Waikiki Beach Surfing, Synchronicity, and Fleurons

I had little trouble falling asleep at 8 pm in Hawaii (2 am in Connecticut) on Monday night. I was awakened by a phone call at 3:30 am. It was CreateSpace for consultation on my book interior: fonts, accents, and fleurons. Have you ever heard of fleurons? I never had.

I asked the consultant to give me an hour, dashed to the hotel lobby for  free wi-fi, and got the CreateSpace website up so I could see examples of what she was describing. I liked everything she recommended, though I asked her to check for a fleuron that looks like a drum. Otherwise I’ll take the one that I can make believe is a lizard.

Tuesday morning we were at Waikiki Beach by 9 am for surfing and an outrigger canoe ride. Nkiru was a wonder at surfing. I gave up quickly when I nearly ‘surfed’ into a wall of rocks.

The outrigger canoe ride was fabulous. We paddled out about 500 yards where the leader directed us to wait for the right wave before paddling madly until the surf carried us in. It was an amazing feeling to be lifted like that.

So many plants and even customs remind me of Nigeria. Our guide Adam told us that people in Hawaii address their elders as Auntie or Uncle, never by first name – so familiar.

The next day we took a ride in a submarine and saw amazing sights- I loved that. Here we are on our way to the sub.

Bishop’s Museum was our afternoon stop. I was intrigued by the exhibit showing the Japanese and others who came to Hawaii to work on sugar plantations for three years, expecting to return home.

But they were paid too little and could never save enough to leave. Another example of injustice toward people without power by those who hold power.

The connections I’m finding with other grandparents on this trip are fascinating. First example: one grandmother is a writer, working on memoir. We’ve already exchanged ideas. Another couple’s daughter was in the same class as my daughter at Mount Holyoke. We’ve texted our daughters and learned that they knew each other. I’ll tell you more later.

What connections have you found when you travel?