Day 7

On Tuesday we took the Kamaka Ukulele Factory tour. We expected a quick visit, but were lucky enough to have an hour and a half tour with Fred Kamaka. It was such a treat. And Fred Kamaka was so lively and interesting. I wish my mom lived in Hawaii!

Then we went up the Pali Highway to take pictures of a Roger Lee designed church. Fun for us, not so fun for readers, so I blog not.

After that we hoped to visit the sumo store in Waimanalo. Unfortunately, we missed our opportunity. The owner passed away in October and the family closed the store. But the statue of Akebono in his signature fighting stance is still there.


Next door to the sumo store is Honolulu Nuts & Ukulele Company, where Mr Guy bought his uke last year. The owner told us with sadness about the nice lady next door who was famous with the Japanese tourists. He never mentioned that she was Akebono's mom. I'm reading an Akebono biography right now and wish we'd met her. Full of personality, she was!

While I'm here, let me put in a plug for the nut store. Nice man. Sells dozens of kinds of tasty snacks in Waimanalo and the Aloha Bowl swap meet. Try the wasabi macadamia nuts. They're awesome.

Honolulu Nuts & Ukulele
41-1537 Kalanianaole Hwy
Waimanalo HI 96795

Heading back south, we went in search of another uke store, which took us to a residential neighborhood in Hawaii Kai. We balked at the idea of ringing someone's doorbell to see if they had ukes for sale, so we kept moving. Mr Guy's beer compass led us to a mall, where we happened upon the Kona Brewing Company (or as he calls it "The Source"). It sits in a beautiful little harbor. Led Kaapana plays once a week. We'll be back.

Check out this beer...