Honolulu, Hawaii
April 2007

Auntie Pupule

My Host Is: Auntie Lynn

Next: An Unexpected Trip

We had a great time with Pomai, but now it was time for us to be introduced to Downtown Honolulu and Chinatown. A short bus ride from all of the tourist attractions and bizzillion dollar resorts and a whole nother world.

That's Auntie Pupule! For those of you that don't know, pupule means crazy. Yep we are spending a week with "Crazy Auntie" as she is known on the streets.

It is on those same streets that she volunteers to feed the homeless in a program called The Kau Kau Wagon. I believe the program is offered once a week and on holidays.

As we stood off to the side watching the people begin to line up, Auntie Lynn said "Eh, we need your help over here guys."

Since Tiki Jr. and I had never done any volunteer work we were a little nervous but that quickly disappeared as we served those people in need and received the warmth of their gratitude.

Auntie explained to us that it is a rare occasion that she doesn't help out her friends that come down to the Kau Kau Wagon. And they are her friends.

Tiki Jr. and I became sadly aware of just how real the homeless crisis really is as the line continued to grow. Auntie explained that it is not unusual to feed up to 900 people on a holiday like Thanksgiving. It was a humbling and rewarding experience for both of us!

After all of our efforts above, we were treated as VIP's and taken to a local restaurant for none other than a...

Banana Creme Pie! Tiki Jr just couldn't take the smile off his face looking at that pie and before anybody new what was happening he jumped in the air and did a belly flop right in the middle.

Since he's a lightweight he really didn't make much of a mess and everyone laughed. Wish we would've gotten a picture.

Posing with Auntie Lynn. Sorry auntie, you one nice lady an we nevah like call you pupule.

Here we are with another group of her friends that she chats with online. Auntie is actually a very well known blogger. Tikiyaki Sr. says she blogs more than a geeky 15 year old. Wow that's a lot and he is right. But before I give you the link to her blog I want you to get to know her a little better.

(Photos: Auntie Lynn / Dialogue: Auntie Lynn & Tony V.)