Trip's About Over...The Heartland Beckons...

Am enjoying my last weekend on Maui...for this year anyway.

Today (Saturday) I was up at first light and out the door, heading to advertised rummage sales, various garage sales and the Maui Swap Meet. Later I returned to the house and packed up my bounty--mostly aloha shirts. I must have at least 30 to take/ship home.

I have already shipped a large box of books as well as two other large flat rate boxes back to Rockford, full of inventory. And there are still 2 more to go.

What bar stuff that didn't sell, I put in a consignment shop in Kihei. Now, I have to pack all my personal items in plastic bins for I may not return here for years to come. With all the traveling that I've done, it seems that I'm always saying goodby to someone...

The above picture is taken in front of a cut out wooden Shark which was the logo for our band (The Sharks) that played from 1981-2003. We'd take that cut-out shark with us to every gig.

It now proudly resides on the outdoor wall of former Sharks' bassist, Jeff Reiss here on Maui.

Maui

For the past month I have immensely enjoyed myself returning to our old home on the Wailuku side of Maui.

I spent most of my time seeing old friends. I lived here from 1986-1997 and, of my very closest friends at that time, all are still here. I was the only one willing to give up this paradise and return to the mainland.

Not relating to the tourist scene, whatsoever, I balked at going to the Whale Watch but instead--more true to character-- bought a bunch of bar stuff from a restaurant that was closing in Wailuku and sold the majority of it at the local swap meet the following week....I also encountered some old acquaintances and familiar faces there, who were sure suprised to see me selling there after all these years.

Because the swap meet on Maui is where I got my start in business in 1986 when I took a van load of New Guinea artifacts there...and the rest is history.

Despite the 130,000 people, Maui is still a small community. If you live here for any length of time you see the same people over and over; as a result, when they don't see you for--in my case-- 12 years, it's a big deal...and a time to renew friendships.

This trip, I've acquired a lot of aloha shirts, CDs and books, as inventory for my business on the mainland and will be shipping them out shortly.

But...now, the other side of the coin...everything's so expensive here, it somewhat intimidates me. A family of 3 or more had better bring a ton of money with, to survive here. Local residents just simply learn to do without. And the island is so crowded, you'd never know we were recently in recession. Somebody's got money...

I enjoyed the small-time, sleepy, tropical atmosphere that prevailed when I arrived in 1986. Roads between towns, here, were like country roads on the mainland. Then the building started...now, there's so much development bringing so much traffic that it's uncomfortable driving around. It really is a shame.

Nipper

This is our African gray parrot, Nipper. He's been living at the Maui house at least 20 years. He's a carnivore, in that his favorite food are chicken bones. Although a little rusty, at present, he, at one time, was able to say 52 confirmed phrases. We're getting him up to par as we speak. Here are a few from his vocabulary:

Welcome to Fantasy Island…Curses, foiled again…Where’s my dawg?”…Asta la vista, baby…Ritzin with the brothers…Ladiess ana Gentlemen, the luffly Lennon-a Seesters!...Argh, abaft me’hearties (from Treasure Island)..Silence fore’ n’ aft…now hear this, all hands on deck…Dr. Livingston, I presume…

Wo ist meine Heidi?...Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears…Too legit, too legit to quit…Say baby, what’s happening?...Holy mackel der Andy…Rait cheer, rait nau…Raitbackatcha…

(wolf whistle), look at you, whoa, all right…Are you still here, get out…whistles the theme from Bridge Over the River Kwai…

Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto…Sign zee papers…G’day…Come on (in a midwest irritated voice)…It’s taim t’ eat…Want some coffee?..."Viva Las Vegas" (he sings this one)…He also sings: "Night and you and blue Hawaii, oh, we’re goin’ to a Huki lau, huki, huki, huki, huki, huki hukilau"…

Give us a kiss…I vont to be alone!...Help, help Sharks...Column left, march!...Ai yai yai, bob-a-loo...The charge whistle...Sank Heavens for leetle gurls...Fluffy!...

en guard...Get a haircut...

Paradise Rediscovered

Ah...the return to Maui after so many years on the mainland. The embracing tropical humidity on my skin, noticed just a few steps off the plane and the pungent smell of the tropics that I remember, oh, so well...Yep, this is not a dream...I'm really here...on Maui once again.

I first came to Maui in 1986, just after our band "The Sharks" had completed it's tour of Japan, Okinawa, the Phillipines and Guam. We supported ourselves by reforming the band and playing local clubs, parties and weddings. Then I opened my store "Traders of the Lost Art" in old Wailuku town. I brought in statues from New Guinea, Africa and Oceania. A number of months each year I traveled abroad, collecting inventory for the store. Rent, then, was only $150/month so I could easily close up for 3 or 4 months and go off on an adventure.

Ultimately we rented, then eventually bought, the home we refer to as Kaiko'o Palms. Former Sharks' bass player, Jeff Reiss, is still the present owner. It was built in the 40's and is a typical "H" pattern with the living room being in the center. In every aspect it is the quintessential Hawaiian home. It's in an area known as Paukukalo, originally taro fields, on the northeast side of the island

Initially, I went overboard with vegetation--planting coconut, banana, and papaya trees that soon engulfed the premesis with a tropical ambience almost the way a tropical set director would do. As my template, I tried to copy the movie "Swiss Family Robinson". I had no concept on just how fast plants grow on Maui and soon we had a veritable jungle on our hands. Now the banana trees are mostly gone, only some token papayas remain and the coconut trees are simply too tall and will ultimately have to be cut down.

Yet the charm of the place remains and the yard is still a verdant green.

In one corner of the back yard, wearing gray with red trim, is our African Gray parrot, "Nipper". He's been a fixture here for 20 years or more. At one time, we boasted his 52 phrase vocabulary. Still the house mascot and an integral member of the team here, his vocaublary has dwindled a bit since my leaving. But I'm pumping him daily with the old phrases and soon should have him up to scratch.

I plan to renew many old friendships...probably over drinks and dinners...maybe even play a little guitar together. But my ultimate goal, while on Maui, is to do nothing... I have to work so hard on the mainland to make that happen. Never really have a free second back there. Here, it's an easy option and the the preferred choice of many.

So on the agenda are: naps galore, books to read and biography to edit. I'll be as happy as a clam.