MacGougan at Large

Notes from Hawaii - 6

Groundhog Day

Hawaii has a freakish consistency. It’s the land that months forgot. The temperature variation from winter to summer is very small. The difference in length of days from winter to summer is similarly small. I believe the vegetation looks pretty much the same year round. The tide doesn’t even go up and down very much. Except for the sun rising and setting, nothing seems to change.

Would that bother me if I lived there? I don’t know. I tell myself that one of the things I appreciate about living in New England is that I get to experience four distinct seasons every year. On the other hand, if everything is beautiful and comfortable, why have change just for the sake of change?

Mahalo

Famously, Aloha means both Hello and Goodbye. Less famously, Mahalo means Thank You. You hear and see both words a lot in Hawaii. Personally, I always enjoy the Alohas, but the jury is out on Mahalo. Especially when written, Mahalo can feel a bit passive-aggressive, an attempt to put a happy, Hawaiian face on somebody’s desire to protect their assets. “These grounds are for the exclusive use of owners and registered guests. Mahalo.” 

Sunsets

Sunsets are a big deal in Hawaii - at least among vacationers with a view of water to the west. Crowds gather every evening in anticipation. People stake out prime viewing spots for the show. The sun gets increasingly orange as it steels itself for the plunge into the ocean. The clouds catch and refract the color. Somehow, it all seems to happen more clearly and quickly than sunsets elsewhere. The sun reaches the water and then is halfway down and then is gone. The glow lingers a while, and then everybody moves on to whatever is next.