MOI - N'EST-CE PAS?

The old geezer in Fancy Dress

Dear reader, the whole point of the journey to Oahu was to rest me lame leg.  When one has loads of time to sit, the idea of playing dress up comes to mind.

Wig Looks Like Mop head

Lacking anything regal, as in British, the old geezer thought he would look rather smart decked out in something French.  The Palace of Fontainebleau, must have been on mind, as I took to the 'french' look completely.

Life is So Hard

It did not take much to get the old geezer in Fancy Dress.

MOI is Over It...

Looking at the snaps, one has a giggle.  The old geezer comes off like Voltaire.   Flopped in a baroque chair, the old geezer comes off as a French Dandy.  Did you catch the umbrella?

One has to wonder how chaps tolerated the bother of a wig.  Was bleeden hot it was.

There you have it, proof that the old geezer can strike a pose...

ETHELDRETH DISCOVERS HILO

Etheldreth J. Spillman

What is in a name?  Quite a lot when it happens to be ETHELDRETH...

It is Welsh.  Not sure if James takes kindly to being called an Englishman.

Some weeks back, James wondered about visiting one of the outer islands.  I suggested he visit the island of Hawaii, being 'au fait' with the charms of Hilo.  I played the video I made of the Hilo Bay Hostel, and James was hooked.  He had to visit Hilo and he had to stay at the hostel.

Calls were made to the Big Kahuna and arrangements were made for James to stay for 5 days at the hostel.

On the day of departure, James was full of excitement.  He could not wait to begin his holiday.

James had a most excellent adventure in Hilo.  Was over the moon at staying at the hostel and all f the lovely people who looked after him.  Etheldreth could not say enough kind things about the Big Kahuna.  Mind he also had lovely things to say about Glenda.

Etheldreth loved his room at the hostel.  Only complaint was having to sleep alone...

Most days Etheldreth dined at a restaurant called "Pineapples", another of the businesses owned and operated by the Big Kahuna.  Together with his two sisters, the Big Kahuna has created one of the new 'hot' spots' in Hilo.  According to Etheldreth, the food is to die for.

Another of the hot spots visited by Etheldreth was  small cafe round the corner from the hostel.  Bears.  What was a puzzlement to Etheldreth was the fact that you could not get a fried egg.  You could order scrambled eggs but not fried eggs.  When Etheldreth asked, he was told it was against the law...

Etheldreth did a lovely tour, saw the many sights in downtown Hilo and took pleasure in just enjoying his stay at the hostel.

Etheldreth has macular degeneration.  Sooner than later, Etheldreth will be blind.  One of the things he wanted to enjoy was a trip to Hilo and the sights to be seen there.  No doubt he will long remember his visit.

Etheldreth is a new friend but fast moving up the chain as one of my most favoured people.  I admire Etheldreth, his courage in dealing with what must be a hard problem to deal with, going blind.

Etheldreth  has real grace.

I GIVE MYSELF PERMISSION TO HAVE A GOOD DAY TODAY!

Right, it is not Oklahoma but who can deny that the message is quite clear?

Rather than regret the arrival of another day, this old geezer faces the day with much promise.  What wonders will unfold this day?   Where will life's journey take one?

I am going to have a most excellent adventure today.  Will you?

since arrival back have been running around like the proberbial "nympho in a frat house"

DATELINE - HILO, HAWAII

I have been up since 4 prepping the breakfast for the 32 students from Canada.  It is not the usual Hostel continental shit either.  They are getting orange juice (okay Sunny Delight with a convincing sliced orange floating around in it) boiled eggs.  Bagels/cream cheese, tinned fruit, lots of toast! Little  muffins, coffee, tea, cocoa and oatmeal!

This update comes from the Big Kahuna, back from one of his many trips.  The headline is pure 'more colourful language'.  Is there any other kind?  The old geezer misses the chin wags had with the Big Kahuna, the real treat was to chat with one who was not afraid to be colourful...  Mind, the Big Kahuna also goes on to say; "....Been thinking about you lots of late (Jesus! starting to sound like you ).  MOI has that effect on folks, right funny how me sayings do crop up in the language of folks exposed to the old geezer.

Gentlemen of the orchestra, a little music for the folks from Canada.

Truth be told, the Hilo Bay Hostel adores hosting groups from round the world.  The Big Kahuna and staff go all out to make groups feel special.  Well remember groups from NZ, Japan, Australia and parts of US arriving and being very surprised at the welcome laid on for.

Rather think that when The Big Kahuna was finished with the table it might well have looked like the snap above.   Mind, The Big Kahuna being ever so straight, would never use doilies...

When so large a group arrives at hostel, there is much prep to be done.  32 in a group means that the folks from Canada have taken up much of the space, there are but 58 beds total.

The old geezer truly misses being 'Tea & Tidy", what grand fun it was.  More the reason to heal self and see if there be a space for a deaf, lame old geezer to meet and greet folks from round the world in the future.

Some 32% of visitors to me blog come from outside of the United States.  Folks who are planning a trip to Hawaii need to know that Hilo is a perfect place to see the real Hawaii AND have a real experience of Hawaiian hospitality.   Allow MOI to remind folks of what lies in store for a visitor to Hilo Bay Hostel.

My dears, if you have the great good fortune to book accommodations at the Hilo Bay Hostel, the stairs shown in this snap are but the first step to experiencing a true ALOHA welcome to Hilo and all of Hawaii.

It may not be the grand staircase of the Titanic, but then the Hilo Bay Hostel is far from a sinking experience...

As you climb the 100 year old stairs, taking in all of the lovingly restored wood, you begin to feel that there is something special awaiting you at the top. Chances are that you will be greeted by Terry or Pam or if lucky, Scott, the owner himself. Beautiful wood floors, singing birds and the many interesting pictures on the wall will surely draw you in, making you want to drop luggage and just absorb all of the comfort that awaits you.

The hostel has private rooms, as well as the ubiquitous bunk beds in the dorm. There is ever a premier private room with private shower and loo. Fancy that...

Fresh coffee and tea is always available and complimentary. There is a rather smart kitchen area, where guests can place things in the icebox and cupboard to use for a light snack after touring or to make up one of the many brilliant smart dinner parties guests prepare among selves. Truth be told, there is many a day that the smell of wondrous meals being prepared waif through the hostel.

You never know who will ascend the staircase, what friendships will develop or the adventures that will be planned or shared with others staying in the hostel.

This old geezer likes to think that the Hilo Bay Hostel is the 'Ritz Carlton' of hostels and most assuredly the only hotel in Hilo that envelopes all of its guests with the true spirit of ALOHA. Rather like to think that Scott, Terry & Pam daily make each and every guest feel the 'ohana' of the Hilo Bay Hostel.

MERRIE MONARCH 2011 REMEMBERED

Dateline - Hilo, Hawaii

It was announced today that the Hilo Merchants Association is presenting the 'Te Tu Mataora', a Maori performing group from Palmerston North, New Zealand, with its 'GOLDEN CASH REGISTER AWARD'.  The award is presented to the person or persons who contribute most 'lolly' to local merchant's shoppes.

The 54 member strong troupe landed on the Big Island on April 24, 2011, Easter Sunday and the local economy was never the same again.

The New Zealanders were the closing act on Wednesday, April 26, 2011 of the Opening of Merrie Monarch Celebration.  Capturing the sell out crowd's heart with an electrifying performance that brought the crowd to feet begging for more, the Maori went on to become a force to be reckoned with in the local shoppes.

The Merrie Monarch Festival is to Hilo merchants what 'Black Friday' is on mainland.  Many a local business turns its yearly profit on this event.  This year, the 'Te Tu Mataori' was the not so secret Santa to local merchants.  The 54 member strong troupe of performers pumped tens of thousands of dollars into the tills of businesses through out the Hilo Area.  Not the least of which was the Hilo Bay Hostel that hosted the troupe for 8 days.

Blane's Drive-In, Bear's Cafe, Sharky's, Sack and Save, Tattoo shoppes, Kress Theatre, Ross for Less,Walmart and many others got a much needed boost in sales from the visiting troupe from Palmerston North.

This paper says Ross is having a sale

Peter, one of the troupe leaders, reading list of things to do and prepare for in Hilo.  At top of list was the list of shoppes in Hilo prepared to separate the troupe members from their dash.  Never was there a group so eager to hit the shoppes in search of deals.

Cash needed to shop local shoppes

 Our merry band of Maori do not like to use credit.  Cash is so much easier to hand over, and rumour has it can produce a extra savings. 

Guys shop as well

The chappie with the trolley knows a good deal when he sees one.  Proves the point that the ladies were not the only shoppers in the troupe.

What a lot of SALES....

Did you ever hear of 'shop till you drop'?  It must be an American saying, as the deal seeking New Zealanders could not contain selves from going back over and over for more things to take home.

Rumour has it that management at Macy's was gutted at the amount of lost business and has sent staff to a seminar to learn how to capture visiting Maori...

Sweets are a good buy as well

Less one think the deals were just for the adults, there was plenty of time to hit local shoppe that caters to the sweet tooth.  Rather think all of the youngsters were over-joyed at all of the boiled sweets.

Make that 54 orders

Shopping can make one right hungry and our troupe from New Zealand was no exception.  Local KFC must have been gobsmacked at so many hearty eaters coming in at one time.

Take Away - Hilo style x 54

Rumour has it that local chickens breathed a sigh of relief when the visiting Maori returned to Palmerston North, New Zealand.  What with the taste for fried chicken and using a massive number of eggs daily for English style Breakfast, the demand had taxed the local farmers to the limit.

I think we need a bigger plane

What a mountain of luggage.  AND this is but part of the departing collection of bags stuffed with loot returning to New Zealand.  Rumour has it Hawaiian Airlines was over the moon at the extra fees generated by our lovely Maori troupe.

RETURN TO HILO!!!

What with the start of Merrie Monarch in Hilo today, it seems to this old geezer a perfect time to take folks back to one held last year.  This old geezer was there, and it was a moment in time not likely to be forgot anytime soon.

One has to jet to Hawaii, The Big Island, from Oahu of course, so this filmed bit sets the stage for things to come.

Trust me my dears, I will tell all again of the lovely time spent.

Checking with the Big Kahuna, there is still space left at the hostel...

POSTCARD FROM THE EDGE?

It is rumoured that WC Fields said on deathbed; "all in all.....I'd rather be in Philadelphia.".  Even on me worst day that would never be the wish of this old geezer.  Yuck...

The silly video came to be as many who follow me channel on YOUTUBE banged on about no new offering.

Being a whore to public opinion, I thought I would slap something together to stop the emails begging for another filmed bit.  It is not me best but it allows one and all to see quite clearly that I am very much alive and kicking...

I do miss Hilo, the Hilo Bay Hostel, Ron, Bill and Margie and of course The Big Kahuna.  More than I let on.  Life goes on and one has to adapt...

I read all of the mail from faithful followers and ever so appreciative of the many suggestions for future posts to the blog.

There are many tales yet to come...

THERE WILL ALWAYS BE AN ENGLAND

My dears, there are times that emails and posted comments dictate the course me post will take for the day.  Last two days faithful readers from UK have been following the trials and tribulations of the old geezer in large numbers and feel obligated to chat about that.

The blog gets hits from all over America and Europe and some places that still gobsmacked the old geezer.  Given that the old geezer is right proud of his English roots, it warms me heart to have so many from across the pond do a peek in so oft.  This morn, checking me stats revealed that there were 33 from UK reading at that moment.   London to be sure, but there were hits from Manchester and Brighton as well.  Over the moon the old geezer is when so many take the time to peek in.  Mind, given time time difference, it must be a bit of a wind down for many.  Truth be told, there are times when the old geezer feels that the offering of the day is a wee bit like a stale biscuit.  I do tend to worry...

There are loads of questions asked of the old geezer and I shall try to answer many of them now.

In a few days, the old geezer will re-pack his Gladstone bag and head out for the small town near the Oregon border.  2000 souls live there joined by one, ME.  The offer to collect meself from a dear friend in his mountain retreat is an offer much appreciated.  Nothing grand, just a warm place out of the cold night air and full of ALOHA, coming from the concern and affection of the offer maker.  Sorry, some do not like the old geezer to bang on about in public, rather think you will know who the lovely chap be.

Do I miss the hostel and Hilo?  Too right you be if you guessed I did.   Circumstances conspired to make "Tea and Tidy" difficult, the stair were too much and getting use to the hearing device was annoying.  I miss me chats with Justin and Hilo Hattie.  When the old geezer was laid up they were ever so kind to.  I miss all of the lovely folks who came to visit the hostel and the different stories of the world heard on a daily basis.  I miss Albert and even miss Norman.  I miss Terry at the cafe and am knackered at hard feeling that seem to have come with another thought to be understand to me 'old geezer condition'.  Sadly, there be some who think the old geezer a wee bit too dramatic at times and present conditions of illness smack of the old geezer being an idle layabout.  That is the way of it.

I have made much of me feeling that I had no value, but the comments and emails tell me otherwise.  I am ever so touched by all of the love flowing my way.  Truly.

They tell the old geezer that the small town travelling to is lovely this time of year.  Month of August and September will be nice, there is no doubt.

Offers have come in for the old geezer to cross the pond and settle in UK.  One has to take all of the offers with much thought.  Crossing the pond at me age might well lead to me never returning to America and am not quite sure that is best at the moment.  I am considering and still need to work out how cash would hold up in a very dear place to live.  Mind, as one told, there is always a summer caravan in Brighton going unused.  Fish and chips on wheels...

Rather think that my not mentioning the name of the town going to is a bit trying for some.  No great secret, just do not have me travel brochures ready to lay on you.  Rather think I will do quite a chat up on when it is time.

The plan is for James and the family to load up the van and drive me to the new town.  They want to do a road trip and see the old geezer arrive safely.  There is always another day for the train.

I will keep all posted as to me progress.

WHAT IS A LIFE WORTH??

Robert - A puzzlement

 Dear Reader, you who be 'au fait' with, know that there is always a point when the gloves come off and the true 'sharing' flows across these pages.  That time has come again and the old geezer has much to share today with you.

I would suggest that you settle in with a nice cuppa and read.  Mind, the tale to tell will be wordy so one might have to read it all in several sittings.  That be OK, as the old geezer can always use the 'hits' to me blog...

Truth be told, LIFE for the old geezer has not felt worth the effort of late.  Medical worries added much stress and the well meaning email from a reader about the orphanage the old geezer grew up in did not lighten the stress,  added to, to be sure.  That is the way of it...

Readers know the old geezer to have PTSD, and the attack had did much to change me life of late.  The email sent opened memories of trauma felt in past and it felt like it was happening all over again in the here and now.  Flashbacks did me in and it did not help that the old geezer was coping with lame leg and loss of hearing at the same time.  Right, a regular trip round the 'pity pole'...

The 'Big Kahuna', "Hilo Hattie" and others much loved did all they could to help in hours of need but ti was not enough.  It was time for real hands on professional help.  I packed a small bag aid disappeared to the mainland.  Not to party but to get things all sorted out.

The old geezer went to hospital.  In London, hospital would be call the 'Priory', where Susan Boyle went when she had her famous melt-down.  "The Funny Farm"...

Two weeks of help and the old geezer was sorted out.  Or was he? 

Sort of, but it was time to put the pieces together and make some sense of what is to come in life.  Was living in Hilo the answer?  Was the hostel chat up of world travellers the answer?  Did the promise of the future lie on the mainland?  What was the old geezer to do?

My dears, the old geezer listens to the folks met in life.  Of late, the stories heard the loudest have been from the superior folks passed through the doors of the hostel, The Big Kahuna, Ron, Hilo Hattie, James and to be true, others who do not like to be mentioned publicly.  I forget little and remember long...

Robert - Work in Progress

Sorting out the stories, the old geezer asked self if he had 'value'.  Was there worth to the days to come.

For some time, MOI was not sure.  Doubt.   Is that the way of it from time to time in life?

There was a time when the old geezer thought he could save the world.  Or at least change it.  Truth be told, globally never, but on the small patch occupied certainly.  I can live with that.

Some thought was given to living in a small town in California.  Way up North.  For a spell that looked like the answer but have come to realize that it was for all of the wrong reasons.  I would have put someone much  cared for out too much and that is not right.  Last thing wanted is to cause worry.  Worry to the point of calling out the coppers ti find the old geezer and being listed as a 'missing person'.

The past always hold the answers to the future.

James and Chandra, in Sacramento, being visited as I sit and bang away on me machine, have provided the old geezer with a view of a future less troubled.  Not without some rocks to kick out of path but certainly less worry.

The old geezer is out on queer street at the moment.  Cash has been depleted and funds will not arrive until next month.  Me bad.  No one to blame but ME.  Were it not for the kindness of James and Chandra, the old geezer would be sleeping uncovered.   The lovely couple have been put upon by the old geezer and it is a shocker to find out how much they love the old geezer, as do the children.

The old geezer did warn you at the beginning that the post today would be wordy.  Did I fail to warn of the intimate details to come with?  I do so apologize.

Cheeky buggers that many of the readers of me blog be have oft told that the pages of this very public diary touch most when the old geezer reveals much personal side of me life.  Granted, I do tend to use colourful language and play tricks with, but that is done to keep you interested AND to be odd and different.  Truth be told, the old geezer can write quite plain and correct.  Fancy that, but what is the trick in that?

The old geezer has lost much of late along with the pounds carried.  Must do updated snap, I am so very much thinner...

My life will have as much value as I allow.  I do passionately believe that.  I have a strong feeling that James and I will do battle for the good of folks in a community once lived.  James being much more the leader that the old geezer.  I think that is where the future lies.

I never meant to cause the Big Kahuna worry.  Never was there a more gentle man.  One should never put folks loved to grief and this old geezer owes him too much already.  The life at the hostel as 'tea and tidy' was lovely.  Not being able to walk robbed me of that.  No pay packet but buckets of ALOHA.  For The Big Kahuna(folks are not travelling as much), Albert(job lost), Norman.  The list could go on and on, you get the picture, the old geezer is not the only person to have grief.

I may be down at moment but know now that I am not 'out'.

Trompe l'oeil

Plain wood made 'expensive'

 Trompe - l'oeil -to fool the eye is what the restoration work that Mischa is an expert craftsman at doing.  The company Mischa works for in Switzerland never lacks for projects, as you can see from the examples on display here.

Giving 'age' to plain pine

 Mischa is clever by half and then some.  'But you know....' he is Swiss...

Mischa's 'tools of craft'

 Mischa works bloody hard and plays just as hard.  During his long stay at the Hilo Bay Hostel, it was common sight to see him head off to beach with surf board taller than he to 'hit the waves'.

'NEW' old wooden wall

 The snap just makes you think of the smell of old wood.

Antique look to doors

 You have to wonder what secrets will be told behind these doors.  Or nasty deeds....

r

21st Century looking 18th Century

Truth be told, you have to love a gentleman who calls you a 'dirty' old geezer...

Last look at stats for me blog show that 31 per cent of you are in Europe or UK.  If you have a manor in need of repairs, call Mischa, he needs a new surfboard...

HAWAII HAS BUGS - FANCY THAT...

Tree Roach or Water Bug

My dears, one would think that world travellers would know that one sees many different sorts of bugs when travelling.  If one is to believe the tales told by guests, they have been chased by more than a water bug whilst in Peru or Borneo or Kenya or in the swamps of Florida.  Some of the guests even come from locales that host most weird forms of insect life that they deal with daily.

Hawaii is a tropical place.  There are many strange things here.  Plant life AND insect.  Nature in the raw.

This old geezer has seen tree roaches or water bugs oft during time in Hawaii.  It is no big deal.  No more so than the sand fleas or flying termites encountered from time to time.

There is no doubt that no one loves roaches.  Mind, we are talking about the vile German cockroach that one finds in dirty places, the sort that lurks in cupboards and round rubbish.  Being that Hilo is in Hawaii and it is the home of many strange creatures, it stands to reason one would run across a few rather large tree roaches.  They are a chore to control.

My understanding is that those big ones live outside, not inside. They simply walk into the house at some point. They are not the ones which breed in the house and multiply, so you shouldn't have more and more...it is probably that they are just heading in through an open door or window.  Screens help but the buggers are ever so clever.  At best they are passing through and might have got lost...

GECKO

Right odd that there is also a large population of geckos in Hilo and they seem to be greeting with good humour.  Mind, they have a funny British accent and they are adorable.  Not seen anyone run off in a freight at the sight of them.  Wonder if we taught the tree roaches to speak Hawaiian if that would work.  What is not to like about a bug greeting one with ALOHA...

Travel is an adventure, it is not without a few surprises.

Kamehameha Day on June 11 is a public holiday of the state of Hawaii. It honors Kamehameha, The Great, the monarch who established the unified Hawaii.

The most important ritual performed this day, dates back to 1901 after the Territory of Hawaiʻi was established. It is the evening draping ceremony in which the Kamehameha Statue in front of Aliʻiolani Hale and ʻIolani Palace on King Street in downtown Honolulu is draped in long strands of lei. The same is done at the Kamehameha Statue on the former monarch's home island, the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. Outside of the state, a similar draping ceremony is held at the United States Capitol where the Kamehameha Statue there is also draped in lei in the company of federal officials.

Being an old geezer, I rather miss the celebration of events on the actual day.  Giving folks an extra day off by making the Friday before a holiday, makes the day less special.  TODAY is Kamehameha Day...

ALOHA FRIDAY

I have always thought that 'Aloha Friday' was ever so much nicer than 'TGIF', more of a cheerful salute to the weekend to come than a prayer of regret for the week that was.

Truth be told, after a week of taking care of self, this old geezer is looking forward to a lovely weekend.  One that is filled with much sunshine and the Aloha of friends.  Mind, there might be a G&T or two in there as well.

Found this filmed bit on YouTube and thought it was clever way to promote Hawaii and our ALOHA spirit.

Be you in London, Paris, Stockholm, NYC, Lima or even Moscow, you could be here in Hawaii and singing right along with the rest of us at your favourite local...

ACCIDENTAL TOURIST

'Voyagers discover that the world can never be larger than the person that is in the world; but it is impossible to foresee this, it is impossible to be warned.'

Forrest Gump may well have quoted his mum with; 'Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get'.  What did he know, being a spoon and all.  I rather think tourist are much like the tinned meat featured above.  Some are well seasoned, others are too salty and there be a few who were placed in the tin long past due date.

Tourist come in all sizes and shapes.  Luggage packed does not always contain a true sense of fashion.  There be some who leave good sense at home and make every effort to be a bit of a bother while they are on holiday.  One wonders why the journey was ever taken.  When last looked, travel comes with some expense.  Right odd how some travellers make a mission out of trying to get as much 'FREE' as possible.

Hawaii is not a third world country.  Some clever clogs who deplane here seem to think that the locals are all a bit slow.  Not in on the trick and easily got over on.  They have  right good laugh at our expense.

Thousands of tourists have crossed me path these past 7 months.  Most have been a most interesting experience.  There be some who have seen their departure met with undiluted pleasure.  One hopes that next place hosting them gets to enjoys their rather weird sense of self, as much as we enjoyed seeing them depart.

'Accidental Tourist' indeed.  There will always be some who travel who miss the whole point of the journey.  There is no discovery, just another wasted trip to place yet another dot on the maps of places that have not lived up to expectations.  Bit hard to enjoy when one lugs round mental baggage that weighs one down.

Rather like the above placard, no matter how grand the old geezer uses English, it must come off all wrong to some.  One hears what one wants to...

Like the proverbial 'fly on the wall', this old geezer must remind self that 'observation' does not empower one.  One can only 'observe'...

CHICHI HAS SUNG LAST SONG 2007-2011

ChiChi - 2007 - 2011

'Chi-Chi', the Hilo Bay Hostel Lovebird, has sung his last song.  With great sadness it was discovered early this morn that Chi-Chi had died some time during the night.

To the thousands of folks who have stayed at the hostel, Chi-Chi would have been the unofficial greeter that most met while waiting for toast to brown or porridge to heat.  Chi-Chi's place of honour was on a perch just off the kitchen area of the hostel.

Quite the showman was our Chi-Chi.  He had a loud song and a clever little dance that sort of drew attention from one and all.  Many is the time guests could be spied crowded round his perch listening to his cheerful noise and light pecks upon the finger of folks who dared to draw near.

Chi-Chi was a wee bit bizarre.  Mind, he was a bird living in a cage in Hawaii and might have felt the need to vent a bit.

I will always remember the cheeky little dance Chi-Chi would do with a plastic barbell in the bottom of the cage.  One never quite knew how to take the dance, or what message Chi-Chi was sending.  So clever were his moves that many moments would slip by as one was glued to the spot, wondering what strange ritual it might be.  The more one stared, the more Chi-Chi gyrated with the plastic barbell.

For my part, the kitchen will seem a colder place without the warm greeting of Chi-Chi to greet each morn.

THAT WAS THEN...

HILO BAY HOSTEL

DATELINE - Hilo, Hawaii, Date: Friday, March 14, 2003, 3:55pm HST, Pacific Business News

Hilo gets a hostel

Hilo Bay Hostel, offering a bed at $18 per person, officially opens for business Friday with a grand opening scheduled in the evening.
The hostel is located at the corner of Waianuenue and Keawe streets and can take in 50 people. Prices at the hostel start at $18 for a bed in a dorm to $38 for a private room for one and $48 for a private room for a two.
Hilo Bay began taking in guests the last couple of weeks and has seen occupancy range from 3 to 12 people a night.
"I thought Hilo could use a hotel, especially for young travelers or people coming for a weekend from Kona and the neighbor islands," said manager Scott Owens.
Already, the hostel is fully booked for a couple of days around the Merrie Monarch, starting April 23. The hostel has 32 double-beds and plans to increase that to 50 beds soon, Owens said.
His brother's company, Shelby Rose Ltd., owns the property, which was acquired three years ago and extensively renovated.
Owens, who joined the project last year, invested over $60,000 and worked on restoring the plantation-style interiors, remnants of the building's original existence as the Burns Hotel, which opened in 1911. Hilo Bay employs three part-time people.

Considering 8 years have past since this story was told, prices at the Hilo Bay Hostel are still very low.  The loving restoration of the Burns Hotel is on-going, there is always room for improvement.

Dorm beds are now 27.00, with private rooms at 67.00, still with tax included.

Thousands of people from all over the world have ascended the grand staircase of the hostel, with many thousands to come.

In a ever-changing world, the Hilo Bay Hostel has remained a constant, still ready to accommodate 'budget' minded travellers.

'LIKE DRAWS TO LIKE' - ONE WONDERS

There is an old adage that "like draws to like," and the antithesis of this would be that unlike keeps as far away from unlike as it is possible.  Fate, who seems to take a malignant pleasure in worrying humanity, throws them together, and the result can be an eternal conflict between the two.  Fire and water if you will.

This old geezer had a chat with a person well known to recently, and the consensus between our two great minds was that it is far more important not to be a moralist, rather be true to own beliefs and allow others to live as they will.  A lesson hard learned by this old geezer.

This old geezer does not suffer fools easily, and is not one to accept anti-social behaviour as the norm.  Drugs and alcohol have been the undoing of many a person known to this old geezer.

A lifetime has been spent being open to all sorts of folks.  What is the trick in surrounding one's self with carbon copies of self.  People who are different from, can be a pleasant surprise.  There is real value to being open to folks who at first glance seem the wrong sort.

Allow this old geezer to explain...

There is nary a drop of ink on the old geezer.  Tattoos, while intriguing on others, do not play well for MOI.   Society can be most unkind to people with multiple tattoos, on neck, face and arms and legs.  Makes a statement no doubt, one that is not always well read.

Recently met chaps with many colourful tattoos, some very permanent and others added for dramatic effect in performing.

The Maori group from New Zealand that booked into the Hilo Bay Hostel were by all appearances, 'unlike' as group of folks one would expect the old geezer to fall in with.

Being of 'open' mind, allowed this old geezer to get 'up close and in person', with a group of folks who have had a lasting effect on.  Never were there a more lovely group to be met.  If lived to be 100, rather think the days spent in the company of the Maori will be long remembered as a true high point.  Truly...

If being 'open' of mind applies to the old geezer, it also was much marked among the Maori from Palmerston North.

Being an avid reader, the old geezer came upon a quote that seems to apply to new best mates met from New Zealand;

'E koro te tino tangata e ngaro i roto i te tokomaha' which translates - A noble man can not be lost in a crowd.  Rather like to think it applies to both the male and female members of the group.

OLD GEEZER 'HULA' DANCE...

Stands to reason that this old geezer would have to do a hula for all me avid followers on YouTube. One has to spread that 'special' ALOHA unique to the old geezer.
Being ever so British, thought it would be a laugh to have Simon do the hula with.
Were any to drop in on the old geezer in Hilo Hawaii, rather think the grass skirt could be dragged out...
The image of this old geezer doing the hula is certain to haunt.....

SORTING OUT LIFE

The Old Geezer is Odious to Some

If you look closely at the snap, you will see that I take the liberty of poking fun at meself...never let it be said that the old geezer is unaware of how odious he appears to some and how they dread the latest entry in diary, 'another fiat from DeFrees'.

Perfect example is love note received in post recently;

'To All Who read this line of bologna, this old Geezer that speaks Rob Defrees is so full of himself it's sickning. He is a wolf in sheeps clothing. BEWARE! He tries to act like he is just so intelligent and treats people like dirt. Unless you are totally under his thumb. And if not watch out because he will be the first as he so calls it to call the coppers. I have never met someone so self centered in my life.'

I was reading another entry from Stephen Fry, now there is a most clever chap, and I made myself a promise to try and keep using colourful language, even at the risk of some not quite getting what I am on about. Mind, they do make a lovely book called a dictionary, and more should try to increase their word usage ability...very tiring to have everyone fall back on the same way of saying thing. English is a wondrous language and should be used more than it is here in America. But that is a story for another day

It is my manner that has got many to strike out at me.  That seems the price one pays for trying to let folks know when things are not right in the world. Having written about the very nasty comments left on one of my sites, I must also tell that there are many who feel that it is quite horrid and hope that I do not run away and hide.

Am bloody well aware of the dichotomy my personality must present for some. Yet, if we be complete honest, are not most of us made up of parts? 

I chatted about newspapers with a mate the other day, and he made me realize that I am no longer living in a large metropolitan area that contains a population that thrives on reading all about events in the community.  Hilo is not New York City or Los Angeles, let alone London.   Time will tell if the small newspapers in this country will still be around of if folks will even miss them were they to be gone.

What I think I have just done, is to write a lot of small talk to get enough courage to come round to the main point I wanted to make today.

I mentioned Stephen Fry in the beginning and it is because of something he did that got to to have a hard think on matters facing me in my own life. AND to point out that the small gesture, so sorely missing in America, is still alive and well in England, or at least with Mr. Fry. Stephen Fry suffers from Bipolar disorder. It is a problem I have dealt with most of my life as well and until today have never mentioned it before on these pages. Was always afraid of what folks would think.   If Mr. Fry, who is ever so clever can be open about it, I bloody well can.   I mention all of this as these past days have left me feeling very depressed. At first I thought I was having a major episode of depression but am now influenced to believe it is more a case of being upset over the developments of late, in life.  That would be the ongoing discomfort felt from fall.  Bit of a bother to not be able to get about, even if done slowly.

It seems that some time back a lady wrote to Mr. Fry, and asked how he dealt with things and thanked him for being so open with his problems with depression, stating loudly that she felt Stephen had saved her life. Not sure if many know who Stephen Fry be.   If you watch BBC you will know him from being on several chat shows and also doing programmes for BBC. He is much in demand. He took the time to write the dear lady a letter and I would like to share it with you as it made me feel so much the better after I had read it.It is as follows;

Dear Crystal,
I’m so sorry to hear that life is getting you down at the moment. Goodness knows, it can be so tough when nothing seems to fit and little seems to be fulfilling. I’m not sure there’s any specific advice I can give that will help bring life back its savour. Although they mean well, it’s sometimes quite galling to be reminded how much people love you when you don’t love yourself that much. I’ve found that it’s of some help to think of one’s moods and feelings about the world as being similar to weather:
Here are some obvious things about the weather:
It’s real.
You can’t change it by wishing it away. If it’s dark and rainy it really is dark and rainy and you can’t alter it.
It might be dark and rainy for two weeks in a row.
BUT
It will be sunny one day.It isn’t under one’s control as to when the sun comes out, but come out it will.
One day.It really is the same with one’s moods, I think.
The wrong approach is to believe that they are illusions.
They are real. Depression, anxiety, listlessness - these are as real as the weather -
 AND EQUALLY NOT UNDER ONE’S CONTROL.
Not one’s fault.
BUT
 They will pass: they really will.
In the same way that one has to accept the weather, so one has to accept how one feels about life sometimes. ‘Today’s a crap day,’ is a perfectly realistic approach. It’s all about finding a kind of mental umbrella.
‘Hey-ho, it’s raining inside: it isn’t my fault and there’s nothing I can do about it, but sit it out. But the sun may well come out tomorrow and when it does, I shall take full advantage.’
I don’t know if any of that is of any use: it may not seem it, and if so, I’m sorry. I just thought I’d drop you a line to wish you well in your search to find a little more pleasure and purpose in life.
Very best wishes(Signed)
Stephen Fry

I try very hard to remind self that what Stephen states so well is going to take place. It is the one constant battle I fight and probably the reason I write and try to help others, makes my situation seem less gloomy.There you have it my dears, another effort to give you a slice of life as I see it. For the record, it is raining very hard as I write this, being the wee hours of the new day...lovely to know I am dry and comfy and that the sun will return in a day or two.

ITEM FROM THE PAST

PLAYING THE FOOL

This old geezer has re-joined the world of 'FACEBOOK'.  One was told ages ago that nothing put on the INTERNET ever disappears, it lives on and on and on.

Re-connecting with folks known has revealed some interesting things.  Folks do remember MOI and were eager to become 'friends' with again.  AND the mail came pouring in. 'I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD', 'HAWAII?', 'STILL TRYING TO CHANGE THE WORLD', and loads of 'remember this'....

The following piece was forwarded to from one who noticed that Chuck Leonard had accepted me invite to connect.  The old geezer thought him rather colourful;

                    MOI DOES CHAT SHOW

My dears, MOI is on Facebook and used it to flog his appearance on an INTERNET chat show. This is what was written as a note on Facebook before the chat show visit;

MOI has come to believe that YOUTUBE, FACEBOOK and personal website and others allow MOI to get message out about the road lived on and community a part of like no other way possible. It is that following that has got 'Silly Hall' sitting up and taking notice. MOI is not daft, is well aware that were it not for website and YOUTUBE view, the clever folks at 'Silly Hall' would continue to ignore.

Have said before and will continue to say, each and every person has the ability to make a difference. One need not be head of a non-profit or a preacher heading a faith based effort to convert souls to do that. Mind, in Fresno if you be 'faith based' 'non-profit' you get more attention from 'Silly Hall'. More's the pity that, as it scares folks off from trying to make a difference.

Hope that all known to this old geezer tune into chat show and give a listen. Do a call in if you feel angry. Do something. Make folks at 'Silly Hall', here in Fresno and elsewhere realize that it all starts with 'We The People".

MOI did the chat show yesterday with Chuck Leonard, a cheeky sort of chap who loves to see if he can catch one off guard with his clever comments. Mr. Leonard is clever, and can see how he manages to keep the upper hand in interviews he conducts on his show. MOI is no stranger to a camera or a microphone and neither scare him. Just as natural on camera as off....too natural for some.....but that is another story.

Chuck Leonard is a cheeky chappie there is no doubt and Mike Briggs, owner of chat show, tells that Mr. Leonard is the star attraction on the INTERNET chat show. Folks have told MOI that they watched the chat show and felt that MOI held his own and that the pairing of Chuck and MOI came off well. Lovely. Even if Chuck likes to poke fun at language use of MOI.........

My dears, allow MOI to make two observations about the chat show visit.

Firstly, CentralValleyTalk.com is owned and operated by Mike Briggs. Having not lived in Fresno since dirt was planted, MOI is not 'au fait' with all of the colourful characters that live here. Mike Biggs be one of the more colourful characters met. 

Mike Briggs and MOI are friends on Facebook, that is how the invite came to be to appear on the chat show. In chatting with Mike yesterday, this old geezer was much impressed with the sort of chappie he be. Mike told that he started doing much as MOI now does to improve his neighbourhood. Graffiti bothered him and he also started doing a patrol of neighbourhood. A patrol that got him taken in by the coppers who told that it was not acceptable to do that. Times change and it is now quite normal for Neighbourhood Watch to do a patrol in neighbourhoods.
Mike tells that he has the INTERNET chat show to give one and all a forum to tell folks in Fresno what bothers them. To be true, in granting free access to one and all, there be some that even MOI backs off from. But, Mike believes in giving all an opportunity to be heard. Makes him a brick of a fellow.

Mr. Briggs is not out to do the government in, he lives the American Dream, owning a company and doing business in Real Estate. Mike told MOI that when he sat on City Council he felt his first year was the most effective, and the ones that followed only caused him to sell out soul to some degree to get things done. No 'whore to politics', Mike moved on, gaining attention in other arenas of political influence. Mike Briggs has pluck, there is not doubt and MOI admires him for it. There is hope that this old geezer is not seen as a complete nutter in Fresno. If so, sharing company with chaps like Mike Briggs suits this old geezer fine.

What bothered MOI most about the chat show yesterday was Chuck banging on about how horrid Susan Boyle looked. Kept making jokes about. MOI is of the opinion that Chuck saw it as an easy way to pander to his audience and not fall over self in admiring what has become a world wide phenomenon.

More's the pity. Chuck had opportunity to get his band of followers to accept that in these hard times, we need a hero of sorts........and Susan Boyle is. Mind, MOI is no beacon of beauty anymore, and to be true, Chuck Leonard is already beginning to show signs of wear. He should be more kind. It may well be his nature to rail against the main to prove a point.
MOI is unabashed in his admiration of the lovely lady from UK with enough pluck to float an ocean liner.
There you have it, my views on things...........not very 'EARTH SHATTERING' but...

My colourful past has a way of coming forward again and again.  Truth be told, the old geezer has nothing to hide.