It has been a relaxed, un-rushed week in Oahu, but with today being our last day we felt the pressure of the things left undone. One of the top items on our list was to have dim sum in Chinatown, since we may not be able to get to San Diego to have it with our friends Bill and Larry. I was also surprised to discover that Eleanor had only had dim sum once in her life, at the age of 19, which was (mathematically speaking) centuries ago. Finding a culinary experience that Eleanor has not had is a rare thing. The things you discover after 14 years of marriage …

Emma had a battle with the chopsticks. She has used them before, but dim sum put her to the test. To her credit, she was not defeated and resisted the offer of a fork.

Dim sum was a huge success with all. We had a delicious brunch at Mei Sum in Chinatown and I can highly recommend the place. For all three of us the total was only $20 and we walked out quite stuffed.

Another thing on our list was to drive the Pali Highway over the mountains and get a view from the highway overlook. The mountains were shrouded in clouds and the overlook was closed, but the drive was beautiful anyway. We ended up exploring a few state beaches on the windward side, until Eleanor spotted the Honolulu Nut and Ukulele Company in Waimanolo. (Strange combination, I know.)

There’s a backstory here. Years ago in Rockport ME I bought a cheap $30 uke and a songbook, and then never really got up to speed with the ukulele. When we sold our house, Eleanor insisted on taking it with us in the Airstream. It has ridden around with us for two years, virtually untouched. About two weeks ago I ran into Tommy Green at the Airstream rally near Los Olivos, and he cajoled me into trying again. Tommy, a fellow Airstreamer, has a collection of ukes and is pretty good with them.

In two weeks we will meet Tommy and Kathy Green in the California desert and I expect to get two or three days of uke lessons. I want to make them count and actually come out strumming. So I went into the Hawaiian Nuts and Ukulele Company and bought a tuner and a beginner’s guide. All was well until I decided to try some of the better quality ukes to see what the difference was between a $30 cheapie and a … um. … somewhat more expensive model.

You can see where this is going, can’t you?

Well, I really liked the tenor ukulele made of mango wood for its big sound and comfortable feel, and of course to take it home I needed a case. Now I have a very nice tenor uke — my Christmas present from Eleanor — and Emma has a $30 soprano uke waiting for her under the bed in our Airstream, in like-new condition. While I was in the store, the staff taught me three chords and I can actually play them fairly well already. With a little more practice I’ll be ready for Tommy’s tutelage, and if I’m lucky Emma may come right along with me.

A little further south along the windward coast is Makapuu Point, and a state wayside where you can hike a paved trail about a mile up to a high point with panoramic views. There’s a cute little lighthouse visible from the trail, but the best part is the view toward Makapuu Beach State Park and the bird sanctuary islands of Kaohikaipu and Manana. The reef areas off the beach are clearly visible with polarized sunglasses. If we had another day I would certainly return for some snorkeling.

All over the island at beaches and waysides there are warnings not to leave valuables in your car. Sadly, break-ins are common. While we were parking at Makapuu State Wayside the police showed up to take a report from some sad tourists whose car was broken into in the middle of the day. The parking lot was busy with people coming and going but apparently the thieves just waited for a quiet minute. That’s all they need to conduct a simple “smash and grab” theft. You really can’t take chances here with valuables in a car.

My friend Bill Reilly called while we were on the hike up the point. He’s decided to build an Airstream coffee shop, and is looking for an Argosy 20 shell. The Argosy is essentially a “painted Airstream” that was built in the 1970s. Anyone who knows of a short one available for a reasonable price in the southeast US, let me know.

So with those things and another round of Bento boxes for dinner, we’ve wrapped up our Hawaiian vacation. Sunday we fly back to California and resume the Airstream life. It has been fun here but I’m looking forward to getting home. I have found I sleep better in the Airstream, and I can work more efficiently, and we only have a few precious weeks left before we have to return to home base for a while. We’re going to try to make the most of them.