Hana Ma'i

I fell for him when I first saw him in his Navy uniform, obviously lost and studying a map. I have always been a sucker for a uniform. That's what my husband was wearing when I met him. Now I am separated from him, I threw him out for the second time, our daughter is staying with him for the summer and I am lonely.

I did not stand on the sidewalk and just stare at, but instead went on my way. I was surprised when he approached me with a guidebook in his hand. "Excuse me, Miss," he said, "could you tell me where to find this store?"

As a 39 year old I ignored his transparent compliment and looked to see where he was pointing. "I see the problem. That street went to the left beyond the curve in the road. You are on the right hand side so you didn't notice it. I'm going that way myself so I can show you the way."

I lied. What's a girl to do when she is this close to a uniform? I could not send him away.

He introduced himself. "My name is Fred Strauch. I just got settled at Pearl."

I shook his hand. "I'm Danielle Robins but am usually called Pukanala. Pukanala means 'Sunset' in Hawaiian and I like to think they meant 'dazzling' when they gave me my nickname and not that this is the end."

"I'm sure you are right but even if not, you are a very pretty end."

I blushed then led him directly to the store and went in with him. He was looking for some inexpensive serving bowls so I helped him find some but let him pick. After we left he followed me to the store I was supposed to be looking for. I bought some paper napkins and on the way out he offered to buy me a drink.

As we walked I made a suggestion. "You probably haven't seen much of Honolulu, have you? How would you like to take my driving tour at my standard rate?"

He looked slightly skeptical, "What is the rate?"

"You buy me a drink at the end."

"I'll do better than that. I'll buy you dinner."

Hard to get was my aim. "We'll see about dinner but you have to buy me a drink at the end. I'll have to drive so you can see everything. Anyway, You'll just get lost."

I started the tour at Honolulu's Harbor. "The first Western use of the harbor occurred in 1794. The city of Honolulu's central business district and government offices grew around Honolulu Harbor and Kewalo Basin."

From the harbor we could walk to Aloha Tower Mall and back. Aloha Tower is a tall stone clock tower accented by palm trees. "The tower provides a focal point for many of the attractions at the new shopping complex. You can ride to the top of Aloha Tower for an interesting view of Downtown Honolulu with modern office buildings compete with palm trees and older buildings for the limited space that is available in the city."

I showed him the numerous bars along the Harbor waterfront; great places to relax and plan the next part of any expedition! There are great views of the harbor from the terraces on the rear. From one terrace we saw the futuristic hydroplane cruiser.

It is a short walk to Bishop Square in the center of Honolulu. It's a great place to relax and watch the business of the City in operation with festivals, live concerts and other entertainment to be found there.

Chinatown is Hawaii's most exciting and mysterious neighborhood. Food, shopping, exotic smells; it's all here.

We stopped at the corner of Beretania Street to look inland along Nuuanu Stream that created the port. A low arched walkway with a view of modern buildings and the mountains with wooly clouds in the distance bridge the stream.

Next we drove on to the Iolani Palace Area. "Hawaii is the only state in the U.S. that has a Royal Palace. As recently as the late 19th century, Hawaii had a Queen. Next to the Palace are many other interesting attractions including the State Capital and numerous statues."

In sharp contrast to the royal grandeur of the palace, Hawaii's nearby State Capitol Building is very futuristic. "Because Hawaii became a state in only 1959, the Capitol is the most recent in the entire U.S. Just across the road from the Capitol is the Governor's Mansion looking all the world like a plantation house hidden by towering deciduous trees."

We walked past One of the oldest churches on Oahu, Kawaiahao Church. Then back to the car and drove on to Punchbowl, otherwise known as the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, the final resting place for many military people involved in conflicts over the last 50 years.

We looped around to drive down Ala Moana Boulevard that runs between Waikiki and Honolulu with great views of boats and sunsets. "Now, who could resist seeing the sunset over the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor? Be sure to come back some evening around 5 for there are wonderful views of the sunset." Then we drove on to the Makiki district.

The Makiki district is away from the tourist areas of Waikiki. There we saw some interesting glimpses into the way of life of the residents of Honolulu, and the places where they go for relaxation. We drove past the Honolulu Academy of Arts and pause to look at Thomas Square at the corner of Beretania St. and Ward Avenue with its many fine banyan trees.

Roughly half way through the tour we stopped at the University of Hawaii at Manoa upon a hill above Honolulu. Manoa is a pretty campus with tree-shaded walkways.

Next we saw Moilili, one of the parts of Honolulu that grew up in the early 20th century, as many Japanese stone workers and flower growers moved in.

Kaimuki, like Moilili, is one of the older parts of Honolulu that grew up near the turn of this century. There we saw the view from some of the high-rise apartment buildings. "Looking east, you'll have a great panorama from St. Louis Heights on the left, to Kahala in the center and Diamond Head on the right."

We finished the tour on foot at Waikiki. "Waikiki is a mecca for visitors from around the globe, Waikiki boasts exclusive designer fashion boutiques on Kalakaua Avenue that rival those found on Rodeo Drive, world-class hotels, Las Vegas-style showroom entertainment, and excellent restaurants offering a delightful variety of international cuisines. Offshore there are some of the best summer surf breaks on the island.

We kept walking to Kuhio Beach that is just a few hundred meters from Waikiki Beach. Kuhio Beach Park offers a more relaxing place to enjoy the sun and sand if you don't want to surf.

Next we looked at a statue. "This statue is of one of the most famous local people of Waikiki, Duke Kahanamoku. He was a former Olympic swimmer who pioneered several surf riding techniques right here at Waikiki Beach. He paved the way for what surfing is today. You must be aware that surfing started here in Hawaii."

Fred spoke up. "Surfing is one of the things I want to learn while I'm here in Hawaii. Is there a less expensive place to learn? We sailors aren't the richest men anymore."

"Waikiki is expensive for everything but that's because everyone comes here and they come here because of the beach. You are here during the summer and that is when Waikiki has the best surfing on Oahu. If my daughter were here she could teach you but she's in California with her father. He lives there and summer is the only time she can spend time with him. But I'll help you find an inexpensive instructor."

How was that for explaining my marital situation subtly? I turned him away from the ocean to see the commercial side, Kalakaua Avenue. "Visitors can shop 'til they drop in Waikiki Beach or hop on a colorful trolley for a scenic ride to other shopping areas in Waikele, Ala Moana, Ward Center, or nearby Kaimuki."

We walked to the eastern end of Kuhio Beach to enter Kapiolani Beach then to Kapiolani Park and on to Diamond Head ahead. "Diamond Head is an extinct volcanic crater with hiking trails leading you through the crater, and sometimes through tunnels dug during World War II."

We kept walking through the park wrapped around Diamond Head, past the Diamond Head lighthouse until we reached Diamond Head Beach. Above we could see the Kuilei Cliffs overlooking us.

We followed the beach until it ended at the fence of a Country Club where we took the bus back to Waikiki where I took him to the Royal Hawaiian Hotel where I took him onto the Terrace of the Mai Tai Bar. "This offers a breathtaking view of Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head. Just inside is the Mai Tai Bar. The Mai Tai tropical drink is reputed to have been refined here."

We both ordered Mai Tai's and sipped them as the sun set. Everything gets quiet and the colors change as the sun sets. It was a warm evening, the Mai Tai's were delicious, and I was with a hunk of a man so how could it get better. He felt it too.

"This is lovely," he said. "I guess the only ugly places in Hawaii are Pearl Harbor."

"Don't tell my daughter that. She loves Pearl Harbor and particularly loves to surf the Navy beaches for they are slightly restricted because access is difficult for civilians. A trip to Pearl Harbor will keep her happy for a week."

We both fell into silence then, mesmerized by the view, sitting and looking out over the water. I broke the silence to ask, "Are you regular Navy?"

"No," he answered. "I'm just enlisted 90 day wonder but this is my second tour. I have to decide whether to re-enlist but one more tour and I might as well go to retirement."

I spoke in my creaky voice, "It's OK, Grampa. You'll make it to the home someday."

Then I returned to normal voice, "Where all have you served?"

He spoke nostalgically. "Oh. I've served in Naples, Gaeta (that's in Italy too), Scotland, Groton, West Milton, New York, Idaho Falls, San Francisco and now here. They may send me to Japan next but that won't be for at least two years."

We reverted to silence and sipped our drinks as the setting sun neared its most spectacular part of the show. There were some puffy clouds over the water that were changing from golden to pink and the water was silver as the light came flatly over it. The sky was a deeper blue and the light seemed hazy. As the disc of the sun began to disappear behind the horizon it turned redder and darker. At the very end just a sliver of the sun was above the horizon and everything was at its most colorful ending with a flash as if a light bulb popped. It would still be light for a while with everything still.

When that show was over I suggested we go inside to enjoy the music. Musicians play Hawaiian music from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. nightly. The Mai Tai Bar was filling up so we found two together at the circular bar that seats 20, got two more Mai Tai's at the Mai Tai and enjoyed the music. Can you tell I was feeling very romantic?

He broke the silence. "Does your daughter really teach surfing?"

I sighed. Maybe he wants to determine how old this old broad is or meet my daughter. "Yes. She's a pretty good surfer for her young age but she is no champion. There are many girls her age and younger who are better. She is a good teacher. She teaches relatives all the time. My real relatives know how to surf but anyone who lives in Hawaii knows that if someone gets your name and phone number they become a relative."

"Do you ever worry about her? I mean, isn't there risk in surfing? I've heard if you fall off the board it can flip up and break your neck."

"I suppose that can happen but I've never heard of it except as rumor. A Tsunami can also hit but there has not been a Tsunami here since the sixties and it was in Hilo it hit hardest. I have a lot of worries and when she's surfing I have fewer than at other times."

Fred asked, "Is there a Hawaiian word for tsunami?"

"There are two words used to describe tsunamis in Hawaiian. 'Kai e'e' is a general word for tsunami waves and 'Kai mimiki' used to describe the withdraw of the water before the Kai e'e arrives. That is the warning. People on the beach watch a wave come in normally but it goes out faster and further away, sucking the water up for the next big wave. That withdraw of the water is actually the trough of the tsunami reaching shore but you should run inland and up as fast as you can to get out of its reach before the big waves crashes."

"Why did the last one hit Hilo and not here?"

"Hilo is largely affected by tsunamis for many reasons, one of which is the local topography. The orientation of the Hawaiian coastline, with respect to the direction and approach of a tsunami, has a great affect. Also, small funnel-shaped bays, such as Hilo Bay, harness the tsunami wave energy and amplify the heights of the waves. That leads to greater destruction."

Fred put his hand on my arm and patted it. That made the hairs all over my body stick up. "I suppose surfing is no more dangerous than other things but if I am going to learn now I'll have to find someone other than your daughter. Now, how about that dinner I owe you? I know they have a restaurant here."

'Yes they do,' I said then thought, 'and beds too.' "This is a little pricey. I know a nice place within walking distance that you will probably like. Why don't you pay the check and I'll take you there."

I took him to the Brudda Burger. "You said you want to learn to surf. Well here's where surfers hang out. It is where real surfers go to get away from wannabes. You should be able to find an instructor in 'da Brudda."

Brudda Burger is a couple of blocks from Waikiki where it is far enough for the rent to be lower. It is in an old, ramshackle one-story building with bar and tables inside. I didn't stand in line for reservations but found a waiter and asked to order on the terrace. This is a young place and I don't come here often so he didn't recognize me but didn't argue. I suggested to Fred that he have a Utopic Burger. "Utopic Burgers are large and well made burgers that are stacked upside down. The meat is on the top so its juices drain down on the condiments. The only modification allowed is to add cheese and or bacon on top of the meat. It is more than a person can eat but you have to try one."

He ordered one but I ordered a salad. A girl has to watch her figure so a guy will watch her figure.

After ordering, we got beer from the bar and I led him to the patio in back. It is about two-thirds the size of the restaurant and really run down. There are old unpainted picnic tables that aren't too bad and a stone BBQ that is rusted and crumbling. All of the tables were at least half full. I caught the eye of one of three girls sitting at a table and she nodded approval to join them. Before we sat down I introduced Fred to everyone. "Fred here has just arrived and wants to learn to surf. If any of you want, let him know you're interested and how much you charge. Be careful though. He's the Navy's nuclear expert so don't make him angry or you may find your shorts glowing in the dark."

Sitting him at a table with three other women could be a mistake but he behaved. He raved about the Utopic Burger but not about the girls who all were about his age.

I drove him back to his car wondering what I would do if he tried to kiss me. When my mother grew up you waited till the seventh date to kiss a boy and didn't have sex until marriage. I grew up in the 70's and was in bed with a guy seven minutes after meeting him. Regrettably, I have no standards at all. Not that my mother, father and grandmother didn't try but they were fighting against the tide. Me? I rode the tide and everyone else. Sometimes I was with more than one guy during a night. Sometimes, I'm ashamed to say I used alcohol and drugs, I would wake up wondering who and how many had me. Birth control kept me from getting pregnant but VD was another matter. Fortunately there was no AIDS then or I'd probably be dead.

I hate to use AIDS as a way to keep my daughter from following in her mother's footsteps but she is a sensible girl and that's more than I deserve. I'll have to accept that she is not as bad as her mother but I know she won't be a virgin when she marries either.

She wrote to tell me her Dad was living with a woman. Further, my daughter tells me the woman is smart, successful and gorgeous. She did add, "Not as pretty as you though, Mom." She also said the woman was divorced and didn't seem interested in marrying for she didn't want children so didn't want to put up with husbands.

I could relate to that. I wanted my child but HE has been a trial. I don't know if he ever was faithful but I know how many times he was unfaithful before I threw him out.

This is the end, I believe. My husband thinks I sent my daughter the first time to entice him back. My daughter believes I asked him back after his first visit. They are both wrong. He came back on his own once but from what I know, why should he come back twice. And why should I take him back.

Maybe that's why I'm contemplating this fling?

That's a lie. I'm not contemplating this fling. I'm planning it!

OK, Battle Plan. If I go to bed with Fred tonight it will be a one-nighter almost for certain. If I wait until the seventh date I'll have missed dates 5 and 6 and still be waiting for number 7 when I'm old and gray. I pick 3. Third time’s a charm, the Holy Trinity. That's my plan and if he doesn't kiss me I may make it to 3. Who's kidding whom? I want to get laid.

Fred asked me out again. "You deserve more than Brudda Burger so you have to let me take you to dinner. You said no one can resist seeing the sunset over the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor and told me to be sure to come back some evening around 5. I'll bring some chilled wine and beer nuts then take you to dinner. I'd be happy to pick you up if you want."

Of course I accepted. I wrote my phone number and address for him. I offered to draw him a map but he declined. Too bad! I'd have drawn the map on his chest while he reclined!

"I really want to get started with surfing lessons. I wrote down all the info the guys at Brudda's gave me but I don't know. Can you pick one for me?"

"I really am not the best to do that. A better idea is that I can eMail my daughter tonight and she'll be on line before I get up in the morning. Then I can eMail what she says to you."

He was OK with that and gave me his notes after putting his eMail address at the top. Then he gave me the goodnight kiss but it was only a peck on the cheek. I could resist that. Barely!

I drove home alone wondering what was wrong with me. Fred was lucky to get away. I sent an eMail to my daughter, singing as I typed. I was a happy woman even though I was sleeping alone and didn't want to.

The next night Fred picked me up before five so we would arrive in plenty of time for the sunset. I was ready, just putting on my earrings as I answered the door in my huntress cherry-red dress with cutaway neck, exposed shoulders, pink organza-trim and built-in soft hidden bra. The dress came to just above my knees. At 39 this may be the end of the line for me wearing dresses like this so why not make the most of it?

He flirted blatantly, giving a Groucho leer with full Monte eyebrows and saying, "With a dress like that I'll tell you all the Navy's secrets!" BTW: he was out of uniform but his blue shirt and khakis were just as crisp so I really wasn't disappointed.

On the way he thanked me for the information from my daughter and said he had made his decision and scheduled a lesson at 10 A.M. day after tomorrow. I convinced him to take his lesson at dawn because there would be few people then. He phoned and left a message as he drove.

I guided him to a place with benches for watching the sunset. We didn't have a table but he put the picnic hamper on the bench (between us, Damn)! and set out chilled Weis Wein, cheese, pate and sourdough bread. He put a large white napkin on my lap, poured some wine and toasted me silently, holding my eyes as we sipped.

I got him to tell me about his family, where he went to school and why he joined the Navy.

The sunset was prettier than yesterday's.

At sunset he kissed me fully on the mouth and flicked his tongue inside me. I let it stay a few seconds then pushed him back out but let him hold the kiss for it was a good one.

We packed up and left for the Hana Ma'i Restaurant. I smiled. When we were seated he asked me, "What are you smiling about?"

"Hana Ma'i translates into 'sexual intercourse' in Hawaiian. Do you remember that way of choosing something supposedly at random, 'Eenie, meenie, miny moe?' Well kids here say, 'Ai, ei, hana ma'i, moe' but never when their parents could hear. 'Ei also means 'sexual intercourse,' ai means 'appetite' and moe is 'bed, all being related to sex.' When we challenged him the owner explained, 'My Grandmother was Hannah May and I asked the sign painter to put that on the sign but he heard what he heard and here I am. I'd sue the sign painter but I can't claim damages.'"

Fred actually blushed a little. "I didn't know," he mumbled.

I gave him my most forgiving look and said, "It's OK. They really have good food. Let's look at the menu and order some of that great food."

Despite its name, Hana Ma'i didn't have oysters, mountain or otherwise, asparagus or other suggestive foods on the menu. Nor did it have Hawaiian food either. Most were light, French dishes with a touch of Hawaii such as coconut or pineapple.

Dancing broke out while we were still eating. He took me out on the dance floor before dessert. The music was a mix of fast and slow. both pleased me and I think they pleased him too.

He drove me home afterwards. I asked him come in for a drink. He asked what I had?"

"I can make almost anything but in this house Gin and Tonics are the standard of the summer and Scotch with rocks, water or whatever is the standard the rest of the time."

Fred selected a Gin and Tonic and I did the same, bringing them back on a tray with a dozen appetizers.

"What's this," he asked as he pointed with his drink at the tray on the coffee table.

"That's poke (I pronounced it 'po-kay,') the local specialty of raw fish and spices. It's a favorite of surfers. These are all sprinkled with sesame seed oil, chili pepper, and ogo or seaweed."

He stared at the plate full of ahi poke; cubes of fresh tuna gleaming like rubies and sprinkled with roasted kukui nut, coarse sea salt, and a confetti of green onion and seaweed. There were shiny black crabs, too, and a poke made with octopus and delicate red threads of seaweed.

"Think of it as Hawaiian sushi or cevice. If you don't want it I can whip up something else."

Fred answered me by poking a tuna poke in his mouth. He smiled and winked as he ate, then sipped his tonic and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. We talked for a while but something interfered.

He leaned toward me and I didn't wait for him to ask. I put my face in a kissable position and waited. He kissed me tenderly on the lips. It was a nice kiss and just before it ended he put an arm around me so when he released the kiss it was followed by a series of kisses over my chin. I put my head back giving him an invitation to be a vampire although he patted my exposed throat with tiny kisses before returning to my lips and getting down to business.

It was a full kiss, his tongue exploring my lips then my teeth and when they parted, my mouth. I shifted my position slightly so I could put my arms around him and press my chest to his. The way I figure it, if you have to put up with big tits and all their problems, finding bras, painful bras, pain when running or when hit, the embarrassing stares et al, then why not make use of them by arousing a guy to show me a good time?

It worked. It always works, and he was soon twisting against me and gave off the tiniest of moans.

We both were happy kissing and petting but I had to give in. "Why don't you use the bathroom while I take care of the dishes?"

Fred headed off and I dumped the dishes without rinsing in the dishwasher and headed for the bedroom. I put on a pale blue and white sheer baby doll with cherry red slippers. I was back in the living room before him. It has been my experience that after heavy petting a guy takes longer than a girl in the bathroom. Has that been your experience?

Fred is a rambunctious lover and managed to bruise my thigh. I looked on it as a badge of honor and even said, "Fred may Hana Ma'i me anytime!"

After that we were together every weekend. I went with him for his surfing lesson. He had to go to Pearl afterwards while I went about my business. I went to all his lessons and once he was up on his board I went into the water with him and his instructor. Fred had a long ways to go but he was trying.

By the end of the week we were off surfing by ourselves and he was staying at my place from Friday night to Monday morning. We took two trips to other islands together but mostly we just stayed around Honolulu and had sex.

I have a lot of friends but there are a dozen girlfriends who I invited to a BBQ at my place to meet Fred. These girls and their guys would not embarrass my husband later if we got back together. They knew this was the second time I had thrown him out and knew I had good reasons to do that. They were safe people for us to be with.

After that our social calendars were filled between my meeting people from Pearl and us going to parties or dinners with my friends. Everyone accused me of being in love but I knew inside I was happily in lust but could love Fred any instant if I could resolve my husband and my daughter. I could not decide what I would do if my husband asked me to forgive him again.

Soon I was worried about my daughter AKA and her imminent arrival at the end of the summer.

AKA was not a virgin when she returned from visiting her father. I was disappointed in her father and was livid that she hadn't eMailed or phoned me for advice. That's when I learned that slut my nearly X-rated husband was sleeping with had given her advice and, in my view, suggested AKA have sex. There was nothing I could do about it except extract revenge so I did nothing about it.

The second weekend after she returned I went out with Fred. AKA was going out too and I introduced him to her before she left.

He was still there in the morning and had breakfast with us. She took it very well.

Fred stayed most of the weekends after that. AKA did not mind. She never said a word about Dad in the sense she was worried about us not getting back together. She did talk about him all the time and that was normal. He eMailed her everyday, as did his Bimbo.

AKA especially liked being able to take her friends surfing on the Navy beaches. I was bothered when she went out with a sailor she met one weekend. Having your sixteen year old daughter picked up by a 25 year old man of the seven seas is daunting for a mother. My mother had been very upset about my dating the man I would marry and our ages were only two years apart.

Fred began to drift away and by Thanksgiving we were friends and that was the last weekend we spent together. He suggested we see less of each other until I resolved my life. I knew he loved me almost from the first and I could understand how he felt not knowing what I would do. Perhaps he wanted me to make a decision but that didn't work. I was now dating other men as well as Fred although I didn't take any of them to bed when AKA was home. There was no reason but she was used to Fred and I worried about giving her ideas.

In any event, Mele Kalikimaka, my husband showed up for Christmas. He would only stay from the day before Christmas through the day after. I made him sleep in the guest room (which was met by AKA's whiney "Muhuhther!"). On the way to the Airport he asked if he could come visit us again and I said yes." I gave him a peck after dropping off his luggage and he was gone but I knew he wasn't. A month later he announced he was winding things up in California and would soon be in Honolulu.

He's stayed ever since although he strays about as much as before. So do I. So does AKA!

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