The Secret Falls of Pepe’ekeo…Sunday Musings
We turned off the Mamalahoa highway last night onto a back road. Coconut palms crowded tightly together, reaching over a hundred feet to find sun.
Rich jungle earth sent waves of familiar smells on the light breeze: guava, lilikoi, night-blooming cereus. Earthy bouquets full of mystery. I thought of ancestors walking these paths a thousand years gone. First people discovering these hidden places.
The wedding had been earlier in the day in Pahoa, Hawaii. A tiny plantation town of three or four churches. This one had pews set outside on the entrance, open wide to the elements.
I didn’t know anyone at the wedding. Or so I thought. I was visiting a friend on the Big Island of Hawaii this weekend; taking time out between a heavy speaking schedule here in the islands. There was a wedding to attend, and I’ll jump at any chance to go to a luau.
I walked into the church area and soon was greeted by 5 people who knew me. One of my clients walked the bride down the aisle. Other friends and clients kept showing up. That’s how it is here. I lived here from ’71-’73, then again from ’77-2002. Even though I’ve been gone 5 years, I’ve never left.
The luau was amazing. Mouthwatering food: poi and lomi salmon, kalua pig, smoked venison, opihi, fresh fruits, “mix salad” (potato-macaroni-tuna salad, only in Hawaii…) I was in heaven. Even though I go to Aloha Kitchen in Phoenix from time to time, it’s the atmosphere, the warmth of the people, the cultural blanket that makes this so special.
The reception was held down the side road off the main highway. The property ran along the river that fed the sugar mills. The owners had dammed the river and created a magical waterfall. A rickety observation deck still stood overlooking a pool that had seen hundreds of hours of children swimming and jumping from the cave rocks across the way.
The falls were created for the property. No diesel buses pulling up and depositing camera-toting tourists. No parades of rental cars. More than likely the locals sneak in when the driveway is empty. The clean, clear, deep water of the pool demands occupancy from time to time.
Dressed in my going-to-a-wedding clothes I resisted the urge to dive from the platform into the pool below. I was sure the platform had stories of others who had jumped. The cave denting the far side of the river had surely housed giggling children, perhaps some now grown and attending this wedding.
The platform wasn’t talking.
Beth, from my treehouse in Hawaii
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Beth Terry, CSP
Professional Speaker and Author
Website
© 2007 Beth Terry Seminars, Inc.
Tim – attending any “local” luau in Hawaii is better than going to the commercial ones. I found out yesterday that the mountains of food were prepared by family members, NOT a caterer. It was unbelievable. I was in heaven. Some of the food is an aquired taste– squid for instance– and that makes it all the harder to find in Phoenix! LOL
Yeah – I kind of wish I had jumped in… but didn’t have a change of clothes!
Beth
Hey – thanks for inviting me! Beautiful bride, beautiful groom, wonderful food, and wonderful friends. It’s all good.
Beth
Great post, Beth. Now I am adding attending a wedding in Hawaii as one of the top 100 things I need to do before I turn 100. BTW, I think you should have jumped in.
Thanks for coming over … nice job of describing our weekend
A hui hou