Travel Reference
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goings-on with dinghies buzzing back and forth. The quiet had been shattered, and I felt no
longer the tranquility and uniqueness of Penrhyn. It was fun catching up news with Lynne
and Terry. I took them to visit my family who immediately adopted them as well. I felt a
twinge of jealousy!
Lynne and Terry were friends with the other very fancy boat that came in that afternoon.
She was a loud, attractive, and boisterous American with a husband that said very little.
She spoke for him. I recall with amusement how she stepped haughtily off the dinghy and,
as though from an old Captain Bligh movie, said in a serious and royal manner to Faali and
Manu, “Good day to you and all the wonderful people on Penrhyn. I bring greetings and
tidings from the honorable chief of (some island or other),” and with a low, theatrical bow,
she smiled with rehearsed, imperial pomp and offered her limp hand to be kissed by the
amused, mind you, Faali and Manu. They had seen it all and nodded politely and welcomed
them in a more normal manner. I could see the wind literally whistle out of this woman's
sails.
I hasten to add that after her little anticlimax, she soon realized wealth and station in life
meant very little to these islanders. She was humbled to the point of almost being likeable.
In the ensuing days Terry and I would get together and play music for the island kids in
their little school, and the girls would sing along. The island magic was all but gone for me.
There were too many westerners, and my enthusiasm began to wane. It was time to think
of making a new wake. I had two thousand odd miles to sail alone and against the trades
with calms and unforeseen adventures. I needed to get along now.
I was amused and highly honored soon after voicing my decision to leave, to find out that
Manu wanted me to marry Maleea! I had no idea that she regarded me as a suitable son-in-
law! I wondered what Maleea thought about this idea. I soon found out that she didn't even
want to be in the same room as me. Her mother had evidently shared her thoughts with her
daughter, and Maleea was having none of it! I certainly couldn't blame her for not wanting
to marry a white guy who could easily be old enough to be her father! I thanked Manu for
her flattery and told her I had commitments back in Hawaii.
The day before I was to leave was a Saturday. My “island family” wanted a little feast
to say goodbye and invited me to supper along with their other newly acquired sailing
family. I arrived at around six in the evening along with the others. Young Tongi looked
rather bleak but brightened up when I presented him with a lovely diving knife. He proudly
strapped it on his thigh. “To be used when you are older,” I told him. Faali nodded, pleased.
A pair of suckling pigs had been slaughtered, and their fat had been boiled all afternoon.
When we arrived, the crackling had cooled to a crisp golden yellow and had been broken up
in little pieces for snacking on. I have never eaten anything tastier; it melted in my mouth,
