Author:
Lucile! (Moderator)
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Date Posted: 17:22:47 07/14/04 Wed
Found a neat article on the Star Bulliten today...someone else posted it at the American Beauty board, so here it is
Everybody is well known to everyone. Most families spend weekends at the beach or talking story at a relative's house
The Ho'ohuli family has lived in Nanakuli for three generations, even before the first Hawaiian homelands were established. The family watched the tangle of kiawe trees in their back yards be replaced by neighbors in new houses and the two-lane highway widen to four lanes.
Even with new families moving into the neighborhood every year and more homestead communities added, the Ho'ohulis can tell you who lives where. "That's the DeFreitas, the Nuhuhas," said Radasha Ho'ohuli, pointing to the beachfront homes along Keaulana Avenue.
"Everyone knows everyone here and their business," said her mother, Hoku. "My kids remind me to make it quick when I go shopping at Sack 'n Save because I always run into someone and stop to talk about how the family is."
The Ho'ohulis spend the weekends like most families in Nanakuli: at the beach with family or at a relative's house to relax and talk story about old times.
That's probably why all the garages in Nanakuli have picnic tables inside instead of cars, said Hoku.
Hoku and her husband, Wayne, chose to stay in Nanakuli close to both their parents and many aunties and uncles. All of their children -- Radasha, 23, Resha, 22, Watson, 21, and Roelle, 18 -- went to elementary school in Nanakuli. Resha even went to Nanakuli High School instead of Kamehameha Schools like her sisters and brother because she liked Nanakuli. Hoku said she doesn't mind getting up at 4 a.m. to drive to work at Kamehameha or to Watson's UH football games on weekends.
"I love the climate, although it's hot. ... It's country," Hoku said. "I don't have to worry about apartments or fight parking. ... My neighbors help to keep an eye on my home."
When something is stolen, you know who took it within a matter of hours, Hoku said, laughing at how close the community is. "We call it the coconut wireless."
For Wayne, Nanakuli means ocean and family. Walking along the reef, he pointed to the small coves where he learned to surf, taught his children to swim in the underwater tunnels and where his family's ashes are scattered.
Watson learned to swim in the calm blue-green waters with his dad. Even though Watson and wife, Kristi, live in Makakilo, he will teach his 10-month-old son, Wynden, to surf and swim in the same water. He even told his wife they will move back so Wynden can wear gold and black one day -- Nanakuli's high school colors.
Wayne can't imagine his day without a ride on the waves or picking limu kohu and gathering cowrie shells.
"Best part is the beach," he said. "Not too many people know this place, and I wouldn't want to live anyplace else."
By Michelle Mueller, mmueller@starbulletin.com 2003/09/28
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