I have always said that Hawai'i is a Polynesian Montana. Obviously, the spectacular mountains play into that observation. And the quirky, adorable people fold into that, too. But Hawai'i, like Montana, has a culture that is highly definable and unique only to them. Last night, at dusk, on the way home, there were Donkey Crossing signs. Apparently, they have feral donkeys in Hawai'i. Didn't know. Never been anywhere in the world where they have and warn you about feral donkeys.

About 10 years ago, you started seeing little tiny golden flip flops on chains for sale in the jewelry stores here. Now flip flop jewelry lives in a highly evolved state, crafted in platinum with diamond and ruby hibiscus flowers adorned with pearls. Paris has the most beautiful shoes of any place I have ever been, yet in Paris, they do not put beautiful, finely chiseled renditions of the world's most beautiful shoes on chains around their necks. They just don't do it. Here in Hawai'i, they do.

Last night, at the cash register at the Union 76, they had a little basket with little eggs, maybe hen's eggs, that were stamped with a letter configuration. You can get an egg at the cash register at the gas station in Hawai'i. Where else in the world, I ask, where else?


Aloha nui loa.

JBelle
On Assignment
Waikoloa Beach, Hawai'i