It was tough being a kid from the mainland spending summers on the island of Oahu. My aunties, uncles and cousins were always teasing me, my brothers and sister about how funny we talked. Being a “ko-tonk” in Hawaii wasn’t easy but I got to eat delicious local Hawaiian foods. My fondest memories are of chasing the manapua truck through Waipahu, eating crackseed from GEM, and of course, shaved ice. The best of times were spent with my cousins at our beach house in Punaluu – eating saimin at midnight, gambling with the aunties, picking ogo with Mom and Dad at Ewa beach and watching Kikaida on TV.
