From da Big Island

by Bill Hutchinson

  Ben walked over to Ruth and took a seat on the other Adirondack chair.

  “Darling, I don’t want to be disturbed. I want to be left alone.”

  Ben started to rise. “You want me to leave?”

  “No, Ben, sit.”

  Ben sat back down.

  “What I don’t like,” Ruth continued, “is everyone keeps bursting into my house not knocking. From Auntie, to the police, to William. So, I want you to install a security system.” Ruth laid down The New Yorker displaying an elaborate security system advertisement and showed it to Ben. “Like this one.”

  “Door has lock.”

  “No, Ben, I want a security system.”

  “Dis Hawaii, nobody has security system.”

  “Darling, I don’t care if we are in Timbuktu. When can you install it?”

  Ben scratched his head, “I don’t know where to get security system.”

  Ruth pointed to the phone number on the advertisement, “Here’s the number. I want it done. Do you understand?”

  Ben nodded.

  Waipio Valley

  The aroma of coffee filled the kitchen as Ruth and Ben finished their morning brew. She looked at the flower arrangement.

  “Ben, I forgot to thank you for the nice flowers.”

  “Flowers? I thought you put them there.”

  “I wonder how they got here.”

  Ruth and Ben inquisitively look at each other when Ben realized what happened.

  “Dat what he do here!”

  “Who?”

  “William.”

  Ruth looked at the flowers and smiled.

  “Darling, why didn’t he tell us?”

  “You scare him.”

  “He scared me! That was very kind of him.”

  Ruth looked down at The Big Island throw-away magazine which had a photograph of the Waipio Valley on the cover.

  “Darling, is Waipio Valley as breathtaking as these photographs?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “How long does it take to get there?”

  “Too dangerous to drive, you hike.”

  “Hike from where?”

  “You park at top, hike down to beach. Da hike takes half an hour to get down, over an hour to go up.”

  “I have an SUV, I can drive.”

  “Some people don’t make it.”

  “The salesman told me I could do it!”

  “Oh-kay, use only first gear and drive very slowly. Going down is hard; going up easy. You need carrots with stalk attached.”

  Ruth gave Ben an inquisitive look. “Carrots?”

  “You need carrots when you get to bottom.” Ben got up. “I go to Auntie’s.”

  ✽✽✽

  Ruth dressed in a designer outfit and high heel shoes, double checked the front door, making sure that it was locked. She nodded and smiled.

  Later she exited Mr. Woo’s holding a bunch of carrots by the stalk heading for her SUV and drove to the entrance at the top of Waipio Valley. The sun was shining brightly, not a cloud to be seen. The parking lot was filled with cars. The road ahead of her had barriers on both sides, narrowing down from the two lane well paved road to a one lane paved road that has seen better days. A large sign on one side of the road stated, STOP, Restricted Road, Only 4-wheel Drive Vehicles Permitted, One lane road, Downhill traffic must yield to uphill traffic. On the other side was another sign, WARNING, proceed at your own risk, Steep Grade, Engage all wheels, Engage first gear, Falling rock. Ruth studied the signs making the final decision as to go ahead with her plan and traverse the over half mile road down to the valley floor.

  Ruth reached down and took off her high heel shoes, looked at the gears and shifted the SUV into first gear. She pulled gently away and started driving extremely slowly down the very steep potholed one lane road. Ruth was so intent on driving and staying on the road, avoiding the tourists hiking single file down the steep narrow road, she doesn’t notice the beautiful fertile valley and beach below. She was happy no one was driving up the one lane road without a guardrail, as she wasn’t sure how much room the two vehicles would have without one of them going off the steep cliff into the valley below.

  Ten arduous minutes later, Ruth finally reached the bottom of the precipice where there was a small area wide enough for two vehicles before the road made an abrupt hairpin U-turn towards the beach. She stopped and took a long deep breath, happy she had made it without falling off the road into the valley.

  Regaining her composure, Ruth started driving again, this time following the road into the darkness of thick overgrowth of tropical foliage. It took a few moments for her eyes to adjust on going from the brightness into the deep darkness of dense tropical jungle before her. The road had also changed, it was no longer paved, but an unpaved muddy potholed road. As she continued driving, occasionally light streamed through the thickness of towering trees helping to illuminate the road in before her.

  Still in first gear, Ruth made her way down the road, trying to avoid the water filled potholes the size of Volkswagen Beetles and the occasional tourist walking the same direction she was going. She reached a somewhat dry flat area and decided to take a few moments to rest and check out the jungle that surrounded her. To her right, a stream of light filtering through the trees illuminated the hull of a rusted car smashed against a tree. Ruth noticed a tree was between the car and the road. Furthermore, the car was on its side with the wheels facing the road. It is then Ruth realized that the car came from the road above her; the same road she had traversed not minutes before.

  While gazing upward into the trees, Ruth saw a rusted carcass of a pickup truck perched in one tree. Looking around, she spotted a car and another and another. The trees were adorned with rusted cars and trucks that didn’t make it.

  After a few moments, Ruth regained her composure and started driving again, following the muddy pothole infused road which eventually opened up to a sandy path leading through the pine and palm trees where other SUV’s and trucks were parked. Wondering amongst the palms and trees were a dozen wild horses. She found a grassy part between two palm trees and parked. She reached down to put on her high heel shoes. Five horses started to meander towards the SUV unnoticed by Ruth. She got out and reached into the SUV, grabbed the carrots, and closed the door. As Ruth turned, she found herself encircled by the horses. She then understood why Ben told her to take carrots with stalks. Ruth took a carrot, held it by the stalk and cautiously extended it towards one of the horses who gently took it from her. She was jubilant; smiling to the point of almost laughing. She took another carrot, again holding it by the stalk; another horse took it from her. The five horses had her pinned against the SUV whinnying and nuzzling Ruth as she continued to feed them. She quickly ran out of carrots and held both hands up showing the horses that she doesn’t have any more.

  “All gone.”

  At which point, the horses turned, leaving the SUV. A few moments later, more horses approached. Again, she held her hands up.

  “My little darlings, I have no more, all gone.”

  The horses whinnied and meandered away; no doubt searching for their next victim.

  Ruth started to walk down to the gray/black beach. The moment she stepped off of the grassy area, her shoes sank deeply into the sand. Ruth was trapped, unable to move. It took some effort to slide out of the heels and go barefoot. She carried her shoes with her as she headed to the beach to watch the waves crashing along the shoreline.

  The secluded bay was perfect for surfing and a few locals were enjoying the surf. The occasional tourist who had hiked down to the beach were cooling off in the refreshing water. Ruth thought to herself this was what Hawaii was like before all the big resort hotels and people came to the islands. The gentle trade winds rustled the palm trees causing Ruth to turn her attention to the land behind her. To her right, a river flowed into the ocean. To her left, a waterfall cascaded some fifteen hundred feet down into the Pacific. It looked oddly familiar and then she remembered Kevin Costner
telling her and her television audience about the shooting of the last scene of Waterworld in Waipio Valley. She took a deep breath, sighed, and smiled at all the peacefulness and tropical beauty.

  ✽✽✽

  Ruth was driving back into the jungle, doing a good job of navigating the potholes and occasional tourist walking along the muddy road. In front of her, she saw the bright light shining through the trees indicating the journey through the darkness of the jungle was coming to an end. She made it into the sunlight and the last flat area before she had to make the sharp hairpin U-turn to traverse up the very steep one lane road back to civilization. Ruth took a moment to gather her wits before attempting to make the return trip up to the top of the cliff. She took a deep breath, looked at the clutch, put it into first gear, and pressed the gas pedal, as she released the clutch with her left foot, the gears ground a bit, as the SUV started moving slowly forward. There was a loud thud.

  Ruth realized the SUV had struck something and she slammed on the brakes. She was sure there wasn’t anything in front of the SUV before she started studying the gears. She looked up to see the body of a young man was on the hood of the SUV and put the SUV into park, got out, and went to the man, his face still facing the hood of the SUV.

  “Darling, are you okay? I’m so sorry.”

  The man looked up at Ruth. It was William.

  “I am oh-kay, Mrs. Newcomb.”

  “Darling, I didn’t see you there. I’m so sorry. You aren’t going to sue me, are you?”

  “Huh?”

  “Are you going to sue me?”

  “Why would I sue you?”

  “I’m from New York, everybody sues.”

  “I won’t sue you. Can you give me a lift to da top?”

  “Yes...”

  Ruth started to get into the driver’s seat.

  “Darling, are you sure you’re not hurt?”

  “I am alright.”

  William got into the passenger seat. Ruth slowly drove the SUV up the Waipio Valley cliff road very intent on not becoming its next victim, as they both bounced all over the place.

  ✽✽✽

  The SUV had successfully made it to the top of the cliff.

  “Darling, do you need a ride home?”

  “No, Mrs. Newcomb, Honokaa would be fine. Thank you for the offer”

  They were back on a well paved two lane road going through sugarcane fields where the sweet aroma did not go unnoticed by Ruth. The sugarcane fields were interspersed with an occasional house or two off to the side of the road. William looked out the open window at the cane fields.

  “Darling, about yesterday.” Ruth paused, “Thank you for the flowers.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “You know you shouldn’t go uninvited into other people’s homes, right?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Darling, it’s not right intruding like that.”

  “I’m sorry, Mrs. Newcomb.”

  More houses were coming into view as they approached Honoka’a. William slinked down into the seat. He was almost on the floor. They were approaching Honoka’a High School.

  Mrs. Strong, the school counselor, was standing at the curb; arms folded looking down the street as the SUV approached. Ruth looked down at William, “There’s no need for you to be down there.”

  After the SUV passed the school, William moved back up into his seat.

  “William, aren’t you still in high school?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Then why aren’t you in class?”

  “I don’t like English. I go to beach instead.”

  “Darling, you need English. School is important.”

  “Dat what Mrs. Strong, my counselor, says.”

  The SUV made a U-turn, heading back towards the school.

  “What are you doing?” William franticly exclaimed.

  “Darling, I am taking you to school.”

  “I don’t want to go!”

  The SUV pulled up to the school. William got out looking at the ground as he approached Mrs. Strong.

  “Hello, Mrs. Strong.”

  Ruth listened to the conversation through the open window.

  “William, you’re early today. How was da beach?”

  “It oh-kay.”

  “William, you get to Dr. Tilton’s class. He’s expecting you.”

  Mrs. Strong leaned down, looking into the passenger window. Both Ruth and Mrs. Strong instantly recognized each other.

  “It’s you!” Mrs. Strong exclaims. “Thank you for bringing William. At least he’ll be able to catch part of his English class. Forgot to tell you the other day at the market, this may be The Big Island, however, we are a tight little island; one where everyone knows everyone else and what goes on. Thank you for bringing him to school, you performed a great service.”

  Da Ghost of an Old Kahuna

  A heavy fog engulfed the area as Ruth was on her lanai typing away on her the laptop. Ruth heard a noise and looked up to see who it was, however, the fog was so thick, she started to pick up the laptop to go inside when recognized it was William and put the laptop back down.

  “Aaa-loooo-haa, Mrs. Newcomb. What are you doing?”

  “I am writing my memoirs.”

  “Why?”

  “Darling, I had a wonderful life and people will love to read it. How did it go in school today?”

  “Oh-kay. I got to help Auntie with her keiki’s.” William started to walk up to Auntie’s, looked over his shoulder saying, “Aaa-loooo-haa!”

  ✽✽✽

  As Ruth walked through the macadamia orchard, her slippers sank into the thick grass. Beneath the trees, mac nuts covered the ground. She frowned and shook her head. She turned to head towards the house when she saw Ben had started up the hill towards Auntie’s, “Ben!”

  He does not hear Ruth.

  Ruth yelled louder, “Ben!” He turned. “I need to talk to you.” When he reached Ruth, she continued, “Darling, how is it going with the security system?”

  “Ah, I still look for one.”

  “It shouldn’t take this long to locate a system.”

  “Dis Hawaii, take long time to get stuff.”

  “You’ve been spending too much time with Auntie.”

  Ashamed, Ben looked towards the ground.

  “No, I haven’t.”

  “Look at this place.” Ruth made a sweeping motion with her hand. “The grass needs mowing.”

  Ben looked around at the overly long uncut grass, “Uh-huh.”

  “Look at all the nuts under the trees, they need to be collected and sold.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “The Martin’s raved about how good of a caretaker you are. Darling, I just haven’t seen it.”

  “I sorry, da keiki’s need attention. Dey no wait.”

  “Darling, I know the children, I mean the keiki’s, need attention and so do my macadamia nut trees and the lawn. Please take care of it this week.”

  “Oh-kay.”

  Auntie came down the hill towards Ruth and Ben. She went up to Ben, “Oh, der you are!” Then turned her attention to Ruth, “How you?”

  “I’m fine. I need Ben to spend more time with me.”

  “No, he need to spend time wit me and da keiki’s. Dey important right now.”

  “Darling, my lawn and macadamia nuts are important too.”

  “Da mac nut wait. Keiki’s no wait. Ben, you come.”

  Auntie started up the hill followed by Ben.

  “This week, Ben!”

  Ben looked over his shoulder, “Uh-huh.”

  ✽✽✽

  Ruth, in her designer dress and high heels, drove down the two lane road towards Honoka’a Town. A lone hitchhiker came into view, it was William. She pulled over, “Get in.”

  “Aaa-looo-haaa, Mrs. Newcomb.”

  William got into the car.

  “Going to school, William?”

  “No, Waipio.”

  “Why don’t you want to go to school?”
>
  “Dr. Tilton makes us read aloud. It embarrasses me.”

  “There is nothing to be embarrassed about. Public speaking is easy.”

  “Dr. Tilton is not human! People say he is da ghost of an old kahuna.”

  “Darling, Dr. Tilton cannot be all that bad.”

  “He is!” William exclaimed, “He makes us read da big words.”

  The SUV approached the school.

  “When I lived in New York, I used to volunteer to help people learn to read. I can do the same for you, William.”

  William looked at Ruth and smiled.

  “I want you to go to Dr. Tilton’s class.” William frowned, as Ruth continued, “Try your best, then after school, I want you to come to my place and we will work on your reading.”

  William smiled, “Sometimes, Auntie helps me, too.”

  Ruth stopped the SUV at the front of the school.

  William got out and went to the front walkway of the school. He looked over his shoulder.

  Ruth was watching.

  William continued walking and opened the front door. He looked over his shoulder again.

  Ruth was watching.

  William entered, the door closed. Through the front door window William looked out. The door opened as Mrs. Strong stepped out, mouthed thank you and waved at Ruth.

  Reading is an Adventure

  The light streamed onto the lanai as Ruth typed away on her laptop. On the table next to her was Time Magazine with a publicity photo of her on the cover, the headline in red lettering read From The Big Apple No More, A Tradition Dies.

  William walked through the orchard and approached Ruth. “Aaa-looo-haaa, Mrs. Newcomb.”

  “Hello, William.”

  William noticed Ruth’s photograph on the cover of Time Magazine.

  “That’s you, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, darling.”

  “Why is your picture on da magazine?”

  Ruth picked up the magazine and pointed at the headline.

  “Darling, the headline says it all.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “It’s simple.”

  Ruth opened the magazine to the page where there was a full page picture of her on the set of From The Big Apple along with the article about her. She handed the magazine to William. He took it, looked at it and then looked at Ruth. She looked back at William. “Sit down. Why don’t you read the article aloud to me? I will help you with the words you don’t understand.”