Mai 'ena i ke kanaka i laka aku

Last full day in Kona started out with a 50 minute run down Ali'i Drive. I love this run, the ability to run alongside the coastline with the ocean spread out before you is awesome. There have been others every day also enjoying this run by the sea. There is no typed runner, all are different ranging from the obvious elite athlete to the everyman or woman like myself who at different levels of performance get the exact same reward given by the blessing of Hawaii's gods. Many are called to this Ali'i Drive, the Royal Road. There is a mana not found everywhere. In Hawaiian "Mai 'ena i ke kanaka i laka aku." Do not shy away from a person who is attracted to you. Be gracious to all you meet.

Ho'okipa, hospitality is a way of life in Hawaii. Because of this as I get ready to return to Washington I spent part of my day preparing a feast for my friends once back home. This starts with buying a sturdy cooler and then getting some of the important local foods not available back in the mainland: laulau, pipikaula, kalua pig, and manapua (not really Hawaiian but really good). To that I will add rice, macaroni salad, chicken long rice, and lomi salmon (all ingrediants are available in Washington). Of course there will be large quantities of beer and kanikapila (provided by yours truly). No date as yet but if you are in the continental U.S. you better come.

Tomorrow is a travel day, insert sad face, but I expect to get going early enough to fit in one more swim at the harbor. So until the next time, a hui hou, see you on the road.