This would be our last day on the Big Island and perhaps the most important. Art wanted to bring the whole family to see where he was born and raised.
It's a long drive from Kona to Honokaa so we needed another early start.
The long drive took us through dry, volcanic wasteland. It always amazes me to think that Ironmen (and women) athletes bike through this merciless terrain.
We then stopped at Spencer Beach Park in Kawaihae where Art often came with his family to picnic and swim.
We had a short stop in Waimea where we could see the observatories at the top of Mauna Kea. It had been too cloudy and rainy on our first Big Island day to see much of anything.
The Parker Ranch Shopping Center had these fun stop signs.
It was wonderful to be back in Honokaa. I could just imagine Art walking along the streets as a young boy.
We stopped at Tex Drive-In like we always do. It used to be a pretty worn out drive-in until the Japanese movie, Honokaa Boy came out.
The drive-in was now renovated and crowded with mostly Japanese tourists.
I had their teriyaki beef sandwich and it was delicious! I never got to try their square malasadas. We'll try it on our next trip.
We stopped at the local market to pick up bundles of flowers for our next important stop.
We presented flowers at the temple columbarium where Art's parents' ashes are kept and gave our prayers of homecoming and gratitude.
Someday, KC will understand the sacrifices and hard work that her great grandparents suffered so that our lives would be better.
We also stopped at the outdoor cemetery where many other relatives are buried.
Heading back into Honokaa, we stopped by what used to be Art's parents' restaurant and soda fountain, the Sweet Shoppe. It was now a grocery store.
Across the street was The
People's Theatre. It was once owned by close family friends. Art's dad was the projectionist and later manager for decades. He died less than a year after retiring from his restaurant and theatre jobs.
We were amazed at how beautiful the theatre now looked. It had a fresh coat of paint and looked new again. Like the town, the theatre appeared to be rejuvenated.
We were happy to see the theatre open so we could go in and show KC where her grandpa used to spend a lot of time.
I saw this Madagascar lizard skittering on the walls. I thought it was a rubber lizard until I saw it move. I've never seen anything like it in Hawaii before.
Art showed KC some movie slides that even had his dad's handwriting on it.
I recall my father-in-law had excellent penmanship.
Keola bought Art and himself matching People's Theatre t-shirts and some coffee to bring to Art's cousin's house in Hilo.
We mentioned to the cashier how Art's dad used to work there so they called Phaethon, the owner's daughter.
"Are you Jiro's son?" she asked. Art was stunned that she would know his dad's name.
Phaethon brought us upstairs where I know memories of the past must have overwhelmed Art.
We loved talking to Phaethon and her dad, Tawn who we learned later is a doctor. They have brought the theatre back to its former glory.
Later, Phaethon gave us more t-shirts so we could all wear one, as well as some Hamakua coffee to bring home to Oahu.
Meeting such beautiful, generous people and knowing how Tawn and Phaethon were preserving the past and building a future where the theatre would once again become the heart of the town filled us with joy.
Arriving in Hilo, we stopped at the Two Ladies Kitchen to buy strawberry mochi.
Big Island Candies was next so Tif could bring cookies home as gifts to Chicago. The cookies are expensive but so good.
Art's cousins had prepared a huge picnic dinner for us and laden us with more food to bring home with us to Oahu.
It was dark by the time we returned home.
We'd always laughingly joked that we should have a family t-shirt. Now we had the People's Theatre shirts. (Well... mom's is actually from Japan, but that's OK. It's the same color.)
We took this last photo before Keola and Sarah left to return to Washington, D.C.
This was our first time together after five years. We hoped it wouldn't be another five before we all came together again.
Whatever the case, we would always hold very precious memories of this special time.
