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Saturday, January
26th, 2002 |
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5:54 pm - Hawaii - Day 7
Our
luck, as it did in Paris, still holds. It continues to be cloudy with
occasional showers. We decided to try to locate any available sunny spot on the
island so we headed west toward Po'ipu and Waimea. Heading out on the trusty
Highway 50, which I am now referring to as Hawaii Five-Oh, as we approach
Po'ipu there is no sign of the clouds abating. We then head to Waimea with no
difference in results, so we stop in Kekaha and decide to drive at least part
way up the Waimea Canyon.
Then it happened. Something that could easily have spelled vacation disaster
but proved that you learn from adversity. Stopped at the Waimea Canyon Shopping
Center, we check out the items in this obvious tourist trap. We decided to load
a few items in 
the
trunk and, unthinking, I held the rental car keys in my hand as I placed some
bags in the trunk. I then shut the trunk. I, horrifyingly, immediately realized
my error. Yes, I locked the only set of car keys in the trunk.
Beth
called the rental company and they would send out a Taxi with another set of
keys for a $60 taxi fee and a wait of about an hour for us. What could we do?
We were stuck in the middle of nowhere and said OK. To my amazement, numerous
employees came out to the car and helped me on my fruitless search for the car
keys. These people were so friendly and genuinely distressed at our situation
that it was incredibly heartwarming. One of the owners of one of the boutiques
actually started calling some of his friends to see if they could stop by the
rental agency and pick up the keys in order to save us the $60 taxi fare. He
couldn't reach anyone, but the thought was most generous. It was a wonderful
revelation to meet such warm-hearted people. I have noticed that all during our
trip, Hawaiians have been unfailingly polite and cheerful. It was almost worth
waiting the hour and paying the $60.
I also found out why it took an entire hour for the taxi to reach us. The
driver had to be somewhere in the vicinity of 90 years old and apparently never
made it to the appropriate speed limit for the duration of the trip.
We headed back to hotel a little poorer, but a little richer, also.
Tonight we dine at the Beach House on Po'ipu Beach. And tomorrow we fly back to
Honolulu and then on to New Jersey, home and Molly Dog.