Good Times Kalihi

In our FB Page, I’ve been inviting everyone to share their good memories about Kalihi.  And while waiting for some brave souls, I’ll share my own little story though not as extensive as Gee Dayton’s early Kalihi days…

I was 15 when I arrived in Kalihi from the Philippines.  My first impression was, “Is this America?”  But once I saw the Ko'olau mountain range and Kalihi Valley, I realized that I would live in a beautiful place. 

The first place my uncle took me to was at McDonald’s in Dillingham Blvd.  He ordered a Big Mac for me, which I thought was actually big!  We also went to Emjay’s Supermarket (now Savers) where a lady asked me if I was Chinese.  Hmn, I must have looked a little fair back then?

Like other newly arrived immigrants, our relatives showed us around to see the different tourist attractions of the island.  And of all those nice places, my favorite spot was the Kalihi-Palama Library!  Why? Because I didn’t need money or ride to get there and I could pretty much entertain myself the whole day reading those love stories by the same authors I used to read in the Philippines. That community library served as my study and homework hub after school when I was going to Farrington High School and even when I reviewed for my Nursing Board Examination years later.

In my aunt’s house in Kaumualii Street, my cousins would often have their friends over.  I had a crush on one of them and he probably knew it because he would also flirt with me.  Everything was a blur each time he came around and I think I blushed and tripped several times when one day he was in the house playing the ukulele and singing, “On top of spaghetti…” while I had to do my house chores nearby!  

I remember taking the Kalihi Uka route bus with my friends Salne and Cora to go to choir practices at our Kalihi Valley church every week.  After getting down from the bus at Numana Road, we would hike up to the house of worship.  Often times we wouldn’t feel the steep road because we’d be talking stories.  But one evening, I noticed some men drinking by the side of the road so I whispered to them, “Walk faster, I don’t like how those men are eyeing us.”  Before I knew it, the three of us were screaming up the hill trying to drag Cora because she was panicking and could hardly walk.  Although we were wheezing, catching our breath from fear and exhaustion, we managed to chuckle for a good while thinking of how silly we were!

Those were the days.  We now have grown up and have our own families.  I am one of those who stayed in Kalihi not only for practical reasons like it’s close to my church, my work, Downtown, Ala Moana and Waikiki, Pearl Ridge and even Kaneohe but through the years I remained in love with Kalihi.