was a treat. We took the kids, too—no wonder our kids are theater crazy!