PAST AUWE

I  wrote a poetry book called BACK DOOR WAIKIKI during a tumultuous time.  It came out in 1987. It was well received. The little volume was inspired by being born and raised in that famous neighborhood in slower, sleepier times and my hero, Hawaii's poet laureate, Don Blanding.  Auwe means, "To express an affection of the mind, as love. grief, disappointment, etc." It can be pronounced close to the English word "away," hence the title. Now it is being published online for the first time. Sort of a BACK DOOR KANEOHE. It's for the old-timers.

PAST AUWE

Electric rental canal cruisers.

Kalia Gardens, Niumalu.

Pastel putt-putt golf maze.

Barefoot torch lighters, dressed in malu.

Waikiki Sands, eat 'til you burst.

Here and gone, the "modern" Biltmore.

Alfred Apaka, Lenny Bruce.

First coffee house, called The Door.

Ed Sawtelle at theater organ.

Moana Hotel's funky wooden pier.

Two way way traffic on Kalakaua.

Primo warriors sucking up beer.

Foster Freeze, K. C. Drive-Inn.

Queen's Surf's immortal Barefoot Bar.

R. J. Baker photo bungalow.

Police patrol: One bike, one car.

Waikiki Tavern, one a hotel.

In Da Swamp the disco shakers.

Electric trolleys, polo in the Park.

Blanding's famous Flapper's Acre.

Tony and Peaches' ono Tropics.

Rabbit, Steamboat, Chick and The Duke.

Stores from Gump's to Crazy Arnie's.

Nickel juke boxes playing Robin Luke.

Merry-Go-Round Bar, great R&R.

Tom Melody at the Orchid Room,

Such very hip music at The Clouds.

Aoki Market before ABC boom.

Stewart's Pharmacy, lei sellers.

Deering Court, Waikiki Bowl.

No more games of Fascination.

All of them past. auwe,  bless their soul.

Back Door Waikiki was composed on Mac Simpson's kitchen table on Makaiwa Street in Waialae-Kahala.

John Whyland did the cover painting. That's a little artist license, as the moon cannot be seen over Diamond Head in that position. Asher Ogata took the original photos.

The book was was processed on the original model Apple computer, making it the first desktop published poetry book in Hawaii. Whoopee!