Posted by Robert Ebanez on January 26, 2009 at 10:00pm
This is the first short story of my life living in the town of Pahala, Ka'u on the Big Island of Hawaii during the 1960's to present.It was a Saturday morning in 1969, after a sleep over at Aunty Celine and Uncle Cosme Lumanlan's house, my cousin Paul age 14 and I age 12 went hunting up to Ali'i forest, way above the town of Pahala. Just the two of us and our hunting dogs ,well, more like hunting puppies, journeyed to Ali'i forest.Armed with our home made sling shots,that will stop any pig, yeah right,,,,we had our trusty hunting knifes too and that's it. No emergency kit, no compass,no match, only one canteen water ..cell phone....wish..you know where this story is heading. In other words, poor Risk Management.It took us about 3 hours to walk from Pahala to Ali'i forest. Now, here we are deep in the Ali'i forestand we finally agreed that we were lost. We hiked into valleys that we never knew existed. However,it was beautiful in the valleys, but really was kinda creepy but okay...You know a lot of Mana.in the forest.We just wanted to go home alive. We wanted our mommies....funny yeah...not funny if was you lost in the forest....anyway, Paul had a great idea . He said if we follow the water in the stream, it should lead us south and free from the forest. We found a stream,but it was dry. Bummer, next is Plan C ..We thought of leaving signs indicating we were here in case rescue comes looking for us. In other words, we kinda kiss our okole's good- bye. Problem was thought, we did not tell anyone we went hunting and to where. Like I said poor Risk management.After wandering in the Al'ii forest serveral more crying hours we saw a Sun light between the trees in the late afternoon, so we followed that opening and we were free.I wanted to kiss the cane truck road and thank God our lucky stars.We got home at Lumanlan's house late that night and Aunty and Uncle was watching TV.The first thing Aunty Celine said to us was 'guys hungry? Aunty made for you guys kau kau cause I know you folks going be hungry. go eat..."Man we were freaking hungry and grind the food. Our parents never knew we were two lost lolo's in the Ali'i forest in Ka'u.Bobby E 2009
You know boys will be boys....we all learn from our Kolohe days when we were young....When Paul and I walked into the Hapu forest we kinda lost it, unless you hike or hunt in a Hapu forest you know what I mean..It is like a umbrella and there is no way you can climb up the trees to see where is the ocean. When we thought we were heading south going down this long hill we felt like free at last,then at the bottom of this long hill we had to climb up the other side of this valley. Our hopes were dashed and the sun was going down. Not a good sign with no cell phones at hand.....I thank God everyday....Take care my friend. Bobby E
I think we've all had those feelings of hopelessness, whether as a result of worldly circumstances or otherwise spiritually. It's the lessons we take away from those experiences to approach similar circumstances that tests our ability to really 'listen.' Mahalo for your manao.
Comments
You know boys will be boys....we all learn from our Kolohe days when we were young....When Paul and I walked into the Hapu forest we kinda lost it, unless you hike or hunt in a Hapu forest you know what I mean..It is like a umbrella and there is no way you can climb up the trees to see where is the ocean. When we thought we were heading south going down this long hill we felt like free at last,then at the bottom of this long hill we had to climb up the other side of this valley. Our hopes were dashed and the sun was going down. Not a good sign with no cell phones at hand.....I thank God everyday....Take care my friend. Bobby E