Post #45543 by Kailuageoff on Fri, Aug 1, 2003 7:59 AM

I had this dream last night that Marian and I finally flew over to Hawaii and met up with Gecko. We were hanging out with a bunch of people who must have been Gecko's family when somebody asked me if I wanted to go outside to smoke some weed. I did, and then we all got in cars and drove to the Kowloon Restaurant -- which is very strange -- because it is in Massachusetts and I have never been there.
Outside of the restaurant there was this tropical garden with a bunch of tikis in it. On one wall was this really weird looking pipe made from bamboo, and Gecko says, "Oh, that's an opium pipe. You should try that before you go inside." So I did, which made Marian mad at me.
Inside the Kowloon was really bright. It was like a giant cafeteria with long formika tables. They only served pizza and beer. The only decorations were carvings. There were two or three huge tiki/totem poles set on high pedestals and a few other carvings hung on one wall. They also had a couple of Koa canoes hanging from the ceiling, including one that was completely covered with the most incredible and intricate carvings I have ever seen.
I told Gecko, "I really like that canoe. I'm glad we came here." He got real serious and solemn and said, "Hey bradda, that's why I brought you to this place. For the Hawaiians, the canoe is the highest expression of the carver's art. It was made to carry the people. This is a religious object. Someday I will carve one like this."
I was stunned and honored to have this information and sat down to think about it by drinking beer and eating pizza with two of the biggest Hawaiian guys I have ever seen. I think they were Gecko's brothers or cousins or something. I felt very small, but very fortunate.

Aloha from the Sunshine State!

[ Edited by: Kailuageoff on 2003-08-01 08:11 ]