It was fun watching the men and other surfers paddling out looking for the optimal wave. After the third round, she discovered a dark-haired man with a weather-beaten face and many tattoos, with a shell necklace around his neck. He walked to where Steve would be back on the beach shortly. Some of the other beachgoers greeted him respectfully or made room for him. She watched the two greet and hug each other in Hawaiian way. Shortly thereafter, Nahele joined them. Steve seemed to ask him to take care of their boards, then pointed in her direction and the two men came up to her. She pushed herself out of her chair and Eddie, who had now lay down next to her, got up.
"Eddie, down," she ordered softly, then stood waiting for the men to reach her.
"Kawika, this is Sara. Sara, may I introduce you to Kawika? "
"It is an honor for me to meet you. Steve told me a lot about you." The man eyed her in silence. She tried to understand his impression. A woman with long, dark hair that fell over her shoulders, a sleeveless, blue shirt, but ankle-length, if very thin, white pants. Well, not quite so white after the trip to the street. Finally Kawika spoke. "Welcome to Oahu, Sara."
"Thank you."
"Your reputation precedes you."
"Yes?" Sara looked at Steve helplessly as Kawika continued. "News spreads quickly here. I just got a call. Eluana's uncle announced you. And Keiki is entranced by you. Only Eddie is too big for him."
"I believe that. But it really wasn't a big deal. "
Kawika nodded knowingly. "Wouldn't you like to surf too? The waves are great today."
"Thanks, but I can't. I enjoy it all around. "
"It would be a pleasure for me to teach you," the Hawaiian offered.
"Kawika, she ..." Steve started, but a look from her silenced him. He raised his hands apologetically.
"I am very honored by the offer, Kawika. That you offer me, a Haole, to teach her how to surf. I pronounced it correctly, didn't I? "She interrupted when she noticed his look. He nodded, so she kept talking. "It's not that I don't want to. But with two broken legs I am unfortunately unable to do so. I lack the stability. "She saw Steve's friend glancing between them.
Steve cleared his throat. "Are you hungry, Kawika? Sara packed enough food for a whole company. If I saw that correctly, also her phenomenal Apple Pie."
"I'd like to take a piece of it."
"Steve, help yourself. I'm going to the water a little, "announced Sara. He stroked her back and they kissed, then she took off her shoes and stepped away slowly and carefully in the sand.
He and Kawika settled on the blanket. Steve handed him a piece of cake on a napkin and grabbed a sandwich. Together they watched the surfers as they ate. Nahele was back in the waves with a few buddies.
"At least she can bake," remarked Kawika when he had finished eating. "An interesting woman, Steve."
"And a little crazy. She wants to marry me."
Kawika's head whipped around. "You're getting married?!"
Steve couldn't help but grin. "Mhm. Looks like. Anyway, she said yes a few days ago."
"Congratulations. That boy should be forbidden to even touch a board," he pointed to a youngster who stayed on the surfboard for just more than a few seconds before falling into the water and getting it on his head.
"Totally agree." They commented on the surfers and talked shop for a few minutes while Steve watched with one eye Sara stepping along the waterline and enjoying the surf on her feet. Suddenly a bigger wave came, which Sara obviously saw coming, but slipped away and the next moment she sat in the sand. Steve had already jumped up when he saw Nahele running to Sara. They spoke briefly, then he reached under her arms from behind and the next moment she stood again. The boy had obviously been paying close attention at Christmas and knew that this was the most comfortable way for Sara to get to her feet. It was difficult for her to get off the floor without something to hold on to. Her leg muscles had suffered a lot from the accident. When he saw that she was apparently walking again without any problems, he let himself fall next to Kawika, who had been watching the scene. The wordless look with which he gave him let him make an explanation. "She had a serious car accident a few years ago. The fact she is walking again today is anything but a given."
"Mhm. The spirits sent you an interesting woman, "repeated the Kapu.
"You know I don't really believe in fate. Sara and I met during Academy. After that, the Navy sort of swallowed her up. Nothing came after her for a while, then I met Catherine. Do you remember the admiral's murder in spring? "
"When you called me and wanted to know if one of the Kapu went nuts and started filleting old Haoles with a knife?" Kawika etched.
"That was Danny's words and I apologized for it. He's got better, but sometimes he gets away with it. But yes, I meant that case. We had requested information from the Navy - and it got delivered by Sara. "
Kawika hadn't taken his eyes off Sara, who was walking along the beach. "Are you actually sure that she is a Haole?"
"Quite. She was born in South Carolina, went to the academy in New York, then joined the Navy. "
"South Carolina," repeated Kawika. "So so. The original home of the intolerant. And how long has she been living here? "
"It's not that bad either. Sara's father was a liberal and cosmopolitan person. She doesn't live here yet, she moves over from the mainland in February. This is her third private visit to the island, before that she was only working on the military bases. But since she was outside for the first time, she has read a lot about the island and talked to Kono. Why do you ask?"
"I don't feel like she's a haole. Similar to you, although you grew up here. She respects us. And I see that she's feeling the spirit of the island."
Steve looked at Sara, who had stopped again. Her face was raised to the sky with her sunglasses, her feet were washed by the waves. She had spread her arms slightly, as if to keep her balance - and at the same time to feel the wind. For a moment he wished he could take pictures and that he had a camera with him. Without further ado, he took a snapshot with his cell phone, but the picture was insufficient. The warm feeling made by her sight spread again in him. Kawika stood up next to him.
"I'll leave you to Sara and your young friend again. I would like to take one or two waves today myself. "
"You are welcome to join us."
"Thank you. And thanks for the cake."
As if his fiancee had noticed that Kawika was on the move, she had turned and was now on her way to them. They took a few steps towards her.
"Are you leaving already?"
"The waves are calling for me. Thanks for the cake, it was very good. You can visit us at any time, even without Steve, if you want to learn more about our culture and traditions. "
"Thanks for the offer. When I settle down on the island, I will definitely come back to it. And thanks for the compliment. The Apple Pie was one of the first dishes I learned to prepare. The recipe is also a tradition. "
He saw her surprise when Kawika pulled her into his arms before saying goodbye. When his friend was out of earshot, he asked, "Did you hurt yourself?"
"No. The sand is soft. Kawika is a very impressive man. I didn't expect him to offer me that. "
"You made an impression on him. Isn't it possible a Hawaiian is hiding somewhere in your ancestry? He doubts you are a Haole. "
"Just don't let my mother hear that," Sara moaned. "Do you still want to eat something? Otherwise look for Nahele and send him over so that he gets something in the stomach. And some time with you. "
"Aye, ma'am," joked Steve, kissed Sara and started looking.

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