Talking Story, eating chicken, getting woo-woo

Read

On Sunday I finished reading Hotel Honolulu. While a bit long for a novel, it turned out be a fairly quick and breezy read, and all-in-all supremely entertaining. That first paragraph did not lead to disappointment!

The story centers around the unnamed narrator (seemingly close in nature to the actual author, Paul Theroux), who has left the Mainland and the world of writing to become a regular guy in Waikiki. He gets a job managing a run-down hotel owned by a capricious, debaucherous millionaire named Buddy Hamstra. Buddy ends up figuring into the story heavily, particularly in the final third.

The novel is really a connection of short stories and anecdotes of all the visitors, employees, local gossips, prostitutes and locals who touch the Hotel Honolulu and make their impression upon the narrator. It sometimes reminded me of Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City series, though less enduring. Here most characters are introduced, and then maybe given 1-3 chapters of backstory before some sort of resolution is met. However, there are a handful of mainstays whose stories are interwoven throughout the narrative.

Theroux has a firm command of the English language and uses it to explore some interesting themes of language and literature in relation to our culture, or any culture. The narrator exists, constantly, as an outsider, one whose world has been in books and often flails in attempts to understand this new realm where the sun always shines and improper grammar reigns.

This passage eloquently paints the picture of our narrator's inner struggles:

"The printed word was a source of energy to me, giving me hope and verifying what I felt. In fact, for long periods on this island over the past years I had felt that there was much more dreamed in literature than every contemplated in heaven and earth."

The first two-thirds are chocked full of bizarre histories, scandals, perversions and surprising twists. The last third slows down, becoming more of a meditation on what it means to be a grown man in a new place trying to make sense of a life that doesn't always seem the right fit.

Great read. I recommend it - great for a plane ride or a vacation in the sun.

Eat

This past Friday we went to the Eylsian Fields Brewery to celebrate Dan's sister's 37th birthday. I had no idea there was another Elysian. I've been going to the one on Capitol Hill for years, for its consistently tasty food and casual atmosphere.

This one is a bit more upscale and elegant. The space, located across from Qwest Field, is very spacious. The bar area is separate and there are even some private dining areas that I assume are rented out for events. The menu was more upscale, too, with several seafood dishes, steak but still with some standard options like burgers and salads. I went with the roasted chicken and mashed potatoes. Perhaps it was because I hadn't eaten much that day, but I could not stop raving about it, all the way to the car after dinner and even the next day! Yum!

Remember

Last night I took a class called "Intro to Huna" at South Seattle Community College, through their Continuing Education program. It was a two-hour seminar, introducing the basic elements to Huna, an ancient philosphy practiced by Hawaiians. It is unclear exactly how it came to be practiced on the Hawaiian Islands. Some believe it came from Egypt and was then delivered by Israelis while some believe it originated in the land known as Atlantis while even others believe it came from up above. Regardless, people still practice it today and it actually makes a lot of sense.

In Huna, there are three selves: the young or low self (child), the middle self (the one who speaks and reasons) and the high self (like your own personal god, or guardian angel who you ask for things).

Our instructor was an engaging speaker, brimming with passion on the topic. The idea that had the most resonance for me was, to no surprise, that we worry about things we don't want to happen, and all that energy goes into thinking "I don't want to feel sick" or "I don't want to be poor." Our younger self does not hear the "don't" and so we end up experiencing, or bringing about, exactly what we do not want. Instead, we ought to focus on what we want in positive terms.

I still feel like I have more to learn on this topic before I can speak to its full effects. I look forward to doing more research and allowing it to change some of my habits.

Bucolic Luxury/Fraternal Splendor

Remember (and Worry)

Moloka`i Properties Limited, owners of the Moloka`i Ranch and the beautiful Moloka`i Lodge announced last week that it is shutting down all operations including Molokai Lodge, the Kaupoa Beach Village, the Kaluakoi Golf Course, the Maunaloa gas station, the Maunaloa Tri-Plex theatre, cattle-rearing, and the company's substantial maintenance operations.

Over the next 60 days more than 120 employees will be laid off. This is very significant to the island's economy, as the populations stands at about 8,000. The operations closing down will likely have a devastating impact on the few remaining businesses on the West side of the island as well.


My fiance and I visited this area twice back in late November/early December 2006. We first had lunch at the Lodge (one of the most impressive hotel lobbies I've ever seen) at the outside bar, and then came back on our last night on the island to indulge in the main dining room. The meal was very pleasing as I recall, and the service quite attentive. The grounds on the hotel property were well maintained and within walking distance was the small strip of businesses - collectively making up the town of Maunaloa. There we found a delightful kite shop/toy/book/souvenir shop and purchased some christmas gifts for my nephews as well as a few things for my dad. It was a little oasis -- a quiet corner of the world where you had all the amenities of a vacation resort in a pastoral setting that has become increasingly difficult to find in our ever-developing world.

Now the fate of all the properties is up in the air, as I'm sure the bidding will begin for new ownership. There is a strong movement by the people of Moloka`i to gain the land so they have more control over its destiny, but with a $200 million price tag it will take more than just creative fundraising.

The basis of the sudden closure seems to be a frustration with the strong opposition by the Moloka`i people to the company's "Master Plan." Much of this plan is ostensibly the development of luxury properties at La'au Point. It is unfortunate that such drastic action had to come of all the disagreement.

See

My fiance loves television. And I love that he loves television. Before I met him, I wasn't quite in the "Kill your TV" camp but dangerously close. I watched a few shows here and there, but mostly rented movies. While I still mostly prefer to sit down to watch a program as opposed to just zoning out with the remote, I've become much more of a TV-nut. Often I will hold out on shows that my fiance records, not wanting to commit myself to yet another 30-60 minutes per week.

One such show was the ABC Family dramedy Greek. I thought "How could a show about college kids in fraternities and sororities on the same network that does High School Musical and that show with the (now) pregnant girl be entertaining to men in their thirties?"




One night I finally sat down and gave it a shot. Okay, pretty snappy dialogue. I have a weakness for teenager stuff (Heathers, Mean Girls, Bring it On, all those John Hughes movies -- not to mention, those tempestuous years of adolescence on 90210!). I took me about two episodes before I was fully hooked, but then I just added it go the list of must-see TV. It's a smart show, a sweet show and it appears to be a step toward the edge for the network. One of the main characters is gay and rushing a fraternity and he hooked up with another frat gay. Drama ensues, and highlights the inherent intolerance in the fraternity system. Kids have sex and drink, and the sexy villainess of the show is not played by a buxom blonde but by a talented up-and-coming Indian actress. All of these things point to a show that is not only entertaining to someone like myself, but also a show that is moving in the right direction for a network that has so much influence on today's youth. Go ABC Family!