HAWAI'I WAYS, HAWAI'I DAYS
Cruising old Waipi'o on Annabelle's hot wheels
By Rosina Moanauli Valencia
Special to The Advertiser
Waipi'o Acres in the late 1950s and early1960s was an uncomplicated and wonderful place to live.
We all came from different backgrounds. We came from diverse places such as Damon Tract, Kalihi and Palolo to become playmates and eventually lifelong friends. It was a working-class community, where a good work ethic and strong family values were the order of the day.
Those of us living in the Acres were considered "down gulch," as opposed to "up camp" (those living in plantation homes up the hill). And yet, we city slickers quickly learned the ways of our country friends.
Kipapa Elementary School was the scene of many a weekend basketball game as well as numerous water balloon fights.
It never occurred to any of us kids to vandalize or do damage to the school grounds. We had too much respect for school in those days. In fact, Mr. Fukusaki, the janitor who lived near the school and who also did the landscaping, said we were welcome to the pomegranates in his yard, just as long as we asked first.
Old-fashioned values like asking before taking, or respecting the elders were drummed into us regularly. It became as natural as breathing. Today, if any of those friends were to see my parents, they would be addressed as Mr. or Mrs. Manaku. To this day, I can't ever address their parents by their first names, either.
When we felt adventurous, a gang of us girls and boys would go hiking into the backwoods by the pineapple fields. This was all pre-Mililani Town. The biggest fear we had was the possibility of encountering "wild dogs," which, happily, never happened.
Along the way we'd pick wild liliko'i, guava and even plums, which we brought home to ferment in lemon. Just tasting those plums today triggers a very fond memory. If we got hungry then, we'd simply rip a pineapple right from the field. Boy, did we feel daring!
In the days before polyurethane skates, we'd roller skate on metal skates. Those skates required a skate key to adjust to the wearer's shoe. Once the skates were broken, the wheels were then hammered onto old plywood and transformed into a skate-car machine almost worthy of the Indy 500!
Annabelle, as we so lovingly christened our skate-car, enabled three of us at a time to go careening down the concrete culvert, leaning left to turn left, leaning right to turn right.
Braking consisted of dragging our feet on the ground with our slippahs.
Of course, there were occasions when we didn't brake fast enough and would crash right into some reinforcement bars. I'm sure those poor construction workers would shake their heads in puzzlement, wondering how in the world those rebars got so bent. It's a good thing we were never caught in the act.
Waipi'o Acres may be showing her age a bit, and may even be overshadowed by Mililani Town. But that place will forever hold a special place in my heart. No one can take that away from those of us who had the pleasure and joy of growing up in a simpler and gentler time.
Rosina Moanauli Valencia lives in 'Aiea.
Hawai'i Ways, Hawai'i Days is a column of essays by readers on what makes Hawai'i unique. Send your article of 500-600 words to: Hawai'i Ways, Hawai'i Days, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; e-mail islandlife@honoluluadvertiser.com; or fax 525-8055. Sending a picture of yourself is optional. Articles and photos submitted to The Advertiser may be published or distributed in print, electronic or other forms.
