ALOHA,

CATHERINE

Got the girls home safely this morning. Catherine leaves today. She is in law school in the Twin Cities area and classes resume on Tuesday. She is reserved but when she turns her smile on, it really does gleam.
Judy and I will be joining Alissa, Susan, Leah and Pete at their condo on Monday night. The following Monday, Alissa will be joining Judy and me for dinner. Shortly after that she and the family will return home, until next year.

***

A really slow night. The only event of note was that it was Hapa's last night in business. It has been extremely active there this week. All the locals dropping by to bid aloha. Talked to one of the cops and asked where he thought the Hapa's crowd would migrate to. "Lifes A Beach" was his response. Later I spoke with one of the security at the "Triangle" and asked him how they were going to adjust to the doubling of their nightly patronage. He just shook his head in abject defeat.

***

Well, my dinner must be ready. The smoke alarm just went off.
Y'all have a great day and I'll "talk" with ya tomorrow.

ALOHA!

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THE PICTURE GALLERY

Everyone's Tropical Dream

Blustery Trade Winds

Great Hawai'ian Weather

Hana Coast

Mau'i
North Shore
Between Kahului And Pa'ia

Hilo Bay
Peacock Proudness
The Full Size View Of This Image
Is Absolutely Stunning
(just click pic)

Mount Waialeale on Kaua'i

Rough Surf

South Mau'i

Windswept North Shore Of Moloka'i

The Gracious Smiles Of Hula Dancers

What Rain Can Do
In The Mountains Of Hawai'i

***

"Let's all be careful out there!"

A VERY SLOW NIGHT

BUT I STILL MADE MONEY

Alissa & Catherine

Catherine
Oh, the dress is even prettier in real life.
It just "moves the right way" when she walks.

---

On Friday morning I took a very nice lady to OGG for a day-trip to Honolulu. I made the usual arrangements for her return pick-up. Usually these day-trippers come back before my shift starts. Luckily for me, she was due in about 8:30pm, so I would be able to cover it myself. From Jersey City, NJ, she worked in NYC and was originally from Alabama. A very articulate conversationalist. At the end of the run, she complimented me, saying: "You are the most intelligent cab driver I have ever met. You have a wide range of knowledge. You should write a book." That was very sweet of her.

My second run of the shift was assisting on a two cab pick-up from the Waterfront Restaurant, in Ma'alaea. While returning to Wailea, we were discussing the Tsunami Watch we were then currently under. I gave them the latest info and assured them that where they were staying was well above the tsunami flood zone. As they exited the cab, one of them stuck his head in the side window and told me I was the smartest cabbie he had ever had the pleasure of riding with. I guess it was his first cab ride.

I think I had better read all of Wikipedia before I go to sleep this morning.

***

As most of you have probably heard, there was an earthquake off of the coast of Kuril Island yesterday. Kuril Island is part of Russia even though it is also part of the Japanese Island chain. A bitter point in the two countries international relationship. The Russians captured Kuril Island just at the end of WWII and have never repatriated it.

The quake occurred around 6:38pm, my time, and all the various tsunami warning centers around the Pacific Basin went on alert and issued a tsunami warning for Japan and the areas adjacent to the epicenter and a tsunami watch for the rest of the basin. It was a shallow quake but was in very deep water and Japan only experienced some 1 or 2 inch (2-4 cm) waves. The watch was canceled about 10:30pm. Had there been a tsunami, it would've hit about 12:30am.

I don't think I mentioned it before but the front section of our phonebooks have maps showing where the mandatory tsunami evacuation zones are at on the island.

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THE PICTURE GALLERY

WAIKIKI BEACH
HONOLULU
O'AHU

Waimanalo Beach
O'ahu

Wainapanapa Beach
Mau'i

***

"Let's all be careful out there!"

LUCKY OLD FART

YES, I AM

Picked up Alissa and Catherine from The Grand and took them to the "Triangle". Aren't they both just drop dead gorgeous!
I really enjoy her visits. She adds a tremendous amount of zest to my life. She and my oldest grandson, Justin, are the same age and I love her the same way as I do him.
Steve "lei'd" (after 13 years, I am so tired of that joke) both the ladies and got a surprise hug in return.

***

It was a pretty decent night. The only problem the entire night was a 1:00am pick-up of 20 people from Mulligans, going out to The Prince. I was the only cab available and was going to have to make 5 trips to do the task.

Pulled into the parking lot at Mulligans and only one man was waiting. As I pulled up next to him I could hear him talking on a cell phone telling someone that the cab was here.

I explained the situation and told him that I could only handle 4 people at a time. He told me that was no problem.

He hopped into "shotgun" and two other guys climbed into the rear. I told them that I could only take one more. Of course, two more clammered in through one door and a sixth was crawling over the guy at the other door. This was what I was dreading. No one was attempting the front seat though. The guy in "shotgun" was as big as a Samoan. Bigger!

I patiently explained that the extras all had to get out, except one. The male part of the couple at the right rear took exception. I explained that the cab would not move with more than four passengers. He cussed me out and then slammed the door as hard as he could [STRIKE ONE]. One of the guys in the back opened the door and called out to the crowd that we needed one more. No one moved other than their lips flapping as everyone engaged in idle, drunken chatter. The doorslammer shouted, "No one is riding in this cab. We'll call another one" and slammed the door again. [STRIKE TWO] The guy in the back opened the door and tried one more fruitless time to get a fourth person. He told the doorslammer that there were no other cabs available except me and again asked for a fourth passenger. [you know its coming] The doorslammer then yelled "I SAID NO ONE WAS RIDING IN THIS CAB!" and, of course, slammed the door a final time. [STRIKE THREE] He got a perfect release on this one and beat his personal best in the effort.

"That it." I said as I put ONE-NINE in gear. "You guys want to go to The Prince, right?"
"We sure do." 'Shotgun' said.
"Oh, you might as well call your friends back there and tell them I won't be coming back. They probably should start walking home."
"Thats funny." 'Shotgun' laughed.
"Yeah, it truly is, isn't it, but it is also the absolute truth. I won't be going back there."
The three of them attempted to bribe ($50) me to go back. Those of you who have read me for a while know that THAT wasn't going to happen. They paid me the exact $10.40 fare.

FECES OCCURS

***

Well, Hapa's is closing this Saturday. Reportedly for financial reasons. Just do a site search here for HAPA'S to read my opinion of the place.

This is a mixed blessing. The site of more police presence than any other bar in Kihei, its closure will change the locus of trouble. Most likely to the "Triangle". Which will be a shame. Locals and non-native residents and visitors do not mix well when blended with alcohol.

I'll give you round-by-round updates as the violence escalates.

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THE PICTURE GALLERY

WAIKIKI BEACH
HONOLULU
O'AHU

***

"Let's all be careful out there!"