molly.com
Thursday 20 July 2006
Aloha, Hawaii
I come to Oahu each year to present workshops with Pacific New Media and the University of Hawaii. I’ve always enjoyed my time here, working with interesting, warm and friendly people who are doing a wide range of site work. From libraries to one-woman design shops, the challenges facing folks working out here are as diverse as anywhere. To my lovely students, love and Aloha, and thank you for a great workshop.
Environmental woes we don’t hear too much about
This year, however, I got to experience not just the beauty of Hawaii, but learn about some of its unhappier sides. One bit of news I apparently missed back in March was a massive sewage spill into the Ala Wai Canal.
A man fell (or was pushed, the story isn’t clear) into the canal and suffered massive bacterial infections which led to several of his limbs being amputated. The man, only 34 years old, ultimately died from his infections.
Not only is this environmental disaster unfortunate, but environmental scientists are concerned what it will do to the local ecosystem. Not much is being said in the hotels these days, and the beaches are open for swimming despite local concern that it’s far too soon to allow people back into the water, particularly anyone with open wounds, children, the infirm and the elderly.
This shot shows an area of the cleanup along the Ala Wai Canal:
The other side of life
One evening I went into Chinatown to explore a bit. Something happened to me that’s never happened before in my life: I got turned around directionally and found myself lost. Walking around town as night fell, I began looking a bit frantically for a taxi. The area in which I was walking was definitely daunting.
Many homeless, mostly Vietnamese and mainland whites, were on the streets. Many were selling crack and other drugs. As I tried to make my way to a major street, a young Vietnamese man, Tommy, took me under his wing and escorted me out of the area. Along the way, Tommy introduced me to many of his homeless friends, who all greeted me with warmth and I felt no danger anymore. In fact, it became a journey into the other side of life here in Hawaii, which of course looks pristine and perfect to the many vacationers who flock to its shores.
But there is a sad, sad side to Oahu. On the way to a more central area, we passed Tommy’s house:
Old cardboard on the ground near a dumpster, with an old castaway refrigerator to use for storage.
The sobering part of all this? Tommy, and most all of his friends, have jobs. But, due to the economic divide, drug problems and other maladies of today’s world, even the working poor can find themselves living in the streets.
In an hour I go to the airport and begin the long journey home. As beautiful as Hawaii is, as often as I will come here again to enjoy the beauty and hospitality of the islands and the many warm people who live here, I will never, ever forget the experiences I had this time around. They opened my eyes to many things, things I probably would rather have never experienced or seen, but that I’m grateful for nonetheless.
Aloha, Hawaii. 0 na hoku no na kiu o ka lani.
Filed under: faith(less), travel, society
Posted by: Molly | 10:48 pm |
July 21st, 2006 at 8:58 am
I agree. Many visitors to the islands are shielded from life’s harsh realities of living there day-to-day. I lived on Maui for 12 years and still consider it my home. When I lived there, I worked in many fields and the one that truly allowed me to understand the culture and the societal problems, was being a police officer. I’m glad that you were escorted out of the area safely and that you were lost only temporarily. I was actually visiting Oahu/Maui in late June and while I was at Web Design World in Seattle, heard you speak and got you to sign your new book for me. It was a pleasure to get to hear you speak in person. Aloha!
July 21st, 2006 at 10:25 am
I think this is a truism of many of the lovely vacation spots of the world (if not all) - and of course is true as well of so many large US cities - that what someone visiting as a tourist sees and what life is like for many local people are worlds apart.
Thank you for sharing your experience and reminding us of “the other side”. Oh, and for an eye-opening look at life for the “working poor”, if you haven’t already read this, check out “Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America” - written a number of years ago, but I think perhaps still more true than ever. Sigh.
July 21st, 2006 at 1:39 pm
Remember me, the dork with the camera? Thanks for one of the best workshops I’ve been to. You better come back down here!
It’s interesting to see you viewpoint of Oahu. I’ve always wanted to see what people think when they journey past the Waikiki area. As beautikful as it seems from the outside, there is a whole lot going on that’ll destroy that vision of paradise. To me, that’s not necessarily a bad thing - to see Hawaii is one thing, but to experience it… It’s always a trip to hear what people have to say though. I’d really love to hear more about your thoughts and experiences. Here are just a few of mine…
- I think the beaches in Waikiki to Ala Moana are ugly/dirty unless you’re a surfer and go way out. Explore the east through north side!
- People don’t get mad at “racist” jokes like they would in other places. Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Hawaiian, Samoan, Portuguese, and more all have their own stereotypes here and everyone teases each other with no problem (in comparison to how I hear people in other places do).
- Haole people speaking Pidgin (which happens to be a creole, and not a pidgin) get laughed at (e.g. Dog the Bounty Hunter, uggghh)
July 25th, 2006 at 2:04 am
[…] molly.com » Aloha, Hawaii Lovely story from Molly about both sides of Hawaii (tags: hawaii travel anecdotes) […]
February 9th, 2007 at 8:01 am
Hi Molly,
Nice to know that you were safe.
Good guys like Tommy are everywhere.
I have never been out of my country India, but i like to read journals of people who visit various countries and write about the experience. After reading a lot about hawaii, i have started liking the place so much that i have created a website on hawaii travel tips, i wish i could visit that place.
Thanx
Pankaj
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