1/12 Lyman Museum Hawai'ian Elderhostel

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The Elderhostel is an educational program set up under some institution like a college. In our case, ours was sponsored by a museum based in Hilo. The directors are usually very competent in their knowledge of the Elderhostel's theme and hope that the educational aspect of the program is really what the attendees want.

Of course, many attendees come for other reasons. If the area is the draw (and Hawai'i certainly is that!), you can count on seeing many significant features of the area. Meals, lodging, and transportation are also provided.

The main difference between Elderhostels and tours is the educational component so you would expect to find participants are well-educated and self-disciplined.

But another difference is that participants tend to be senior citizens. That factor sometimes negates the degree of competence of those who come. Heart conditions, arthritis, and independence (that's a nice word to cover those who are distracted and can't keep the schedule straight!) have to be expected.

When we first gathered with the group at 4 pm, it appeared the group was mostly alert and mostly ambulatory. All were vertical (no wheel chairs).

Our leader turned out to be a native Hawai'ian of Chinese ethnicity. Susan McGovern (her husband is Irish and was willing to help out much of the first week) took charge before 4 pm because everyone had already gathered. That was good because she had a man there who knew the stories behind nearly all of the banyan trees on the drive up to the hotel.

Between 1933 and 1935, banyan trees were planted by Babe Ruth, Mr. and Mrs. Cecil B. Demille, President F. D. Roosevelt, and a host of actors, actresses, politicians, explorers, military officers, and dignitaries. Ted Coombs, the author of the book telling the story behind nearly every banyan on the drive, entertained us with the sometimes strange and funny reasons for people to take part in that new "tradition." We bought his book, the proceeds of which go to the Lyman Museum.

Susan led us back to the hotel and around in back to a small island for a Happy Hour (wine and/or mango juice courtesy of the program). She told us that the island as a sacred place, a heiau. We were to learn about and see many more before the three weeks ended.

Ann spotted a boy next to the bridge trying to bring in a fish that was pretty good sized. His little sister tried but the fish was bigger than the net and kept slipping away while still hooked on the boy's line. Some teen-agers paddled under the bridge on "long boards."

It was a cloudy evening and beginning to mist a little as we went to buffet supper at the hotel.

That hike to see the trees and then back to the island and returning to the hotel were more tiring than we expected. Nearly everyone else was always ahead of us.

Supper was very good. Susan had us introduce ourselves. Several were there celebrating fifty or more years of marriage. After I mentioned I'm all for donating blood and platelets, I discovered several others who were too. Another man had also gone through prostate radiation treatment like mine and we had a lot to talk about.

We retired to our rooms by 8, knowing we would start our day with breakfast at 7.

I happened to find two of my favorite news programs on TV and felt a real jarring. Being away had really broken the anxieties I felt during the lead up toward the inauguration of the new President. The two commentators brought it all back.

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Photos

Japanese park
The Japanese park next door to the hotel was attractive but we just never had time to see it.

Comments

[Marty]

Differences
It's great to see different points of view and story of the same day.