When I played in the sandbox, the cat kept covering me up.
-Rodney Dangerfield
Alright. I’m breaking form a little this week to make way for (you guessed it!) more lists.
But hey, I gotta say something about this whole “Book of Lists” thing: A list of adorable-sounding invasive species? Another compiling tastiest aliens? WTF was I thinking, right?
I suppose I’m starting to second-guess how I used the opportunity to create lists about anything. Did I squander that chance? See, I’d hoped that blurbs about yummy—albeit crummy—stuff like strawberry guavas and invasive ogo might be as fun to read about as they were to write. (Also, I recently had the pleasure of dining with the good Dr. Lorrin Pang, Maui County’s District Health Officer, and it was his generosity and knowledge that inspired the lede’s bit about prawns et alia.)
But life’s just a bunch of downs and ups—right? On the flip-side of feedback, you know what? Frankly, dear readers, I’d rather read your lists. In fact, one of the coolest things about writing this column is getting to read the stories that some of you have shared with me in turn. Such word-love exchanges make me feel like a sucked-up spider who’s escaped the vacuum bag, and that’s been super salubrious for my spirit. Look, what I’m trying to say is thanks for thinking to say and send those things, and please continue to hit me up (if you like).
But I digress… And speaking of ups and downs, here’s a list of some cool
CHUTES & LADDERS:
4th Marine Division Park, a.k.a. Giggle Hill (Kokomo Rd., Haiku) – Beyond its castle-esque playground, Giggle Hill’s the perfect place to fly a kite, cloud gaze, and enact AirSoft FPS or foam-noodle jousting games with friends.
Hana Ball Park (5091 Uakea Rd., Hana) – Like everything in Hana, thank god for it!.
Honokowai Beach Park (L. Honoapiilani Hwy., Lahaina) – Hello? It’s a playground on the freakin’ beach.
Kahului Park (Corner of Niihau St. & Hina Ave., Kahului) – Seemingly the only sweetly shaded spot in all of Central Maui, this play structure’s a teensy bit rickety (which kinda adds to its awesomeness).
Keokea Park (218 Lower Kula Rd., Kula) – Whether bathed in ochroid twilight or embraced by Upcountry fog, this park begs to be a well-kept secret, but is too special not to share.
South Maui Community Park (Makai-side of Pi‘ilani Hwy., Kihei) – “Ground control to Major Tom / take your protein pills and put your helmet on!”
Wailuku Heights Park (655 Alu Rd., Wailuku) – Even a Kula kid’s gotta admit that this park’s got the best view of the isthmus, hands down.
All this thinking about playgrounds got me reminiscing… Does anyone remember playing the genie game? You know, when you’re digging in the sandbox and (gasp!) you unearth an innocuous rock magic lamp. Its roly poly genie inhabitant is willing to grant you three wishes (and you can’t wish for world peace or more wishes)—what are they? Ahem…
1. Not long before you reach Kahakuloa—where the road opens up to sweeping seaside pasture after winding along precipices’ edge—there’s a little roadside honey stand that I lalalalove. Maybe I’ve simply had terrible timing, but lately there’s been only limes for sale. So, I wish for honey. In fact, I wish bees were so happily abundant (free of pests like the beetle currently devastating Honolulu hives; and whatever else might affect colonies), that you couldn’t ramble on rural road without coming across a roadside honey stand. After all, if you’re supposed to make ade from life’s limes, abundant sweetener (and bees to pollinate the plants in the first place) sure do help.
2. I wish the moon was easier to photograph! Otherwise, I’m convinced that unless you borrow equipment from the likes of National Geographic, you’ll never develop anything more than a tiny white dot on a black background. Is a photogenic moon so much to ask for? I mean, I can barely remember what I ate for breakfast, let alone recall the finer details of our natural satellite’s indigo vs. ivory reverie; and that’s something I don’t want to forget. Besides, I’m pretty sure that’s why cameras were invented in the first place—even poets are frustrated trying to capture the mercurial moon.
3. Mean kine machete skills.
OK. That’s all the lists I have room for. Again, now that I’ve showed you mine—show me yours.
To read more Kula Kid with links and photos and stuff, and to leave comments, visit mauifeed.com/kulakid
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