Posted on: Friday, November 26, 2004

HAWAIIAN STYLE

By Wade Kilohana Shirkey
Advertiser Staff Writer

KOKE'E, Kaua'i — Is it just a Kaua'i thing? Some there display the "Support Our Troops" car "ribbons" upside down — to show that, while they support our troops, they don't support the war.

• Kaua'i-kine graffiti? Hardly any tagging to mar that beautiful island, thank goodness. "The thing" seems to be, instead, plastering traffic signs, especially stop signs, with decals and stickers. On some, nary an inch of the original sign is showing.

• Photogenic: Kaua'i movie tours — "See Kaua'i Through Hollywood's Eyes," they boast — show the actual movie scenes on in-van TV monitors and with surround sound as they cruise the shooting locations of "Jurassic Park" 1, 2 and 3, "Raiders of the Lost Ark," "Dragonfly," "Lilo & Stitch" and "Donovan's Reef." And the two "islands" — "Gilligan's" and "Fantasy." And, of course, Elvis' "Blue Hawai'i.

• Cute-cha? The Tropical Tantrum shop in Kapa'a, handpainted clothing, batik, silk and such. Then there's the hot pink, zebra-stripped Mango Mama's in Kilauea, vegetarian fare and fruit smoothies — including mango, of course.

• Motto of the Royal Hawaiian Hammocks Factory and Gift Shop in Hanalei — "Come In and . . . Hang Around!" of course. "Hang Out! Hang Loose!" they advertise. "Come in and 'test rest' one," they invite.

• Motto of the Play Dirty Surf Shop: "Leave Your Cares On the Beach." The shop offers surf lessons, snorkeling, mountain bikes, bikinis — and rash guards! Ugh. Only a surfer could appreciate that term.

• Tis (always) the season: Santa's Vacation Hale is open year-round in Hanapepe, selling ornaments from around the world, including their own Mele Angel.

• And, which is cuter, The Whole Enchilada restaurant or the location: The Kini Popo Shopping Village in Kapa'a? And in Kapa'a, directly across from McDonald's: The Bull Shed, advertised also as a "Seafood Emporium." OK. And, Postcards Cafe in Hanalei looks like one.

• Cute restaurant names, also-rans: Big Kahuna, Blossoming Lotus, Coconuts Kaua'i, egg-place Eggbert's, Fishbowl's and Grinds Cafe. And, Bourbon Street Cafe in Princeville?

• Not misspelled: At the wonderful Waimea Plantation Cottages: The Hart-Felt Massage and Day Spa, owned by Carol Hart.

• By any other name. ... On Hulemalu Road, the so-called Lihu? Alternate Route: the street sign "SPEED HUMP AHEAD."

• Fine feathered friends: Not only are wild chickens everywhere on Kaua'i — and welcomed, for the most part — they have become a symbol of the island's rebirth, as one of the first signs of local life to rebound after Hurricane 'Iniki. Little "chicken dolls" are a common souvenir in shops.

• More fine-feathered friends: Kaua'i residents also take their shearwaters seriously: The seabird nestlings, prone to swooping around — and into — coastline lights on their initial mountains-to-the-sea flight, can be left at Bird Aid Stations, little mailbox-like cages at area firehouses. They will be cared for by local biologists. Kaua'i's Save Our Shearwater program succeeded in getting utility-owned streetlights shielded to help the little buggahs.

The Advertiser's Wade Kilohana Shirkey is kumu of Na Hoaloha O Ka Roselani No'eau hula halau. He writes on Island life.