An Easy Friendship

Part of The Underway Gourmet by Suzy O'Keefe

May 1997

I haven't been in Hawaii 48 hrs, but already there is a pink kayak strapped atop Rich's truck. He and I attended a baptism on the other side of the island this morning (he was the Godfather) before picking up his best friend's life not so neatly packed in boxes by his ex-girlfriend.

While she and Rich discussed the logistics of the move (the van, the boat, and all the other shit), I fell into an easy conversation with their friend Kinney. 31 and part Aleut Indian, he was also somewhere between what he wanted and what he had. Very intuitive. Within minutes, we knew volumes about each other and he offered me the use of a kayak for as long as I wanted along with an alternative place to *be* if I needed it. He lives in a sprawling house on 3 & 1/2 acres with papaya trees and a pool. His situation is actually very similar to mine in many ways.

After Rich finished dealing with the issues at hand, Kinney took us both to get the kayak that was stored in his friends yard right on the water. Come to find out it was really his friend, Nobel's kayak and his permission was required for borrowing it. Kinney stuck his head inside the front door and called out a couple of comments concerning Nobel's character which were returned in like form. We 3 waited outside for Nobel and talked in the front yard. "Don't you want to speak with Nobel privately first" I asked? "No" he said "this is neutral ground where there are no such problems". "The Shaman in you" I questioned? He just smiled.

We met Nobel who graciously agreed and loaded us up with kayak related gear and local knowledge as well. Hugs exchanged... we were off.

The first thing I did when we got back to Iroquois Lagoon was wash off/out the months of accumulated lack of use and cat pee. I found an empty slot on the Yacht Club's rack and locked up my "Pink Kaddyack" for the night. It felt great to meet folks such as Kinney and Nobel so quickly. (I even had a telephone conversation with Audrey Sutherland, author of "Paddle My Own Canoe" that same day). I knew I needed to be there, but I also knew I wouldn't stay.