DAYS OF MY YOUTH - Growing up on Kauai
Myron Kashima
 HONORING DAD
I love telling the story of how my dad caught this almost 100 pound "ulua" or giant trevally with his bare hands!
Dad often went crabbing on the Huleia River in his dual hulled canoe that was made out of old currogated iron roof. On this particular day on his way upstream, he noticed this huge fish near the small boat harbor. On his way back from a very successful crabbing outing, he noticed this large fish again. He manuevered his canoe close to the fish. He hit it directly on it's head with his oar with such force and stunned the fish. Dad jumped in the water, continuing to club it with his oar. He somehow managed to get it into his canoe. Yikes! I would never jump in the water like that - I'm afraid of sharks!
He was a really good "throw net" and spear fisherman. Dad would wake me at 2-3 o'clock in the morning when the moon and tides were just right to go "throw net" for mullet. He tried to teach me how to recognize the fish scales reflecting in the moonlight - I never got it.
He was also a skilled carpenter, welder, farmer and kahuna in "lomi-lomi"-the art of healing stomach blockages -a form of laau lapaau. Never learned this special skill either - not from lack of trying though!
Due to his failing health, dad is not as active anymore. That picture of him and that ulua will always be in my mind-back when he was strong, healthy and proud.
Happy Father's Day dad!
- Myron
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PIDGIN CORNER - LEARN SOME LOCAL "SLANG"
Halah! (Hah lah) Not sure where this word came from. It's like saying:
"I caught you" or "shame on you"
Halah - I saw you surfing the afternoon you
called in sick at work!
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HAWAIIAN WORD OF THE MONTH
Happy Father's Day ~ Hau`oli La Makuakane ...
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