waianae

everyone i meet who lives or works on the leeward coast, everyone who has visited or just heard of waianae, makaha, or nanakuli, seems to have the same thoughts. this is not a place for tourists and haoles like myself to flaunt about as if they owned the ocean and the sand. the locals are very protective of this beautiful place they call home. many of the homeless have been pushed out of their 'homes' and up the coast. the road ends about seven miles north of here and the buses don't travel any further than makaha. families live on the beaches in clusters of tents and tarps. biking up to kaena point, i pass 'camps' that are everything but permanent establishments. stones have been stacked out in front of makeshift shelters to create a 'yard' space with paths and places to park. many own cars and have jobs. kids go to school. they simply can't afford, or dont want to pay for, expensive housing. however, meth also seems to contribute to the problem. i really feel like i haven't been here long enough to make any judgments. i even feel kind of presumptive to write this much. on the other hand, everyone also seems to agree that people here are very friendly. from my very limited experiences here, if you dont make trouble, it will not come looking for you. just dont stomp through someones 'front yard' towing a boogie board and a six pack. driving and biking, a smile and a wave of acknowledgment seems to go a long way. there are many good people living on the leeward coast. this is a bizarre experience that i am enjoying and expect to learn a lot from. there is much more to learn.