Songdoc

Ronda—So good meeting you, too!
I just realized that I never got to finish this report. Even by my crazy standards I’ve been doing an insane amount of traveling.

Here are few more Kauai highlights …

I went to a benefit concert at Higher Ground in Kilauea. It was for Iris Downey—a 23 year-old singer/songwriter who I’d met at the Kauai Music Festival. She’d won the songwriting contest there two years ago. Now, she needs a kidney transplant. Iris is beautiful inside and out—and the outpouring of love and support for her was such a powerful testament to the spirit of Kauai and the way the locals support one another. It was a terrific glimpse of the sense of community there. The turnout was fantastic and they raised lots of money. The live music was awesome and I danced with wild abandon under a starlit night! I hadn’t danced in years—and being completely anonymous under cover of the dark released my inhibitions!

There was an exceptionally well supported silent auction—and I bid on and won a 90-minute massage with Morgan at Princeville Massage (above Lappert’s next to the Princeville Foodland). I never even realized there was an upstairs.

I didn’t have high expectations because I like a lot of pressure—and typically prefer a male therapist. Well … this was very possibly the best massage I’ve ever had. She was AMAZING. Soooo gifted. I will definitely be back.

I had a couple of tasty meals at Lotus Garden in the Princeville shopping center and enjoyed Chicken in a Barrel after a walk on the path past Kealia beach. And of course ... saimin at Hamura's and insanely good banana mac pancakes at Kountry Kitchen. I was underwhelmed by the p'cakes at Ono Family restaurant.

Enjoyed watching miniature surfers being coached at Hanalei Bay. These kids were 8 – 12 years old and were UNBELIEVABLE. I spoke with some parents and grandparents. A lot of these kids were on surfboards as toddlers—and they have the advantage of having no fear.

I decided to try boogie boarding. It was harder than I’d imagined to maintain my balance—even though I was lying down. After getting thrashed against the bottom a couple of times I got the hang of it—and LOVED it. I was surprised at what a workout it felt like and it was heaven to shower and lie down back at the condo and nap while the ocean lulled me to sleep.

The most “exciting” part of the trip was when sirens announced the impending arrival of a tsunami. TV reports stated it would arrive at 10:18PM—and everyone in low-lying areas was advised to evacuate. There was no “maybe” about it; we were about to be devastated. Virtually all beachfront hotels were evacuated, as were residents of Hanalei, Anini, Kapa'a, and many other areas. Tourists were taken to shelters at inland schools.

I received a phone call with a recorded message that went out island-wide, telling me to evacuate. Helicopters and small planes swooped low with sirens shrieking. People staying next door at Orchid Point had been evacuated from Hanalei. They were panicked—to say the least. The woman was almost hysterical as I heard her dictate her will over her cell phone. Her husband was demonstrating the proper way to cling to a tree to avoid being swept out to sea—or being crushed by debris!

I kept reassuring people that Princeville is 200 feet above sea level and that it was inconceivable that the water would reach us; and if it did, we’d need an ark. But I have to admit that the hysteria affected me about 15 minutes prior to the tsunami’s arrival, when newscasters recommended abandoning your cars and running to higher ground or inland! My mind started spinning around the “fact” that the island would be without food, water, and power; roads would be washed out; there would be countless injured or killed … I put all my valuables in one place and was ready for the worst.

At 10:18PM a tsunami slammed into the islands. It was approximately 6 inches tall (!!!) and no one would have even noticed if we hadn’t been set into a panic. Whew. Gosh, you’d think they’d have been able to see its size before it arrived—but I’m no meteorologist.

The next morning, walking in Kapa’a (after Kountry Kitchen OMG pancakes), I looked at Pono Kai and some of the other beachfront condos and realized how vulnerable so much of the island is to flooding. Very scary. Made me appreciate Princeville even more.

Sorry I don’t have more to report but my idea of bliss was writing on the lanai (especially at night while gazing out at the moon on the water); walks at Hanalei Bay; and coffee while watching those glorious sunrises. And FYI, during my month on the rainy North Shore I never had a single rainy day. A few brief showers were the only rain I ever saw. My only weather complaint was that it was hotter than I’d have liked during the 5 or so days when there were no trade winds.

From Kauai I flew to San Francisco—and was able to upgrade to first class on Alaska Air for $100. It was great—but the plane was 2/3 empty and if I’d been in steerage I could have stretched out across a row of my own. But I enjoyed the meal (catered by Kauai Pasta—and surprisingly good!) and watched some good movies.

In SF I met up with ten people from the Kauai Music Festival for a super fun evening at Pa’ina—a Hawaiian restaurant in Japantown. I extended my Kauai bliss with a concert by Kenneth Makuakane and a wonderful hula troupe.

In the two-and-a-half weeks after leaving Kauai I taught workshops in San Francisco; took two days to drive down the glorious California coast; was a superstar in L.A.; returned to Nashville; then on to Philadelphia. Now I’m packing to work in NYC. AGGHHH! Luckily, I love it! And before I know it I’ll be back “home” in Kauai (in January) and will be writing a new report!

Lookin_Glass

"I danced with wild abandon under a starlit night! I hadn’t danced in years—and being completely anonymous under cover of the dark released my inhibitions!"

Is there a new area called Higher Ground, or was that a freudian slip about Common Ground?

Songdoc

<Is there a new area called Higher Ground, or was that a freudian slip about Common Ground?>

Oops... Freudian slip. I was dancing to Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground" at Common Ground! ;-)