First of all you may need to go to the bottom right of this RobBlog page to read the previous blog or two about Hawaii. This truly is Paradise!
I've been here many, many times before but it's not untill you arrive again on the shores of Paradise can you fully understand the true spirit of Aloha.
The trade winds.
The sunshine.
The tropical plants.
The blue ocean.
The marvellous "locals". I mean Hawaiians here, for many "Amercians" also populate these isles. Many are very nice too but some have that "Yankee edge" we all know and recognize. On Oahu with military and naval bases like Hickam and Pearl Harbour, many people you talk to are transplants from Chicago, Upper New York State and Pennsylvania. These are just a few of the non-locals Tom and I have spoken too.
As an American all one has to do is just get on a plane, come here and stay. For Canadians it is another country called America. We just can't live here if that's what we want to do. So moving to the temperate climate of B.C.'s west coast is the best we can do to get away from snow and cold.
There are things that let you know this may be Hawaii but it is the United States too.
Writing a cheque is still check.
Jewellery is jewelry.
A Mike's Hard Cranberry Lemonade is not a vodka beverage. Here it is called Mike's Hard but it is malt liquor. It's beer. I bought a 6-pack not realizing it and one sip was enought to gag me.
In the last blog I mentioned Caesars. I haven't had one yet but I know where to find one.
Sometimes their interac machines don't work for our Debit Cards. Many don't give you the choice of chequing or savings- except at a Bank of Hawaii ABM. Oh, they're ATM's here. I know some machines are home are ATM's. That never should have happened. In Canada they are Bank Machines- ABM's. We have to protect what we have and what is Canuk- no matter what it is.
The selection of chocolate bars bites the big one. That's true of most places in America.
There are probably more Hawaiian Flags about than US Flags but there are Red Maple Leaf's too. One is just to the right when we are on our Lanai (balcony).
Many Americans here guess that we are from Canada. I don't know why. This happens even when I am not wearing my cap with the Rainbow flag, Maple Leaf Flag and Airline Wing pins stuck to the front. I think it's the Yes, please.
No Thank You's and the smiles that are the big giveaways.
I was thinking yesterday with the flights arriving from Canada, every day there would be about 5000 or more Canadians arriving here from Vancouver and Calgary Airports alone.
We haven't run into one- yet.
We did see a guy last night with a "Team Canada" shirt on and at Moose McGuillicutties- where we've had breakfast for years, had a Vancouver Hockey Game on. A night before the Toronto Raptors were playing from the AC Centre on a big screen in another restaurant.
So as brilliant and tropical and beautiful as Hawaii is, it is still a group of Islands that reflect all the things about Americans that Canadians find odd . It's another example of what make us Canadian. It was back in the years before the Second World War that Americans told Hawaiians that they were taking Pearl Harbour for themselves for defense of the mainland. I think many Hawaiians never forget that fact- and why should they? I think becoming a state gave Hawaiians all the comforts they now have in this technological world we live in but I bet many would prefer to be their own government. I'll have to ask some of the older Hawaiians I meet.
Written on any of the US Military plaques and statues found in parks and other public spaces, it still remains- without question, that America won World War II all by themselves. It's as if no other country existed except for Germany and Japan. Now, there are more Japanese visitors than any other country.
Canadians used to be second coming to these islands. I don't know if that honour stands today or not. we've heard Aussie accents twice.
Until next time have a great and warm Easter weekend and-
Aloha!!
