Preachers' Sons 2: The Nineties - 5. Hulu Kahiko

Things at our table became very chaotic and loud! That was a tradition for all families and we were family. The two turkeys were pretty well destroyed. I was grateful for that as I didn’t want too many leftovers. The green bean casserole was gone! The sweet potato soufflé was gone. (I didn’t care for sweet potatoes just put out. My mother taught me to make the souffle, and I think I got it right. It was gone! That was proof. There were the many groans and confessions telling everyone they ate too much. Until I pointed to the cakes and pies. Suddenly, they found room. I brought out two sour cream pies.

“What’s that?” Wayne asked.

“Sour Cream pie. It’s like a cheesecake,” I explained cutting a slice and putting it on a small plate. “It's sort is like a pie...kind of.” I waved the knife I used to cut the pie. “All these recipes come from her.”

Mom shook her head, “No, from your grandmother. She taught them to me.” She smiled, “And he makes them very well.”

The day was pleasant. There was the usual cranky young ones, Chogan and Breanna were getting aggressive and were put down for naps. I could imagine what Brandi was like at that age. Breanna resisted until she finally relented and was asleep. J.J. was fascinated by all that was happening around him, and he liked being held by all these people. Both of his grandmothers, Brandi and Sharon...he liked the attention. He may not remember his first holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas, but we would. Pictures were taken and promises to share them.

Elias’ and my phone rang; the one attached to our computer. I knew it could only be a few people. Jonathan, Elias’ father, or my father. Elias was closest and answered it a little cautiously. He answered whomever and held the phone up and called my mother. It was apparently my father. I didn’t need to hear his side of the conversation as my mother told by her body language. She answered the phone, and she wasn’t closed off but also cautious. Her answers were short, yet calm. She was fine and had a good visit with us. How was his Thanksgiving? J.J. was fine, and so were we. She’d be home in two weeks. The call ended.

The two brothers here were in deep conversation with their mother. Leia and I would find out more as time went by.

The tradition in most families was the one that cooked didn’t have to clean up. I was fine with that. I detested cleaning up. I sat at the computer while that was happening. Elias, David, Wayne, and Thao cleaned up. I did some research. Were added benefits to brewing both coffee and cocoa beans. I mean, brewing them together! The one drinking this got the caffeine but not the jitters! It had antioxidants for health benefits. Other countries knew about this now. There was mocha but this was different. Hawai’i had coffee and they had chocolate. I prided my shoppe was made with local ingredients. I had access to both coffee and chocolate from Peru! I could see Peruvian Cocoa Coffee served at the shops.

I could see the bottled cocoa coffee in my head. It would be an import, but most of my coffee was imported. Then my mind went to the different chocolates! Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, made separately and poured together. They could sweeten it as they liked or gotten it hot or cool. Bottles gotten for later as well as right now. For school or work!

“Whatcha thinking about?” Elias asked very happy.

I smiled at him as he held J.J. I touched our drowsy son. “Business!” I replied. “Your mother gave you a great present.”

Elias nodded, smiling at the idea, “And totally out of the blue! We grew up there, but I had no idea we owned it!”

“Not just the house!” I added. “The plantation! All those coffee and cocoa plants. I was thinking what I could do with it, providing I can use them.”

“It’s yours, too.” Elias said quickly, “Of course, you can.”

“Your mother wants me to run it,” I protested. “I can, but I’m not there. David will be. So is Leia.” I waved toward town. “I have a business here and I’m starting my practice here. This is J.J.’s home.”

“I know,” Elias agreed. “I told her that.”

I grudged a nod, “There’s Jonathan.”

Elias smiled, “Yes, and Heather. David wants to use the house as a hospital.” He shrugged a nod, “There are ten to eleven bedrooms. It could be.”

“That many?” My eyebrows rose amazed.

“The original owner planned for a lot of children,” Elias said, with sadness. “His wife died giving birth to his first child, who also died. He never married again.” He smiled, “We’ll see it, I promise.”

“I’d love to see where you grew up,” I agreed.

Thao came over, “Am I interrupting?”

“Are there any coffee shops offering coffee and chocolate in Hawai’i?”

Thoa looked confused as he thought, “Am I assuming you aren’t talking about Mocha Coffee. I don’t think so.”

“We need to look into that,” I said.

“I was going to tell you this next week,” Thoa began. “We’ve looked at ways to export your Tea Soda. We’ve tried concentrates and even freezing.” He smiled. “We came up with a powder form that can be exported.” He shrugged a nod. “To be the best, you need carbonated water to taste right. We could ship Hawai’ian water. That won’t spoil.”

I nodded, “If they don’t it might as well be Kool-aid.”

“What’s wrong with Kool-aid?” Elias balked lightly. “We drank it a lot in Peru!”

“It’s supposed to be tea!” I shot back. “A soda version, but tea.”

“We’ll find a solution,” Thao promised.

I had seen the few pictures Elias had of the house we was raised in; I had been raised in the South of the United States of America and I knew plantation houses. The grand white homes with those columns in front. At least the ones that escaped Sherman’s burning of them during the Civil War. This house was not like any of them. It wasn’t like any ranch house. It wasn’t Tara (I preferred Twelve Oaks) if you’ve seen the movie or even South Fork in Texas. (That was from Gone with the Wind and the show Dallas, if you don’t know.) It wasn’t Falcon Crest. It was brown from the dark wood. Imagine someone baked a sheet cake and put it on stilts on the side of a hill. Another lesser cake put on top of that and another lesser cake on top of that. The bottom was large with a wraparound porch all around. The second story had the same as did the top floor. The surprising thing was the hanging roof that shielded what was underneath hanging over by two or three feet. The house had been built when his wife was expecting their first child, and many more were planned for.

“Where we were we got rain,” Elias explained to me. “Days, if not weeks of steady rain. Those coverings covered the porches. The rain would run off the top floor and run off the second floor and the last floor. My brothers and I could play on the porch and not get the least bit wet.” He smiled at a memory. “It was a great place to grow up.”

He brightened beside me quickly. “We could go this Summer!”

“You usually teach the Summer semesters,” I pointed out but wasn’t not wanting to go. I grudged a nod. “We haven’t had a vacation, so I guess...sure. I own the Coffee Shoppe, so I’d love to.” I was quickly thinking about what needed to be done. I had a passport, but where was it? It was here...somewhere. I looked at J.J.. He would need one, wouldn’t he? I assumed he would need one. My photograph needed updating and J.J. needed one. There was Monday to do that. “How long do you think will we be gone?”

Elias shrugged, “Two weeks? We could be there three or four weeks.”

I touched J.J. and Elias knew why I asked. “Oh, he will need a passport.” He shrugged, “Or we leave him with a grandma.” He grinned.

“For three or four weeks!?” I shook my head immediately. “No. I won’t have him worrying about our leaving him for even one weekend! We go, he goes! I’m not missing a day of his life.”

Elias smiled and nodded, “Okay. Look up the requirements to take a child out of the United States.” He waved at me and the computer.

Typing quickly, I saw the requirements. The main thing was Elias, and I had to agree, and documentation of custody was needed. We had that. His birth certificate and his adoption papers. “We’re talking about June. He’ll be nine months to ten months old.” I grudged a shrug, “And I will need tutoring in Spanish.”

Joy came over and handed me a folder. “Here are the last reports sent by Ernesto. The bank is Banco de Credito del Peru. Most of the money was reinvested into the plantation. The last deposit was a month ago and there’s just over seven million in Peruvian sol.”

I looked at her with widening eyes. “And that in United States dollars?”

“Just about two million,” Joy smiled and held her hand up. “Remember, that will be divided by five.”

Elias nodded, “For you and Dad, David, Steve, Jonathon and me?”

Joy nodded and smiled at Elias, “Of course.”

My head was swimming, “Do they send these reports by computer or fax?”

Joy shook her head, “No. Sara, Ernesto’s daughter has been asking to get a computer, but Ernesto didn’t want to.” She shrugged. “He’s great at management but feared learning to use one.”

“Sara works there?” I asked.

Joy nodded, “Since she was ten years old. She’s the bookkeeper. She is familiar with Lotus.”

“He may not,” I muttered. “She will.” I looked at Elias. “We need to send them a computer and phone for long-distance calls. They will have to learn. What is the time difference with it there?”

“Five hours,” Elias said immediately. He had called before between Hawai’i and Peru.

“It’s not Thanksgiving there, right?” I asked.

“No,” Elias answered.

“How do they feel about us?” I waved between Elias and myself.

Elias shrugged, “The natives don’t care. In the city of Lima there are fundamentalists that might object but will say nothing.”

I looked at Joy. “What time does Mr. Montero start his day?”

“Between six and seven in the morning,” Joy answered. “He leaves about six in the evening.”

“Do they use email?” I asked.

“They have them,” Joy admitted. “Sara uses hers.” She pointed on one report.

I nodded and went into my email. “It’s after eleven at night there now.” I entered the email address. I looked at Joy. “We can do it Monday morning. We need to arrange a conference call to there. Say noon their time?”

“That will be costly,” Joy said hesitantly.

“We can write that off as business expense,” I waved that off. “We’ll sent a computer and tell them how to use the internet to call later. There’s coffee and chocolate there!” Then I stopped and stood up. “If you would, Eli. The email is in our contacts now, but you can write the message in Spanish. I can’t.”

Eli nudged his mother, “Or you could write it. They know you.”

Joy chuckled, “They each speak English. Sara does the best as she’s the one that sends me the reports. But, sure.” She sat a typed. She was pretty fast. Faster than me but not as fast as my mother. “You said noon on Monday?”

“That would be best for us,” Eli said. “Or whenever they decide would be better. They can email us and tell us.”

I picked up the reports and straightened them, “Does Jonathan know about this?”

Joy grudged a shrug, “Jonathan does. Steve wasn’t interested in the plantation.” She sighed, “Just as his father doesn’t.”

“I need to go by the office at the University,” I said more outloud than telling anyone. I looked at Eli, “It’s a holiday and it will be mostly shut down. No one there.”

“Why?” Eli asked.

“I need to scan these to disk and send them to David, Steve, and Jonathan,” I answered. “David’s here, but he needs a copy on file. Us, too. Steve needs one.”

“Should we buy a scanner?” Eli asked.

“No,” I smiled and patted the computer, “There’s a fax application I can use. The application can receive the fax, and the printer will print it.” I shrugged, “Future reports can be received as email and stored here. We might later, but right now your brothers need copies for their files.”

“The office will be closed,” Joy said.

“Yes,” I waved at Eli. “Eli has a key as a Department Head.” I looked at Joy. “Why did you tell me first?”

Joy hit “send” and the message was sent. She looked at me smiling, “Jonathan.”

“Jonathan?” I asked.

“He was so impressed with your Tea Soda.” She explained. “I researched you and the business you created. You have the mind for business.” She touched the now sleeping J.J. “It’s time I step back. I knew the plantation should be passed down and with the next generation coming, I knew it would remain in the family.” She looked at me. “You are family.”

I was blown away. “You think I’m family? Your family.”

Joy hugged me. “I admit it. I thought your relationship with Eli would die. Here we are nearly a decade longer, and I don’t see that anymore. You’re a father with Eili to J.J. That shows how dedicated you are.” She grudged a nod, “Even without J.J. You are family. I was wrong about you.”

“Thank you,” I was tearing up. I looked back in the family room and saw our other guests. “We need to go back to our guests.” I had one more question. “How in the world did you keep your husband out of this?” I waved the reports. “This goes back nearly a hundred years! He had to know something.”

Joy waved that off, “Eli’s father wasn’t a farmer.” She snorted a laugh. “Nor was his father,” she looked at Eli, “your grandfather. They were there to save souls. Worldly matters didn’t concern them. No, their wives took control and ran it well.” She said proudly.

“I had help with what I did,” I admitted.

“No,” Eli corrected. “To create more income, you took tea and made it very popular. That was you.” He grinned at me. “Tomorrow morning we’ll go by the University and show you where I work. Eric can use the scanner and send it from the computer there. Then we can go by the Coffee Shoppe and see where Eric works. Then we’ll show you our island home!”

Thao had been right there when Joy had explained what was happening. He looked a bit worried, “Just tell me you aren’t leaving.”

Elias smiled and touched his friend’s arm, “This is my home. It’s Eric’s and J.J.’s home. I worked too hard to get here. I am with the University of Hawai’i. We may take some trips to Peru, but this is and will always be home.”

It’s impolite to eavesdrop. My mother, ever the proper Southern Belle would never eavesdrop. She wasn’t stupid and we weren’t quiet. I hugged her. “I’m starting my practice soon. Eli is Head of the Philosophy Department. I can’t say we won’t move, but I don’t want to move. J.J. is home now.”

Mom smiled and I saw her resolve to the situation, “There’s only a direction difference. I can see J.J. here or in Peru.” She thought quickly, “I’ll need a passport.” She looked irritated. “Your father never wanted to travel so I never got one. You have yours from when your class went to England.”

I nodded, “Which I need to find. It needs updating.”

Elias suddenly said loudly, “We’re not moving people! Take that out of your minds!”

“I tell Eric years ago,” Aunt Tessa said quietly. “He and Eli no leave. They go week, month or even year. They no leave.”

Elias motioned to Aunt Tessa, “Hear that? She knows.”

“I see another couple of commercials for you,” I pointed at Brandi. “If you don’t mind.”

Brandi held a fussing Breanna, “Count me in.” She turned to Mike. “I think Breanna’s had enough.”

Mike nodded, “It is getting late. Do we meet tomorrow?”

“And take something home!” I insisted. “I want little leftovers.”

We agreed to meet at the university just before noon. Eli and I would got to the University first with our mothers. I was still overwhelmed by what we found out about the plantation. The truth was, the family was growing up. David was completing his residency in a year. He was returning to Peru afterwards. He was born there and Leia was, too. Jonathan was getting married next year. I knew he would be the one to take over the plantation. I had no idea what Heather’s degree would be. Steve? Who knew. He and Alison were marrying sometime but hadn’t given us a wedding date. Now, I was family to the Jonases. My place would be beside Eli. However, I was planning to practice psychology here. I could do it in Peru, but my home was here.

J.J. was bathed by his grandmothers, fed and put to bed. It was morning when I came out to hear my mother on the phone. The internet phone. J.J. had his own schedule, and he needed changing, and feeding. He let us know it was time. I didn’t want him to wake up the house, so I got to him quickly.

“...he’s fine. Eric and Eli are great fathers,” Mom said softly. She looked back at me and smiled. “Yes, that’s him. J.J. is healthy and very happy.” There was a pause then Mom said. “He’s got a great support with some very nice people.” There was another pause. “Yes, perhaps that explains why you are alone right now. You chose to be.” Mom sighed. “Richard, I’m not going to argue with you. Eric is my son. He is raising our grandson and doing a great job! Hold on to those principles and be alone. Eric made a choice and it’s working. You have food. I will be home in two weeks. Good-bye.”

“Is everything alright?” I asked bringing J.J. to her and placing him in her arms. “He’s clean. Just hungry.” I played with a tiny hand reaching for me. “I know it’s early, but I think he’s teething. He is developing everything early.”

Mom chuckled, “No, he’s following his mother and uncle. Lynn and you did this.” She pointed at me. “You did it at three months. Your sister was at four months.”

“He’s a big eater with no teeth! I dread him getting teeth,” I admitted. “You were obviously talking with Dad.”

She nodded and sighed sadly, “Yes. Am I hurting him on purpose? I guess I am.” She got an angry look, “He’s so judgmental.” She shook her head, “At first, I did. I thought you were sick, but I saw you and Eli are devoted and truly love each other. Your father is so sure he can judge. How? He’s not God. I won’t judge you anymore. You have a good life with Elias.”

J.J. let us both know he was getting impatient.

“Sorry,” I chuckled. “I’m getting it.”

While Mom fed J.J. I checked the email and saw the message sent by Sara. It was in English. Apparently, they had known about what would happen and said her father and brothers would be ready Monday at noon.

Getting everybody together was not easy. Diapers, formula, his new best friend was a bear. We packed! We took our new vehicle and went to the University. In the office we knew would be closed. I turned the computer on by the scanner. I had used one with text pages I needed that weren’t in memory.

“Your password?” I asked.

Elias grinned, “My birthday, your birthday, and our wedding day...no years. Our son’s real name and that special character over the 2.” He smiled. “I think you enjoy the prospect of a new business.”

“I’m enjoying that your mother sees me as part of the Jonas family,” I corrected. I raised my “I’ve got a point finger.” I turned to Eli, “We have David and Jonathan on our side, yes. Your mother told me she saw me as family. She gave me control over a family business!” I grudged a nod, “Whether it is because of J.J. doesn’t matter. We have your mother on our side. I have your mother on my side!”

Eli grunted, “It took nearly a decade. Your mother took less than a month!”

“But it happened,” I pointed out. “Jonathan and David accepted it instantly.” I sighed. “Our fathers may never accept it. I don’t kid myself about that.” I typed quickly. “Now J.J.’s name. Just Justin?”

“That’s right,” Eli nodded.

It took a few minutes, and I had the documents together in a file. “Now, your brothers email addresses and ours.” I slipped the floppy disk and saved it. “A hard copy saved.” It got the disk out and rose from the chair. “To our mothers! We’ll show them the island.”

We left our mothers, David and Leia with the children on the outdoor pavilion of the Student Union. Brandi, Mike, Sharon, Wayne, Thao, our children were gathered around one table under the overhang.

“We’ll show you around here at the University,” Eli said. “The sky is clear now...”

“This is the beginning of Ho’oilo,” I added. “It will rain. You really don’t know when.”

“Ho’oilo?” Joy asked while holding J.J.

“Hawai’i’s winter,” Eli explained. “Then we go by Eric’s Coffee Shoppe. See some sites...”

“Do you have your church clothes?” I asked knowing they did.

“Church!?” Joy asked, startled.

“Yes,” Eli nodded, “It’s in Pahoa near us. It’s part of the Metropolitan Community Church worldwide. It was founded by a gay preacher for all of us.”

“Including straights!” I added. “I know my mother brought something that isn’t Hawai’i. We’ll see Hawai’i’s Volcano National Park...also near here...”

“You ladies can take our mothers shopping to get something more appropriate,” Eli grinned. “We can break Wayne in.”

Wayne looked a bit worried, “Break me in?”

“You’re one of us now,” I nodded. “We did with Mike!”

“I’m one of the family!” Mike declared. “Ohana!”

“Tonight, there is a Thanksgiving Luau!” Eli said happily and pointed at his mother and mine. “You two are coming!”

Brandi sat forward, “You can go to the Volcano Park,” she began. “Sharon and I will keep the children with us at Mike’s and my house.” She touched her daughter’s head. “The children don’t need to breathe those gases.”

Joy’s eyes widened, “I know there are volcanoes here but to go to one? Is it safe?”

“Thousands of generations say it is,” Eli chuckled with a nod. “We won’t be going into one. It will be a safe distance.” He looked at Thao. “How long has that one been erupting?”

Thao grudged a shrug, “Off and on for hundreds of years...perhaps thousands of years.” He grinned, “Are we doing the Kahiko there?”

“Right there at the top near Pele’s volcano,” I nodded.

“Kahiko?” Wayne asked with a smile.

“The Hulu Kahiko is a dance,” I grinned.

Sharon laughed, “As much as I’d love to see the grass skirt on Wayne...” She smiled. “I might as well tell you. He’s so impressed with you. I asked him if he’d consider moving here. He is a lawyer.”

Mike patted Wayne’s back, “We need lawyers. What sort of law do you practice?”

“Contract law for now,” Wayne answered. “I’ve done some trials. I could be a defender.”

Brandi nudged Sharon, “We’ll have everything!” She waved at Mike, “Law Enforcer and a defense attorney.”

“Why am I doing this?” Wayne asked.

“You’ll be less haole,” Eli said simply.

“Haole?” Wayne asked.

“Originally,” I began to explain. “It was for anyone not native born.” I waved at Eli and myself. “We are still haole, but we are ohana.”

“This Hulu Kahiko is more than swaying hips and waving arns,” Wayne grinned and did sway his hips and did the waving arms to the side.

Thao smiled with a nod, “Much more. It’s for telling stories, history or even prayer. The waving arms is the ocean. The steps is for ʻāina...or land...it’s sacred for us.” He raised his arms over his head as he asked Pele something. “This is to ask Pele, or God, to accept...” he lowered his arms and crossed them over his chest in a smooth movement, “and love,” he then rocked an invisible baby to his heart, “this new life and welcome them as family or ohana.” He did slow steps gracefully and seamlessly. He was quite good. He’d been raised here and knew it well. He looked at Wayne, “You aren’t a baby but new here, so it’s the same thing. The positioning of the fingers is important. Pele will understand if it isn’t just right. She’s very patient and knows your haole.”

Wayne grudged a shrug, “We’re not all perfect.”

Thao turned to me and Eli, “You have to do it for J.J.” He looked at Mike, “Breana was born here, but she has haole parents. You need to for Breana and Brandi. Brandi has been here and I consider ohana now. The Hulu Kahiko will cement this with Pele.”

“Isn’t that idolatry?” Joy asked.

“Why?” I asked her. “If you address God by any name, is it not still God?” I shrugged, “Jehovah, Abba, Elohim, Shaddai...it all Him.” I pointed up in the sky. “Here they call him Pele. It’s one name they use and yes there are other gods, but they are for different aspects of God. The biggest and most powerful is Pele. Who's to say He isn’t?”

“The image of her is frightening,” Eli chuckled. “The stories about Pele’s battle with Namaka...Pele’s sister, the goddess of water and oceans which is still ongoing...”

“That’s why we’re going to Halema’uma’u to don the Hulu Kahiko.” I stated.

Eli looked at his watch, “It’s lunch. We can go to the Coffee Shoppe or get something to eat. The Luau is at sunset on the west side of the island.” He grinned at me, “Near where we were married.”

“There are some gorgeous sunsets there,” I said.

“Jonathan showed some pictures to me,” Joy told us. “Are there more than those few?”

‘We’ll show you,” Eli was very happy having won his mother back in his life.

“There are plenty,” I added.

We showed her the campus. My mother had been here that one time a year ago. Now it was Joy’s turn. Most of the students had either gone home or were with friends for the weekend. We showed her the lecture auditorium where Eli preached philosophy. The sky was clouded with the hint of rain as Ho’olio was beginning. Taking a dozen adults and three young children took planning. It was good that Thao and Mike drove separately. We took them by the Coffee Shoppe. It had changed in the past decade. Gone were the many herbs and cures. The bins with the fruits and exotic vegetables now had coffee and tea. The sitting area was bigger with small tables to sit and eat the tasty things Aunt Tessa had made to consume while slowly drinking the coffee and tea. My mother hadn’t seen it all. Joy had never seen it.

“You own this,” Joy said in awe. She looked at the cooler that had the cool supply of tea soda. “Jonathan told me about that,” she waved at the surroundings, “but all this!”

“Where the coffee and chocolate from Peru will be sold and consumed,” I grudged a nod. “Hawai’i has coffee and chocolate which can be sold now. We have to make them to be bought.” I looked at Thao. “We need to come up with a selling boast.”

Thao nodded, “The Hawai’ian product and the import. It will sell.” He was thinking. “We should have a line ready by the first of the new year.”

Breana was getting cranky, and Chogan was quickly following.

“Okay,” Brandi laughed. “Sharon and I will take these three home and puut two down for naps.” She looked at her husband. “You take the men and their mothers to do...” he grinned, “what you’re doing to bring Wayne into the family. You bring the mothers back and we’ll take them shopping. We have the luau to go to.”

I frowned, “But I still don’t like poi. I’ve tried it. No matter who makes it. It could be just in my head, but...” I shook my head. “No. Not going to happen.”