Check out my books. Click on the link above. They are good reads.
I am working on another book. No title as yet. Here is a sample:
Secured now Nina went below then reappeared wearing a one piece bathing suit. It was quite flattering draped over and on her lithe body, as it showed long smooth tanned athletic legs that ran high up into her thighs. The neck was exposed but just so and her breasts were highlighted by a tight elastic fit of the suit.
“You coming Jim.”
“What, where?” I said surprised by her invite. Sure, I guess so. I went below and changed into my baggy swim trunks. Less flattering than Nina’s but I was proud that I had abs. Lilly white abs I must say as the sun had not yet made its mark on my body. Somewhat shyly I re-emerged topside. Nigel was doing something on the foredeck while Angie was working on her tan up forward.
Without a word of hesitation, advice or forewarning Nina was gone. Over the side, on her way toward the wharf, which was about four hundred yards away. That’s about sixteen lengths of a standard sized pool I thought. Can I do this? Yup, who cares, and over I went surfacing about a yard or two away from Akaru-Hime. She looked huge but out of reach from my perspective in the water. No turning back. This was a do or die situation. Off I swam trying to catch up with Nina.
The water was warm and salty, stinging the eyes while drying the mouth with the salt laced water ingress. Deep, deep blue it was and I could see below well into the depths. where the water’s blue became darker and darker until nothing could be made out. All at once all I could think of was that a wayward shark or barracuda, mystified and attracted to my pearly white torso, would make themselves known to me by a menacing dorsal fin breaking the surface of the water and coming directly for me. Give your head a shake Jim, for cripes sake. Yet it did put the fear of my mortality into my very being and made me swim just a wee bit faster. Before long I caught up to Nina and arrived safe and sound, and in one piece at the wharf. We found a ladder and climbed up about ten feet to the top and the wooden slats that made up the surface of the pier. We sat there for a while close to a bollard, caught our breaths but said nothing. Nina looked at me, smiled a sweet, sweet smile but remained silent. I could detect a small but distinct tinge in my chest as I looked into her deep blue eyes. She smiled at me again. Her body glistened with the salt water droplets that covered her exposed skin in this afternoon tropical sun, soon to evaporate. Across and to the west of us lay Akaru among a few other boats and to the west of that rose the tall, green hills that marked the western fringe of Nawiliwili. It was beautiful. Nina was beautiful. All was right with the world.
“Y’know all I could think about swimming over here was that some big ugly shark had its sights on me.”
“Thanks for that” Nina said. “I’ll remember that on the way back.”
She laughed at me. “Sharks?” Her hand touched my forearm. I could sense that a connection was brewing between us. She smiled again. Looking out across the water, her blond hair looking much darker now as it hung in a matted wet cluster down to her shoulders. Cleansed and clean by our salted bath. She squinted, and then held her right hand over her eyes shielding them from the glare of the tropical sun. Her body had the colour of a light brown tan. Healthy and strikingly attractive. Her tan highlighted her looks and her youthful charm.
“That felt great.” she said. “We’ll have to get back soon though. I think I heard Nigel talking about going into Lihue for dinner.”
I followed her gaze. I could see Nigel placing a ladder over the side. For our benefit I guess. Angie was still tanning herself on the foredeck.
After a few minutes, Nina, without forewarning, dove off the pier and into the water, heading back. I followed suit. In a few minutes time we were back at Akaru. Up a wobbly ladder, a “Jacob’s Ladder” I was told, and into the cockpit. “Welcome back” Nigel said. How was it?”
“Except for the sharks, not a bad swim” Nina said, as she looked at me then laughed.
We did go into Lihue that evening. Somehow we got ashore in our small dingy. Nigel had to make two trips – first with the girls then back for me. We walked the short distance into town and had dinner at some greasy mom and pop joint. Not very Hawaiian or tropical I would say. Nigel had his eye on Angie but she didn’t reciprocate his advances. Nina flirted with me the whole time but my pathological shyness and inability to interpret her womanly ways almost sabotaged those efforts. After, we all just chilled and roamed around Lihue, a sleepy hollow of a place. Not much going on. There were some poster signs around town advertising the latest surfing movie or documentary, a very popular sport in Hawaii. Almost Warren Miller style short films but centered around the surfing world and not skiing. Soon, just after dusk we headed back to Akaru.
Over the next few days we explored Kauai. I don’t know how but Nigel came up with a beater. This allowed us to visit the highest point on the island and the wettest placed on earth – the peak of Wai’ale’ale. The road seemed to go straight up there and back to the highest and wettest point. It was cold up at the peak and very wet. And no turns, just straight up as if to say: “hey this place is really fuckin wet. Get in and out of there as fast as you can.” We were in the clouds, literally. And after a few joints from Angie, figuratively as well.
From there down to the western shore and surf. As we came down that road you could feel the temperature rise sharply, like the clouds behind us. We stopped at a beach where Nigel, Nina and Angie hit the surf. Not me. I was scared to death of the strength of those breakers. All I could think about was a crushing tide of water followed by a powerful undertow taking me out to sea where the sharks lived. I had an imaginative imagination, but I was terrified. I felt like a wimp in front of Nina.
From there we headed north to Waimea Canyon. The Grand Canyon of the Pacific as it was known. Very impressive. Breathtakingly beautiful. I cannot begin to describe the magnificence of the place. It was…”like wow, like wow man, holy shit, would you look at that…there is a God and he or she lives among us…at Waimea. Man oh man.” Arriving back to the boat late evening we all crashed.
The next day was a no day for all of us. Just one day left and then our return to Oahu. Nigel and Angie decided to go ashore for the day. I took them in then came back to Akaru. Stayed there most of the day.
Late afternoon, looking out over the harbor, to the north of us I said “Hey Nina, there appears to be a river over there. I think I am going to go and explore it.”
“I’m coming” Nina said.
Off we went with me rowing as she lay back in the dinghy at the stern, her legs spread out with her arms swaying to an invisible inaudible hula, as if she was some Hawaiian princess. It was a river…indeed the Waimea River, as it turned out. A soft green sheen reflection off the water. It was narrow, almost canal like, as it weaved and meandered peacefully through a very lush and very colourful landscape. Greens, and reds, browns and deep scarlet blooms, with an array of colourful flowers and ferns, none of which I knew the names of. Both sides of the banks were low and covered in hard packed red sand resembling ochre that could have been used as an adornment by the old Hawaiian Kings, their Queens and Royalty. The river water lapped up and onto these banks as the soft wake from our dinghy’s movement graced the shore as every ripple spread out to our left and right. Beyond the banks were large meadows with long green grass, butting up to banyan trees that were indicative of the Hawaiian panorama. The cool, cool shade of the banyan tree, with its wide green canopy, protecting all who were fortunate to be welcomed by its protective shade. The odd palm, coconut and royal, could be seen on both sides but well back from the river. And off to the west and north of us you could see some distance hills that arose from their green mossy lower slopes into a greyish black charcoal mass of crags, dry hard rivulets, buttresses and steep cliffs that formed a backdrop and contrast against a deep blue sky that framed this wonderful country. Some of these peaks were graced with fluffy white cumulus clouds that seemed to float effortlessly skyward as if they were but white feathers dispersed with every breath of the uplifting updrafts swept the air up, up then over the crests of these hills. Further west and north you could see the peak of Mount Wai’ale’ale. Covered by dark and menacing storm clouds, some lightening strikes within the clouds gave a mythical sense to our sensibilities about the scene before our eyes.
To the east of us there were lowlands that ran to and bordered the blue Pacific beyond. And this Waimea River? Its flow was peaceful and sleepy. It took us to the northern part of the island. Waimea, the only navigable river on Kauai. From our perspective we did indeed find ourselves bound within an earthly Garden of Eden. Kauai was the Hawaiian Garden Isle. It was God’s gift to the Hawaiian people and their pagan interpretation of their own deity. But for God’ s sake it was only necessary for them to keep their faith and be righteous underneath God’s light for their own salvation.
After a couple of bends to the right, right again and then left, Nina motioned me to row toward a clearing that she saw on the left bank of the river. This I did but in the blind as my back was to our course upriver her direction. Giggling, then laughing, as our little dinghy came to rest up on to a small red sandy strip. I got out, then Nina and we pulled the dinghy to a safe berth out of the water and on to dry land. I tied it off to the trunk of a palm, the shaft of which was bent out then up and over the river. There was a small clearing that was perfect for us to sit, lay and relax under the warmth of the late afternoon tropical sun. Beside me Nina lay, stretched out, her eyes closed with a broad smile of contentment and happiness that could be discerned by the features of her youthful face. The soft light of the afternoon sun highlighted her natural tan. To me, she was perfect. A real Hawaiian Princess.
“What?” she opened her eyes and looked at me above her studying her every feature. Embarrassed, I turned away and couched my head into the crux of my left arm.
“Nothing Nina. Just thinking. It is so peaceful here…so beautiful.”
“Mmmm, yes it is.” she moaned, as if caught within the confusion of a conscious thought and unconscious sleep.
Rainbows every day in Hawaii.
Man that dude has eaten too much poi. Sadly he passed in 1997 at 38 years.
SJ…Out