FAMILY MATTERS
Hunt for troublesome gushing sound leads to family's 'fish'
By Ka'ohua Lucas
"Mom, I can't sleep," my 13-year-old complained.
"Why not?" I asked, swiveling around in his direction.
"It sounds like water gushing."
We entered his bedroom, inspecting areas of the room that would reveal where the annoying noise came from.
No luck.
We retraced our steps, venturing into the kitchen, considering a leaky faucet. But the hot and cold water knobs were shut tightly.
With flashlight in hand, I peered underneath the house, suspecting a broken drain pipe. Thankfully, I did not discover one.
"Let's see what happens if we try and follow the noise," I suggested.
The two of us stood still for a moment, adjusting our ears to the silence.
"There it is!" he shouted. "Do you hear it, Mom? I think it's coming from the living room."
We silently padded into the
parlor, half expecting to see water gushing from a broken gutter near the roofline of our home.
"It's Dad!" my son hollered.
My husband was flat on his back on the pune'e (daybed), snoring in front of the television.
The noise he emitted indeed sounded like running water.
In fact, the snoring reminded me of a rainstick often used for meditation and relaxation. When it is tipped over, tiny pebbles cascade down the interior of the bamboo, creating the soothing sound of rain.
Contrary to the instrument's desired outcome, my son wasn't able to lull himself to sleep.
I have read vast amounts of literature on snoring. Experts suggest a series of solutions for those challenged with someone who snores in the family.
We tried the first technique, which was to change Dad's sleeping position. We gently rolled him onto his side. The snoring seemed to worsen.
We carefully moved him to his stomach.
"Hey," my husband woke with a start. "What are you guys doing?"
"Your son can't sleep because you're snoring," I said.
"Use some earplugs!" he griped and promptly fell fast asleep on his stomach, generating short, staccato, vibrating sounds from his palate.
There is an 'olelo no'eau that refers to a person who snores.
He hou moe kaheka.
A hou fish that sleeps in a sea pool.
The hou fish is a type of wrasse, usually found darting around pockets of the reef. Its body is plump, and it often sleeps in waters less than a foot deep.
The hou snores like a human being and can easily be heard if approached quietly.
My husband's sleep habits can certainly be compared to the characteristics of the hou fish.
He hou 'oe, he i'a moe ahiahi.
You are a hou, a fish that sleeps in the evening.
The hou is a small, inoffensive fish but one that will fight when annoyed.
My son and I thought it best not to interrupt Dad's dozing any further. Instead, I shared a couple of Orthomed earplugs with him.
At last, no more sound of gushing water.
Reach Ka'ohua Lucas at Family Matters, 'Ohana section, The Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; ohana@honoluluadvertiser.com; or fax 525-8055.
