Articles
July in Old Waimea Town
by Bill Jardine Jun 29, 2007
July has just clattered into town, singing out rodeo cries and promising fire crackers and smoky barbecues for all those brave souls willing to bask in the summer sun. Those clever enough to fore go the rigors of the open road and stay close to home are collecting a treasure trove of starry nights and rich, golden days at the feet of the old Kohala Mountains while those traveling far away are dealing with traffic jams and “no vacancy” signs. Waimea is at its best in the bright summer.
Above town the deep green forest is glittering with fresh rains, and the streams are full of tea-colored happiness, leaping and laughing its way through the tan pastures of Ouli to join the warm, salty waters of Mau’umae. High above us the trusty trades are driving flocks of cotton ball clouds across the blue face of the sky. That sky seems to be smiling down on Waimea town, where kids are taking advantage of the summer recess to practice sports and sneak off while Mom is napping. It is a great time to practice rodeo as well. Dads are home early, calling out encouragement to little cowboys spinning their ropes at the heads of saw horse calves out in the back yards.
Deep beneath our feet the Island is awake once more as Kilauea rumbles and shakes with eruptive power. Cracks are opening in the black lava skin of the mountain, revealing the glowing koko iki, the first blood of new birth. With each tremble our eyes turn to the flanks of Mauna Loa, searching for the tell tail plume of a new lava flow. Some time this summer we may see a new phase in the great mountain’s reach for the sky.
Off shore the huge schools of tuna have arrived for a summer in the lee waters of the Hawaiian archipelago, and little white boats are cruising out into the long summer swells to fish for the treasured ruby colored sashimi so evident on 4th of July platters. The sweet fishing boat Kakalina will be no stranger to the sapphire reaches of the Kona coast this summer.
May God bless you all and keep Waimea alive in your dreams.
Imua!
Bill Jardine
William N. Jardine
