HAPPY ENDING: HAWAIIAN CRUISE DELIVERS ME HOME ON CHRISTMAS DAY

DATE CONFUSED? Today is Dec. 28. I had stopped blogging from the cruise ship and waited til I got home on Dec. 25 to finish these last posts. So the date on a post is the date of the posting, not the day on the ship I was writing about. The cruise started on Dec. 18 and ended Dec. 25. My blogging finished up on the 26th and today. So no, I did not spend Christmas morning, as it may have appeared, on the Big Island. I got home Christmas morning as you will see to celebrate with friends and family in Honolulu.

A MAUI LITTLE CHRISTMAS

Kahului Harbor, Maui. Friday, 23. 8am

MAUI.

NOT MAUI, HAWAII.

JUST MAUI.

Those were the first lines I wrote in 1987 when I wrote a story about Maui for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. It was my way of saying that one day, everyone would know Maui as Maui. Period. Just Maui. And so this has come to pass. I was the Maui Bureau Chief then, writing about everything and anything that concerned the tri-county area of Maui, Lanai and Molokai. This three-year stint allowed me to get to know these three islands very well. And to make some wonderful friends there.

As we pulled into the harbor, it appeared the haze from the Big Island had followed us. Still a stunning beauty, Maui is the island most tourists love best. It probably has the most local haoles (caucasians) living in Hawaii; if you go to Kihei and Wailea on the south shore, you might think you are in California or Canada, and if you go to Lahaina, on the northwest shore, you might think you are in Newport Beach, CA.

Where are the locals, the Hawaiians, you might be asking. Well, the Filipinos who came to Maui to work the pineapple fields are congregated in the central part of Maui, in Kahalui. The Portuguese, who came to Maui to be luna, or bosses, for the pineapple growers settled upcountry on the east Maui slopes of Haleakala volcano in the cowboy town of Makawao. The windsurfers are in Paia town. The veggie farmers and growers of protea and other flowers are in Kula, upcountry on the Haleakala slopes. The U.S. mainland and Canadian retirees congregate mostly in Wailea, Kihei and the Kaanapali coast. And the Hawaiians??? They are mostly in Hana (where Oprah has a home and property, as does Kris Kristoferson and Jim Nabors) and Keanae where Hawaian taro growers flourish; some Hawaiians are also on West Maui's northeastern-most coast. The winegrowers are up on Haleakala at the slopes of Ulupalakaua. Kahalui and Wailuku towns

The mayor sits in Wailuku, near the center of Maui, along with the city government. Let's not forget our visiting whales, who come in the winter to the warm waters off Lahaina.

Maui is the most diverse island, population-wise, and in tourist attractions that keep the tourists very busy. It was also the first island to give away public beaches to developers in Hawaii, which started a trend. Now every builder of luxury hotels in Hawaii insists on beach front property and will fight for it, whatever....whatever... it takes. I covered this beat and can tell you, it's true! I will leave it at that!

MY BREAKFAST NOOK

The aft, the back of the boat, my favorite breakfast nook. Every port I took time away from my early morning writing schedule and had a continental breakfast of Raisan Bran, coffee, a tiny croissant, and sometimes some eggs and bacon for protein. It was always peaceful as the boat gently rocked and most of the tourist headed out for their shore excursions.

Since my cabin is an inside birth with no windows, the fresh air, the bright sun, and the sight of a beautiful island shore added to my relaxed mornings. My "womb" served well for sleeping soundly and for writing quietly, so I am not complaining. Just mixing metaphors -- womb with nook. Get it?

A MAUI VISIT AND A CHRISTMAS STORY WORTH TELLING

Scott and Marita, two of my very favorite people in the whole world, have a Christmas tale worth repeating -- it seems every time I am able to visit, it gets retold. It's one of those fairy tales that you don't mind hearing over and over, kinda like The Night Before Christmas.

Here's the very short version. Ten years ago, and just a few days before Christmas, Scott, a postal worker in Kula, was supposed to pick up Marita for their second date. Scott was a divorcee taking care of two young daughters; Marita had just broken off a relationship, and her daughter Katie was far, far away. Her friend Stephanie (that's me), tho, was nearby, and had offered her a plane ticket to Honolulu so Marita wouldn't have to spend Christmas alone. She refused, saying she was fine and looking forward to her date with Scott. The night of the date, Scott's truck was broadsided by thieves speeding away from a convenience story. He cracked his head against his window and was air-vacked to Honolulu for surgery. Marita was called by Scott's older daughter Cory who explained that her dad had not stood her up but was in the hospital, etc. With little thought about it, Marita called me and asked for that plane ticket. Her Christmas and New Years was spent at Scott's side, working her healing magic. In miraculous time, he was well enough to leave to ......my place! Where they stayed for another week of Scott's healing and Marita's loving care.

It's one of those Christmas memories that will never grow old. It's a story that bonds us, and a love that deepens with years. It still brings tears. A Christmas dinner with Scott and Marita and family added to the holiday spirit of my Christmas Cruise. Marita's duck stew and festive sugary walnut salad and homemade rolls completed my truly lovely Christmas dinner with this blended family, which this year included two wonderful guys who will soon be joining the family.


CHRISTMAS EVE ABOARD THE PRIDE OF ALOHA

When I booked this trip, I wondered what they would plan for Christmas eve, our last night before docking back in Honolulu. I wanted it to feel festive and special. And so it did. They had decorated the ship to look like a Christmas Cruise indeed!

And while the crew and staff led us in Christmas carols, we all waited for Santa to show up.

We heard the jingles of bells, and then found Santa and the elves starting to take photos of families and couples in the atrium.

Did I dare to do it alone??? Why not, I said. And so I got in line. When my turn came, I was 8 years old and giddy inside. Wow! I can't remember the last time I sat on Santa's lap. If ever. I'm sure we did as kids, but I don't have one family photo to prove it.

So this might be the only photo that exists in all the world's archives of me on Santa's lap. Try it sometime, you oldies but goodies. It really is trippy! Something we have lost perhaps that should be a revised tradition for the kid in us all??

There was a small, interdenominal church service that afternoon, and about 30 people gathered to bring in Christmas with a local pastor and his wife, a hula dancer and minister. The loveliest part, besides her hula dances to the Lord, was the sharing of stories by some of those attending. The most touching was the story of chaplains, soldiers and families at Fort Sam Houston in Texas using their own money to build schools and orphanages in Iraq. Christmas, after all, is about love and sharing and the Christ child who came into the world to bring Good News to all, especially the poor and destitute, the sick and needy, and the captives who need freeing. And the angels said, Amen, Hallelujah!

THE LAST SUPPER
With this my last night, I had dreams of enjoying a fine dining restaurant with my new friends that I met the first day we set sail. Thanks to Erika and her sister Gretchen and husband Lee , I had dinner with them at Crossings, one of the six speciality restaurants onboard. Erika presented me with a white ribbon lei that she made herself; Lee and Gretchen received red ribbon leis from Erika to match their Christmassy red outfits. We conversed about my work and their lives in Phoenix. Lee and Gretchen are travellers and experienced cruisers. Erika too; she lost her husband last year and is finding a new balance in life with great joy and peace.

That night, after a wonderful turkey dinner, I
packed my bags and prepared a small gift bag with a tip for my cabin steward Paul. Always gracious and helpful, Paul is a Filipino from Guam, where his wife and children reside. He took care of 15 rooms; he's in his third month of a five month stint as a cabin steward on the Pride (his pay is not great, though he works hard to send money home; tips help for sure). The service onboard was always courteous and done with a smile. I was glad to have Paul to be a constant and familiar face who cared for my room daily.

CHRISTMAS DAY ARRIVAL IN HONOLULU

They really make disembarking to easy. Just leave your packed luggage outside your stateroom the night before the ship docks back in Honolulu and keep what you need for the overnight ride back to home port. Departures are planned by floors and timed to go smoothly, even allowing time for breakfast before leaving the ship.

I must say, I felt sooo relaxed when I disembarked. It was so easy and the trip was so relaxing that it came as a big surprise to me that I felt unhassled, no strain, and no taxing of my patience, as so often happens when I travel to the Mainland by plane and have to deal with airports.

Would I recommend cruising? ABSOLUTELY!!! It's a wonderful way to be pampered while traveling. I look forward to other cruises in other places one of these many other days ahead of me.

I was met at Aloha Tower by Richard and Wanda, two friends from my church. We dropped my bags at home and headed for Christmas day services with my church family. It was wonderful being back and among old friends again.

The highlight at the service at First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu, led by pastor Dan Chun, was when Dan passed the mike among the congregation asking for Christmas stories. I was tempted to share my Christmas cruise story, but I had a better story that I was able to share. The joy and sweetness of my Mom's healing from bitter feelings, guilt, and regrets that she has been carrying for decades. A miracle had happened to our family this past Thanksgiving and I wanted to share it. As I talked about how this came about, I could feel I was speaking into someone else's life and that this story would have relevance. And sure enough, two church members came up to me afterward and expressed their reaction: "There's hope for our mom." "At Christmas, there is always hope!", I told them. I ended my story with these words: "This is the most meaningful Christmas ever. The coming of the Christ is so clear to me this year, that He came to set the captives free!"

ADIEU TO YOU

Many thanks for tagging along on my Christmas Cruise. I hope you found it fun, informative and a foolish time well spent. :-)

It's back to work for me, me who is sooo rested and ready to head back to another project that I am working on. Besides working on STRANGE LAND, the short film about my mom's war bride experience, I am working full-time with Hawaiian filmmaker and artist Meleanna Aluli Meyer. I am her co-writer and co-producer on her film KU'U AINA ALOHA: MY BELOVED COUNTRY.

This 85-minute documentary for theatrical release will tell the story of the overthrow and annexation of the Hawaiian Kingdom by the United States in the 1890s.... from the Native Hawaiian's point-of-view.

When the U.S. colonized Hawaii in the 1900's, the Hawaiian language disappeared from the life of Hawaiians. Only now, some 100 years later has the language returned to play a significant part in the life of Hawaiians. Today there are Hawaiian scholars who can read and write Hawaiian, and are thus able to comb the archives for documents written in Hawaiian that tell us what Hawaiians went through during the days of overthrow and annexation. Using the writings and words and songs and newspapers of Hawaiians of that day, this film will bring forth the voices of the Hawaiians who lived this history. Their voices will complete the truth about this history, so far mostly told by Western historians who only used English-language sources. With these first-person, primary Hawaiian sources telling their side of the story, this film will be a moving testament to the Hawaiian love of land, country and Queen. We expect to finish the film in the late fall of 2006 if not before. Stay tuned.

Adieu, adieu. Wishing you a New Year that is full of surprises, divine moments and sacred heavens here on Earth that bring Peace and Joy. Come 2006. Come and bless us!

Please leave a comment or send one. I have a box of Hawaiian goodies to send one of you, ....let's say... the 15th message I receive. My email is castillosj@aol.com if you wish to send your message to my personal address. Otherwise, click the comment button below.

CRUISING FOR CHRISTMAS, PART 4 Big Island of Hawaii

BIG BIG BIG, more than a thousand words in pictures
This is my favorite island. It's BIG, with 6 active or dormant volcanoes. The earth still grows here, with another volcano underwater ready to break the surface in about 15 years. There's snow here, and desert, and plenty of rain, hazy when volcano Kilaueau is active, the largest ranch in the world-- Parker Ranch with angus cattle, amazing orchids and anthirums, black sand beaches, lava flowing right into the ocean, macadamia nut farms and Kona cofeeland.

Hilo, hello! Arrived early, 7am.

I wrote the morning away, and then my sister Zennie Sawyer picked me up for a visit with her family. After a bowl of Japanese noodles at a local diner,

we stopped and saw Zennie's daughter, Kapua, who was working very hard on a school paper. She's getting a PhD in Family Counseling. Her son, Apuwai, or Apple Pie as he has been called, was fast asleep.


I used the time at Kapua's house to post my blog, Part 3. It was getting to expensive to blog from the ship, as time ticks in dollars onboard at the Internet Cafe. Which by the way is next to the Coffee Bar where I cherished my cappucchinos in the morning.

Before returning to the ship, we stopped at Sears to see my nephew Likeke, who sells TVs there. He's the only boy in the Sawyer family, with five sisters keeping him in line.

Our last stop was at the Big Island Candies store in Hilo. Oh mymymymymymymy!!!

Check out their webpage.
http://www.bigislandcandies.com/
Our popular macadamia nut shortbread cookies are diagonally dipped into a delicious bath of velvety smooth milk chocolate, dark chocolate or sweet white confectioners coating for a delectable combination of exquisite flavors and textures! Cookies are individually wrapped and packed in a gold gift box.

Wouldn't you know, that afternoon for an hour,

the chefs of the 6 fine dining restaurants onboard hosted a Chocoholic's Buffett!

CHECK OUT THESE CHOCOLATE MARTINIS!

It was enough to feed everyone and truly a feast for my eyes because I couldn't eat any of it,

except for the desserts from the sugar free table. (Been off refined sugars for a year now!) What a treat! It was so festive and everyone was so jolly, like they were about to get their "fix".

I loaded a plate with no-sugar-added things -- a few-chocolate covered bananas, a brownie cake, a mocha round cake and a tart of whipped cream and berries.



Took it back to my cabin and ordered a big pot of coffee, so I could keep working on my transcribing of my mom's interviews. After four days, I was almost done with transcribing the nine hours of interviews and ready to start scripting.

Departed Hilo Bay at around 6pm and headed to the lava flowing into the ocean, on our way to Kona on the other side of the Big Island of Hawaii. The flow was spectacular, if you were there to see it for yourself. My camera could do no justice!!

That night we slept soundly as the ship made its way slowly to Kona.

Our morning was greeted by the site of a hazy Kona. And if you look closely, at the center of Kona, you will see Walmart (a favorite spot it seems of crusiers when they hit land).

Those who went ashore jumped in shuttle boats to take them ashore. As for me, I skipped the landing, and stayed in quiet concentration as I continued my work. I did get out on the aft deck for several of my meals and enjoyed the sun and view of this sleepy little town famous for Kona Coffee!!!

NEXT: A MAUI LITTLE CHRISTMAS

Cruising for Christmas, Part 3 On Kauai

A THOUSAND WORDS IN PICTURES


Boarded the Pride of Aloha at 1pm, and got myself settled in my very comfortable room with a king size bed.





Toured the boat and found the lunch buffet in progress at the aft, or rear, of the boat. Grabbed a nap and was up for our departure.


Leaving Honolulu Harbor, 830pm, Sunday the 18th












Before leaving, we had a barbeque lunch poolside.

I met this threesome from Phoenix (the two women are sisters) as we watched the Honolulu lights disappear. With some 1500 people cruising together, I am surprised how often I run into them. Spent a quiet evening in my cabin, reading, watching The Graduate on TV, and listening to Christmas music. 1st stop will be Kauai, our family home.


Docking in Kauai, Nawiliwili Harbor, 8am, Monday the 18th






After awakening early and finding the Coffee Bar where I met some guys from California, I spent the morning working in my cabin on my computer while others spent the day touring Beautiful Kauai, the Garden Island. I found the stillness of the ship’s movement conducive to working.

At 5pm, Mom picked me up and we picked up bottles of water ($.88 each; on ship it’s $4.50 a bottle) and met some of my sisters and other family for dinner.

Peter and Jo, Les and me, Hoku and Patty, and my beautiful Mom
An unexpected joy -- opening our Christmas presents after dinner. It’s been years since we have done this together, since Christmas usually finds us scattered. A special thanks to Mom for her gift of a pair of warm pajamas for my cruise. What a great gift, as it’s chilly on board and in my room.

Departed Kauai at 12:30pm, Tuesday and bound for Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Worked again at the computer in the morning, and caught lunch at the aft which grew crowded with folks as we passed the spectacular Napali Coast of Kauai. The ship rocked and rolled past the cliffs. Even with the sun out, Napali was quite hazy and not the memorable views I have seen by helicopter before. Still an amazing site of natural beauty.

Caught a comedy show tonight, a juggler and comedienne. Funny guy, I must say, doing his 500th cruise. What a gig! Working tonight a bit; blogging you too. We’re gently rolling along this quiet night. Ordered in for dinner -- peanut butter and jelly sandwich and some tea. A late night snack. Hilo awaits.



SOME MORE FAQs:

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON?

I am transcribing ten hours of interviews with my mom, Norma, and scripting a new film. Actually not all of the ten hours are being transcribed, just the hours spent talking specifically about her war bride experience, her coming to America as the wife of an American soldier, a Filipino American from Hawaii. I did most of these interviews about a year ago, and actually asked her much more than just about her war bride experience. I knew one day the family, especially her grandkids, would be thankful to know their Nana’s stories.

I am titling this film STRANGE LAND, A Filipina’s War Bride Story. In her interviews, my mom kept referring to America as a strange land. I suppose that was every war bride’s experience of their Yankee husband’s home. Her words stuck in my mind; it was the way she said it – with disbelief and surprise, and so I decided to title the film STRANGE LAND. When I am not transcribing, I am reading a book, WAR BRIDES: WORLD WAR II. It’s fascinating as it talks about the experiences of war brides from some 50 countries. Imagine, there were some 1 million women (and men – there was a Cary Grant movie, I WAS A MALE WAR BRIDE) who left their homelands and families to come to America as wives (or husbands) of a military personnel fighting or assigned overseas . Not all are happy stories – some were even abandoned once they got to America. All of them experienced culture shock and more often than not unmet expectations. As I transcribe my mom’s experience, I see she had many things in common with the war brides who speak in the book. Loneliness, sadness, regrets, and yes, unmet expectations. STRANGE LAND will be my contribution, as a Filipino American artist, to next year’s 100th commemoration of Filipino immigration to the U.S. and to the many conferences and panels where I hope to show it and two other short films I will have prepared.

HOW CAN I FIND MY WAY BACK TO YOUR BLOG?
With each blog entry, I send out an email to alert you in case you want to check it out. To open it again to finish reading or to take another look, or whatever, at a later time, just go back to the last email and click on the link. The site will also allow you to click on blog entries I sent that you might have missed.


STAY TUNED. And thanks for following my adventures in cruising at Christmas. Tomorrow we sail by Kilauea volcano’s lava streaming into the ocean. I am hoping for good weather and good photos to share with you.

Send comments and questions, and you will enrich my blog. I look forward to it!

CRUISING FOR CHRISTMAS, the story of a working vacation. Part 2

COUNTING DOWN THE HOURS
As I pack my stuff, Christmas tunes are sounding joy in my house. I've received many comments, phone calls, and emails about my adventure set to begin tomorrow. Thank you for your encouragement and excitement for me! For the very curious, I have some details below that might interest you. I also answered questions some have asked.

In the coming days, you can expect the following, and more:

• Details about my new film I will be writing during the cruise.
• Lots of cruise stories, facts and some reflections as they come.
• Photographs -- seeing the islands from the waters is supposed to be a spectacular sight, esp. now as the lava flow on the Big Island is streaming into the ocean.
• People stories. Friends and family stories of those who will pick me up at port stops to visit with me. Cruise friends soon to be made.
• The cruise staff, workers and ship details. I am curious to know who is working on this ship -- people from Hawaii or from faraway lands.
• Ship fun. Will she or won't she take advantage of it?????

ITINERARY
1pm, Sunday, Dec. 18 Check in.

8pm Pride of Aloha hoists anchor and sets its course for the island of Kauai.
7am, Monday, Dec. 19 Arrive Kauai. Meeting family for breakfast.

1pm, Tuesday, Dec. 20, depart for Hilo, Big Island.
9am, Wednesday, Dec. 21, arrive Hilo. Meeting sister Zennie.

6pm, depart for Kona. Sail past Mount Kilauea now spewing lava into the sea.
7am, Dec. 22, Thursday, arrive Kona-Kailua, Big Island.

6pm, depart for Kahului, Maui.
8am, Dec. 23, Friday, arrive Kahului harbor. Meeting friend Marita and family.

6pm, Dec. 24, Saturday, leave for Honolulu Harbor.
7am, Dec. 25, Sunday, arrive back in Honolulu in time for Christmas service!















WEATHER
Sunday 81-69 F


Monday 88-67 F


Tuesday 79-67F


Wednesday 80-68 F


Thursday 79-68F


Friday 79-67F

Saturday & Sunday?????



FAQ (FRIENDS ASKED QUESTIONS)
Who are those guys in the photos?
This was taken the night of the premiere of my latest short film, REMEMBER THE BOYS, shown at the Hawaii International Film Festival, Nov. 11 in Honolulu. We celebrated together at the Side Street Inn, a bar and grill hang-out where the chefs come to eat. A down-home local favorite, you order family-style pupu's (appetizers) like lilikoi bbque ribs, fresh Hawaiian greens salad with seared Ahi coated with furikake (seaweed flakes), katsu ( chicken battered with a flakey crust; dipped in a sweet, semi-hot sauce of ketsup and Worchestor sauce); and their amazing Asian fried rice.

Steve, just getting out the the Army (was sent to Afghanistan right after 9/11); Steve's friend Taishan (my production assistant from Howard U in DC now working with me on another film (more on that later); Moani, Brenda, Junko and Alan, a community of current and former Christian leaders; me and my beautiful Mama.

Can I send a comment to your blog? How?
Look below, to the very end of the page. There is a "comment" button. Click on it. Know that if you leave a comment, and I wish you would, the whole world could read it. Or at least those reading my blog.

Just what is a blog? I asked Jeeves at askjeeves.comOn the Internet, a blog (short for weblog) is a personal journal that is frequently updated and intended for general public consumption. Blogs generally represent the personality of the author or reflect the purpose of the Web site that hosts the blog. Topics sometimes include brief philosophical musings, commentary on Internet and other social issues, and links to other sites the author favors. The essential characteristics of the blog are its journal form, typically a new entry each day, and its informal style.

The author of a blog is often referred to as a blogger.

At the very top of this my blog page, there is a button if you want to create your own blog. It's simple and takes just minutes to set one up so you can start writing or inserting photos. Try it, you might like it!

On the right column of this blog -- What is ARCHIVE?
Not sure just yet as there hasn't been anything to archive. Let's watch that together and find out. It's not my credentials, website, or all the past I lived. I think it archives this blog and its postings according to months. We shall see.

What all are you packing besides clothes and computer? A travel candle, a few books -- one on War Brides of WWII (will explain that one later) , some DVDs I've been meaning to watch, my DVD player. A CD player so I continue listening to Christmas music -- deck the deck music. My digital camera. A journal, for my eyes only. Casual clothes (no formal attire needed).

Parting Thoughts:

Thanks so much for sailing with me. I hope you will stick around for the adventure as it unfolds. If you miss a day or two, no matter, no worries. Just click on the post/s you missed and see what you missed.

With excitement and joy, I say have a beautiful week as we approach Christmas day. Remember to give love. Presents are cheap. God bless you all!