Hoaloha*

My mother had a dear friend in Hawaii, a Kauai-born girl with whom Mom traded recipes, jewelry and art work. I would come for a visit and find a new painting on the walls and Mom would say, "Oh, yes, I traded that one with Karin for the ___." Same with jewelry each admired on the other, or good meals they shared.

When my mother died, Karin was wonderfully consoling to me and every time I visited the Islands I made a point of seeing her once or twice, just to tap into her serenity and spirituality. She was an amazing and lovely person. I will never forget her.

When I worked at Hastings College of the Law, her grandson enrolled as a student and stopped in to my office to say hello. Ever since, I have loved this kid. He has his grandmother's artistic bent - he won the Hastings pumpkin decorating contest every year at Hallowe'en - and his own cheerfully outrageous outlook, unusual in a law student. They tend to be earnest while he is joyous.

Imagine my delight when I spotted him staffing the alumni booth at the Punahou Carnival. He gave me a big hug, as delighted as I was to make connections, and we "talked story" for a few minutes between sales. Because he designed the flying avocado on the logo tshirt they were selling to raise money, of course I had to buy one. A fun memento of an encounter that made the carnival even more delightful for me.

*Hoaloha = beloved friend