A PIECE OF PARADISE

FEWER TOURISTS-MORE LOCALS

    Around the northern point of Ohau, away from Waimea, the Pipeline and Turtle Bay lays stretches of undeveloped scenic beauty dotted by local communities of Kahuku, Laie and Hauula near Sacred Falls.

    The north shore appeals not only to surfers and fans, but those who like nature, country, local culture, agriculture and a very laid back mood.

   "Keep the country, country" is the call on signs and bumper stickers.  Here, as in communities close to nature, there is the tension between the way it is and the desire of developers. 
    I have preferred other Hawaiian Islands because of the heavy tourist development and building of Honolulu however the local and authentic feel of the North Shore and from here south to Hauula is delightfully pleasing. There is an easy accord between simplicity, balance and allowing the beauty of nature to be dominant. 
    The world has enough high rise condos, hotels and resorts. I'm with those who find favor in true local culture and perspective. Here it is country and it feels to this outsider that is how it should be.

 BATTLE IN PARADISE

 History looms in a strange juxtaposition on a point between Kawela and Turtle Bay. The beauty of paradise interrupted by an artifact of WWII.  The bunker stands at the tip of Protection Point.

 The fortification was one of many along the shoreline, protecting the Kahuku airfield that housed B-17 and B-24 aircraft.

  Here in paradise or on beaches and rises in modern Europe,  I am struck by the paradox and contradictory force of such beauty being the scene of historic and heroic battle.

 LOOK FAMILIAR?

    This banyan forest on the north shore has been a scene in many films and productions, the most recent being Hunger Games.

    Better that such paradise be the setting for only play war.  Were it that way everywhere, huh?

    See you down the trail.

PATIENCE and GOOD BYE DAVID

THE GRACE OF A FISH STALKER

 The agility, skill, patience and beauty of a seine fisher working a craggy point on Kawelia Bay on Oahu's north shore. 

   Minutes would pass with barely a discernible motion while the eyes were tracing the game.

     I watched, transfixed for a couple of hours of this ballet like action which resulted in several captured fish.

GOOD BYE DAVID

   I sadly note the passing of David Odell, a California friend and one of the true gentlemen of this age.  David was an intellect with a range as wide as his worldly travels. Though journalism and documentary work puts one in a league of travel and world travelers, David and his beloved Betty were the two most widely traveled people anywhere, certainly that I've met There are few places they have not been.  

   David was also a wise counsel and a true peacemaker. His skill and grace served him well and made him a perfect member of boards and there were many he served.

    David and Betty were in Bali when he collapsed. 

    In December of 2012 I posted about David's decision to retire from active tennis.  Here is a reprint.

DAVID HANGS IT UP
First Published December 21, 2012

     An era came to a sad but noble end today. I think of it as a ghost of Christmas future.  

     A tennis partner quietly announced at the net as we were shaking hands at the conclusion of a match, that he would no longer be playing. David said he could not trust his balance anymore and he didn't want to take another fall, as he has twice this year.  David is an octogenarian.

     I didn't play tennis until we moved to Cambria.  My court sport in Indiana was basketball, but wanting to stay in shape I began as a late aged neophyte on the tennis court. It took months of some awful play before I was worthy of joining into a foursome.  David, Phil and Janos were the first group to ask me to sub from time to time.  They were also the first group to ask me to join as a permanent player.

     I play three days a week in three different foursomes now, but the Friday morning 9AM foursome on Court 1 was the "mother's milk" of my tennis play.  David, Phil and Janos allowed me to learn and grow and they are a delightful group of guys. After our play, we always end up at Lilly's coffee deck for wide ranging conversations and a good dose of friendship.

      David and I were often partners and there would be times he wore a frustration at what had departed his game. But there were also those times when his wicked cross court shot, or a hard hit liner would do the job and was evidence of a man who had great game.  He particularly enjoyed, as I did as well, when we would rally back from being down and win the match. We both would leave the court with more spring in our step.  He remained a competitor though he knew his days of being an excellent player were history. He loved the game and he continued to play.  

     David was also the picture of a gentlemen competitor at all times.  He evinced a great sportsmanship and integrity.  He is also a true gentlemen in every other regard.  A class act if ever there was one.  As well traveled as anyone I've met, even among other globe trotting journalists, David is a great joy in social settings.  We hope he will continue to join us for our post match coffee.

      Our buddy Phil has been on medical leave of recent, though his love for the game is pushing him to get back on the court as well.  In my few years of play I have come to know that love of the game and can understand how tough it must be to hang it up.  David will now take up lawn bowling, of which there is a tough league in Cambria.  And he may join the ping pong matches.

      I am indebted to Janos, Phil and David.  I will miss David's enthusiastic narratives and droll humor as we play. And I hope at some distant match, holiday season or other wise, I can leave the game with the same class and gentlemanly style as David.

      And for the record David's quick returns and well aimed shots earned us several points today.

      Goodbye friend!

      See you down the trail.

     

ONLY THE BEST

THE BANZAI PIPELINE

       The north shore of Oahu is one of the world's premiere athletic venues.  Only the best dare try it here.

  Before the sun was over the mountain, surfers were in the

 Pacific, looking for a ride before the "Backdoor Shoot-out" Championship, part of a 50th anniversary tribute to Duke Kahanamoku.  Kahanamoku is the Olympic champion swimmer who created modern surfing.

 As the sun finds the line, it turns the Pacific from gray to blue.

  Team surfing competition begins at 8 AM. The professionals tune up.

  On this day conditions are near perfect and the waves are 20 foot tall.

   The power of the ocean is thunderous. The danger is underscored by the deaths of 21 surfers and photographers at the Pipeline.

    In this sequence we see a shooter deploy for his spot in the big water to capture dramatic footage of the champion surfers inside the shoot or tunnel of water.

   Here he is cut loose where he will attempt to survive the swells as he watches the board artists take on the sea.

 As only the best ball players make it to the all star game, only the best surfers in the world have a chance to survive here.

 At the pipeline, the beach rumbles and explosions roar when some of these 20 foot walls collapse. 

    If you look closely in the frame below you will see a surfer emerge from the curl of the back wave. This perspective reveals how solitary and fragile these athletes are as they compete against a primal force of nature.

MELLOW ON THE BOARDS

   A few miles away in Kawelia Bay, inside the reef, the board work turns to yoga.

ALOHA EVENING

   See you down the trail.