Hawaiian Interlude- A Brief Visit to the 50th State

Waikiki Beach

Our current life straddles the great Pacific Ocean, 7,000 miles or so in a line from Timaru, New Zealand to Fort Bragg, California. Midway in distance and in culture is Hawaii, the 50^th American state and Polynesian cousin of the Aotearoa. When I decided to renew my “Certification for Added Qualifications in Geriatric Medicine” to burnish my CV, I found I had to return to US soil for the exam. Honolulu was the closest spot, and seemed like a good place for a brief Easter Week business/pleasure trip: some visiting, tourism, and an 8-hour high-security monitored test. What fun! It was also a good time to take a break from the increasingly cold and short South island days. The flight was a bit disorienting, leaving NZ Saturday am and arriving in Honolulu the prior Friday night.

Sister Athena and Niece Emily were there too for half of the week, and it was good to see them. Initially, Athena and Em were staying with her friends John and Geri who split their time between Ketchun, ID and Kailua, HI. Their insiders' tips were much appreciated. 

E&A

As always, Athena had lots of plans, foremost was to get reservations from the Honolulu Museum of Art to visit Shangri La, the estate of the late heiress Doris Duke. Located on the opposite side of Diamondhead from Waikiki, it is a jewel of Islamic-inspired secular art. Photos are not allowed indoors, but visiting was a unique glimpse into the life of a legendary and fascinating 20^th century celebrity.

The understated entry to Shangri La

Athena with her friend Geri at Shangri La

The usual suspects

The pool and guesthouse

Shangri La Gardens

Easter Sunday we walked down to the end of Waikiki to the Honolulu Aquarium. It is not large, but the collection of sea-life is impressive. They have beautiful coral gardens stocked with brightly colored tropical fishes, and a mammal or two.

A Giant Clam

Hawaiian Monk Seal and his Buoy Toy

Anyone with a passing acquaintance with the Wallace Family knows food will be involved, both in quality and quantity. We sampled many of the local delicacies, and although I intended to snap a photo BEFORE eating, somehow I always forgot.

An Ex-breakfast: Perhaps banana pancakes and a side of Spam?

With our interest in Polynesia, I had long wanted to visit the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, home to the world's largest collection of Polynesian cultural artifacts and natural history specimens. Mrs Bishop (1831-1884) was a Hawaiian princess - the last legal heir of the Kamehameha Dynasty. The main hall features magnificent koa wood columns and display cabinets, local carvings, and an outrigger canoe and sperm whale suspended from the ceiling.

There is a wall of various woven hats that through the magic of  technology you can "try them on" virtually.

I also wanted to track down the rare display of rongorongo, the mysterious writing from Easter Island (Rapa Nui).

Before the Kyles (Athena and Emily) left Tuesday, we had time for a stroll down the beach to pay our respects to the iconic statue of international Hawaiian legend Duke Kahanamoku, a "close friend" of the aforementioned Doris Duke.

One unexpected benefit of our 29th floor condo was the nightly serenade of the Polynesian show at the Hilton Waikiki Village. Our lanai was perched across the street from the venue. To the naked eye it was like this,

but with binoculars it was more like this.

Wednesday, we took the bus downtown to see sights familiar to many Honolulu visitors, foremost being the Aloha Tower, the landmark that greeted passengers arriving from the Matson Company Liners.

Panoramic view from atop the tower

Hula Dancer statue at the base of the Tower

A few blocks away you will see the heart of the city and its historic sights.

King Kamehameha Statue in front of Aliiolani Hale, home of the Hawaiian Supreme Court

Iolani Palace, former home of the king

Hawaiian State Capitol

Thursday was exam day. I swore an oath of secrecy not to reveal anything about the exam, but there was an intriguing multiple choice question about two rest home residents experiencing mutual attraction and wanting to "get busy" over the objections of an irate daughter. The security at the test site was so over the top as to be frankly absurd (multiple palm vein scans, for example), but again it is all hush hush. Fortunately, although I expect to pass, I can think of no repercussions if I don't, so I don't believe I will do it again.

Since Hawaii is actually in the USA, we were able to conduct a lot of home business during the week with our US mobile phones (like US taxes). Right before I left I learned my brother Charles was ill in the hospital. He is one of the faithful readers of my blatherings. I am glad he is improving, and wish him a speedy recovery.

I had hoped that the Grandkids, Kimarra and Isaiah H. might see Honolulu with us, but maybe next time. Back to Timaru, and I hope to get another NZ post up soon.

The "Papou and Grandma went to Hawaii and all I got was this lousy T-shirt" Photo

Timaru: Year Two Begins

Lifestyle Defined (New Zealand):

1. a luxurious semirural manner of living
2. (as modifier)   ⇒ a lifestyle property

A little over a year has passed since returning to New Zealand and starting this blog edition. I revisited the first post from February 5, 2014, and it is remarkable how little has changed as far as my thoughts and feelings on coming back. However,things do feel subtly different the second revolution around the sun here in Timaru. Things are settling in, and time is seeming more cyclical as the second turn of annual events pass. Like stepping into a stream, it is never the same exactly, yet very familiar.
Last February, we went to the IMSANZ (Internal Medicine Society of Australia and New Zealand) meeting in Waitangi, this year it was on Napier in the North Island. Again this year it was not only educational but a great deal of fun. It was an opportunity to catch up with friends from my Auckland City Hospital days in 2012 as well as meet new enthusiastic, like-minded doctors young and old.
We have visited Napier twice before, a charming seaside town of 60,000 on Hawke's Bay. Its major claim to fame is "the largest collection of Art Deco buildings in the Southern Hemisphere", all erected after a devastating 7.8 earthquake of February 3, 1931. The weather was mostly ideal for enjoying the sights of the city.

Napier is a charming place with seaside walkways/bike paths, public art and gardens, and outdoor attractions for all ages.

A "motorway" for the wee ones

The Gold of the Kowhai (2014), bronze by Paul Dibble.

A highlight this year as in 2014 was the collegial Thursday night dinner, a night of food, wine, and fellowship. This event was held at The Old Church, a former place of worship started in 1863 and now a high-end restaurant, winery, and B&B. Also like last year, some local talent provided entertainment. Below is a video of a mature a capella group singing "Hello Mary Lou" (in the spirit of Mendocino's own Acafellas).

We spend an extra day up north and drove around the coast to Wairoa, a sleepy little town where the Wairoa River empties into Hawke's Bay. It was an important site during the Maori/European(aka pākehā) New Zealand Wars of the mid-19th century, and is still an important center of Maori culture.

Wairoa Lighthouse on the riverbank

Beach at the mouth of the Wairoa River

Flying back to Timaru we had a three-hour layover in Wellington, and Dr. Florry O'Connell in a gesture of true friendship hopped on a bus to drop by to visit. Congrats to Florry on passing his recent exams, surviving the parents' visit, and of course Happy St. Paddy's Day!

Florry appears about to be captured by a giant eagle at the Wellington Airport

Timaru is home of the South Canterbury Speed Skating Club. We know this because one of my colleagues Bernhard Kuepper and his family are deeply involved. The community raised $400,000 to improve the track up to international standards, and it has been a breeding ground for World Champions. We attended the New Zealand Banked Track Championships here in February, as they hosted skaters from around the world: China, the Czech Republic, France, Switzerland, and India.

Action at the Timaru Skating Oval

I am also starting to understand cricket, as New Zealand and Australia are hosting the 2015 World Cup. (If you are really interested, ask me sometime and I'll try to explain it to you.) Succinctly put, it is Baseball on Valium as played on Bizzaro World. NZ has never gotten past the semis before, but hopes are high as the Black Caps went an undefeated 6-0 in pool play and now advance to the quarterfinals. Three more wins and the Cup is ours!

Late Addendum: Also déjà vu from 2014- the NZ French Film Festival, Timaru Edition. Over the last ten days we caught up with ten contemporary French films. For the true cinéphiles out there, keep an eye out for these three films not yet widely released in the US:

1.    LA FAMILLE BÉLIER /THE BÉLIER FAMILY - Very moving, sweet, and funny family story with a break-out star turn  from 18 year-old Louane Emera. The ending is a real eye-moistener.
2.   ELLE L’ADORE/ SHE ADORES HIM- I'll go with a description from the brochure (accent on the BRO'  here in NZ): Actress-turned-director Jeanne Herry has crafted a very amusing and original film that is full of surprises and insights into the price of fame, the cost of “fandom” and unlikely alliances.
3. LE DERNIER COUP DE MARTEAU/THE LAST HAMMER BLOW-Reminded me of Boyhood, only in a trailer park on the coast of Southern France, with a bit of Mahler.

 
As I said at the start, I have been in a reflective mood lately, both about my time here in Timaru as well as in the universe in general. By even an optimistic estimate, I have passed the 2/3rds point in this lifetime. In a strange turn, I have had a series of dreams over weeks best described as my life slowly crawling before my eyes. All sorts of obscure people and places have appeared, and then there was the one about Fayne scoring the winning touchdown in the Superbowl for the 49ers (highly unlikely for multiple reasons). In my work and private life, I am made aware daily of how quickly things can change, usually not for the better. Skype and email have been a godsend in keeping up with those that mean the most to us. We have been able to see Kimarra lose her first two teeth, and share her excitement of her first soccer practice, as well as Isaiah's tremendous toileting triumphs! (No photos of the latter.)

We have been keeping an eye on Emma and Rick Nestler as they recover from Christmas-time mishaps. Take-home lesson: in Man vs. Table-saw, bet on the hardware. Keep up the hard work with rehab both of you, and get well soon!

Emma, Xania, and Rick

Rick with Pam Wolfe (looking a bit like Athena)

The next post will include an Easter Week trip to Hawaii (for a test, honest!). Bye for now.