Murder on Mokulua Drive

by Burrows-Johnson, Jeanne;

  “I had spoken to my friend Abby at Hale Malolo who’s studying estitology…about doing makeup for Miriam. But then we learned that isn’t appropriate for a cremation and it’s not something you’d do for a traditional Jewish burial anyway,” added Samantha.

  At that point, Izzy broke into the discussion. “We also read some Internet articles. If Miriam was to be buried traditionally, her body should be turned east, toward Jerusalem.”

  I paused to absorb what I had heard. “It’s good that you’re honoring Miriam’s wish to be cremated. Since she only has a handful of friends here, are you going to have a memorial service or other ceremony?”

  “Oh, yes. And we’re going to include the most important Jewish tradition, the saying of the Mourners’ Kaddish. That’s a hymn of praise to God that’s said by a group of ten adult Jews,” said Joanne.

  “It’s called a minyan. Originally, only men could be part of the group. Now, at least in Reform Judaism, a minyan can have women in it,” said Izzy enthusiastically.

  Looking somewhat serious, Joanne said, “Beyond the memorial, we’ve decided to take Miriam and Henri’s ashes to his family’s home in France. Even though it has been turned into a conference center, there’s an old family cemetery, and a beautiful crypt where we can put their urns. Since there’s no need for a graveside funeral here in Hawai`i, we’ve decided to have Miriam’s memorial service at the cottage.”

  “And we’ll serve a celebration buffet afterwards,” said Izzy. “There’ll probably be just a few friends and neighbors coming, so there’ll be plenty of room on the lānai for the members of the minyan we’ve invited to join us if they want to,” said Izzy.

  “I know there’s no need to be concerned about the food, but would you like some musicians? A couple of Ariel’s friend’s played music at her life celebration. I could call and see if they are available for Miriam’s,” I suggested.

  “That would be lovely. But we’d insist on giving them a stipend to help out with paying for their music, clothing or classes,” said Joanne resolutely.

  “I’m sure they’d be grateful for anything you offer. I’ll go ahead check to see who’s free to play on that evening. Most of them play stringed instruments…violin, viola, and guitar.”

  “That sounds wonderful,” said Samantha. “I used to coordinate Luke’s parties, so maybe I could call the maid service we used.”

  “That would be a big help,” nodded Izzy. “It would mean we can be with our guests instead of being stuck in the kitchen.”

  “It sounds like you’ve thought of everything,” said Keoni. I don’t think you’ll require it, but if there’s any need for crowd control, I can handle it.”

  Joanne glanced at Keoni. “Speaking of public safety, could you call John Dias and invite him and Sergeant Ken`ichi. They’ve both done so much and I know how badly they feel that there has been no resolution to Miriam’s case,” said Joanne.

  “Unless they get called into work, I’m sure they’d like to come,” Keoni replied.

  “What did you decide to do about the people who can’t come to the celebration here?” I asked.

  “We’re going to follow through on suggestions you made, Natalie. I’ve already started a website in memoriam to Miriam, as well as Henri,” replied Joanne.

  “We have a lot of photos from the albums they kept through the years. And Joanne will put in some of her pictures of the house and the beach,” added Izzy.

  “I’ll order some blowups for displays at the memorial,” explained Samantha. “Later we can add photos of the celebration to the website, so people who didn’t come will feel they have been part of the festivities.”

  “It doesn’t sound like you need anything from me, but please let me know if something comes up,” I said.

  “Well, there is one area we could really use your help with,” said Joanne. “Could you write Miriam’s obituary and maybe a summary of both of their lives? You were right to suggest we place notices in newspapers in major cities where there may be people who knew them.”

  “I’d be honored to do that, Joanne. I’m afraid there will be some expense in doing this,” I said hesitantly.

  “Not a problem. I would pay for it myself, if needed. But Curtis Leighton has already said that there are ample funds for whatever we plan. When I told him my idea of taking both of their ashes to France, he thought it was a fitting tribute to their lives,” Joanne concluded.

  After that conversation, we shared stories of unusual trips we had taken during our lives. Our neighborly R and R session ended with Keoni and me agreeing to join The Ladies for a tour of their newly-lit yard that night.

  In the interim, Keoni and I lazed in the spa a while longer. Having already discussed our wills and durable powers of attorney, we spoke briefly of our own eventual funerals.

  “It sounds as if you gave The Ladies some excellent advice,” said Keoni.

  “I didn’t suggest all that much. I just asked several questions. There were only a couple of issues for them to consider. It looks like they’ve addressed the Didión’s foreign friends and former co-workers. And I think it’s awfully nice that they’re going to have a minyan say the Kaddish for Miriam,” I replied.

  “Everything they’re planning sounds like a perfect send-off to me!” Keoni declared.

  CHAPTER 20

  If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself,

  you are certain to be in peril.

  Sun Tzu [c. 544 BCE – c. 496 BCE]

  Later that night, we toured Mokulua Hale’s grounds with Miriam’s Ladies. Before we set out, Izzy provided each of us with a delicious Meyer’s lemon slushy. Despite the cloudy sky, the solar lights highlighting the walkways, flower beds and gateways, made the old cottage and its grounds seem like a fairyland made for Hansel and Gretel.

  In the midst of our adventure, Keoni got the call he had awaited since his birthday party. Master craftsman Makoa Pane invited him to help harvest a fallen alahe‘e tree up in Maunawili on the edge of Kawai Nui Marsh. The tree but may be small in circumference, but it can grow to thirty or even forty feet tall. Until the men saw it, there was no way of knowing how many board feet of wood it would yield.

  During his work on White Sands Cottage, Keoni’s woodworking skills have expanded considerably. At this point, he didn’t care whether he would be shaping a mantle, cornice pieces for porch posts, or accents for the cottage’s built-in cabinetry. He was just thrilled to have the opportunity to advance his knowledge.

  “This is great news! I recently cut out a newspaper article about tours of the marsh. Are you all game for a tour? I’ll see if I can schedule an outing for us at the same time the men are harvesting the tree?” I offered.

  The Ladies nodded enthusiastically.

  “We could take a picnic and you and Makoa could join us for a mid-day break,” Izzy suggested to Keoni.

  “Sounds good. But I can’t make any decisions without checking with Makoa, but I doubt he’s going to want to schedule anything in the middle of harvesting a tree.”

  “Well, no matter how lunch works out, this is a great chance to get to know my new neighborhood,” said Samantha.

  “The area offers many things to do. Amateur archeologists and artists often find inspiration there. And there’s a variety of hiking trails. Some are easy paths on the flatland. Above that, are some of the toughest uphill hikes in windward O`ahu,” I added.

  “I don’t know that I’ll be up to that much walking, but let’s check it out,” responded Joanne, whose weight gain since retirement presented several challenges.

  Within a couple of days, everything was in place. Although tours of historic sites in Maunawili are generally held once a month, a special one had been booked to accommodate Chinese students visiting the University of Hawai`i. Luckily, there were enough vacancies to allow us to join in the fun. So while Keoni and his new friend Makoa felled
the tree that had been struck by lightning, the rest of us would tour part of the 830-acre marsh that is the largest remaining wetland in Hawai`i.

  Keoni and I kissed goodbye early in the morning, so he could follow Makoa to the Marsh. We had agreed I would call him when the tour ended to see whether the men were free to attend the picnic. Since our party had grown to include Larry Smith and his nine-year old grandson Joey, we decided to take my Optima, as well as The Ladies’ mini-van.

  Besides having ample seating, we were prepared for several scenarios that might develop. The key question was whether everyone would want to remain in the marsh for the entire day. While Joey and Samantha were young and strong, I was fairly certain that Izzy and Joanne would want to return home after lunch. I wasn’t even sure if the General or I would be prepared for a hike following a tour lasting three hours.

  I really appreciated the tour guide squeezing us into an outing with his Chinese guests. Unsure of the number of people participating in the day’s events, Izzy and I planned a flexible picnic menu. Although the tour was on a schedule, Keoni and Makoa’s work would be subject to unknown factors, so we did not expect them for lunch.

  Larry and Joey met me outside my garage on the morning of our outing. As always, I tried to plan for unforeseen occurrences. Accordingly, I had packed metal bottles of water, some mochi and energy bars to snack on, plus sun block and bug spray. Joey might not like the rice cakes filled with sweet red bean paste, but I figured they would add to the report he would give mainland friends about his adventures in Hawai`i.

  As we buckled our seatbelts, I was already anticipating the stories we would hear about Kawai Nui Marsh—especially those of Queen Lili`uokalani as a young woman. Having researched the latter days of her life a year ago, I was intrigued to learn more about the lively princess who had interacted so rigorously with her land and people.

  With the tour broken into several segments, it was good we arrived en masse with only a few vehicles. Miriam’s Ladies arrived in their mini-van. The Chinese students arrived in two commercial vans. The Chinese professors and a Canadian couple arrived in rental cars.

  The first part of the tour was conducted by a community volunteer who was helping with the restoration of wetlands located in more than twenty acres below Castle Hospital. The project was overseen by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Hawai’i State Department of Land and Natural Resources, with the support of many Hawaiian civic organizations. It was designed to provide flood control and sediment filtration to benefit the entire Kailua Bay ecosystem.

  By terracing shallow ponds and removing invasive vegetation, native plants and endangered species were flourishing in the renewed habitat. We were all impressed to learn that the marsh is recognized as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance. And although Joey was young, it was encouraging to see him demonstrate particular interest in the native Hawaiian water birds benefitting from the improvements.

  Next we had an opportunity to visit sites that are sacred to native Hawaiian culture, including ancient settlements, a large fishpond, a temple, and several terraces used for farming. The man who was guiding us was so personable that his data-filled presentation held our attention. One of the most enthusiastic members of our tour was Joanne, who was busily taking long-distance and close-up shots by interchanging lenses on her new camera.

  “When you look down from the Pali Lookout, you’ll see that one of the highest points of visual interest is Olomana—comprised of Mount Olomana and two lesser peaks: Pāku’i and Ahiki. Between there and the ocean is Maunawili Valley and natural springs that feed a network of streams in the Marsh. Later today, if you choose to go on a long hike, you may find a swimming pond and waterfall at the end of your trail. In addition to nature lovers, anthropology buffs, and hikers, the area attracts artists who can choose from a variety of subjects for their drawing and painting.

  “Archeological evidence from 1400 C.E. abounds, with numerous petroglyphs and several Hawaiian temple sites, called heiau. This, the Ulupō Heiau, is the largest on `Oahu, with a stone platform measuring 140 by 180 feet and having outer walls up to 30 feet in height. Like other sacred sites and objects for daily living (including fishponds, roads, canoes and houses), the heiau is associated with the menehune. This is a diminutive race of remarkable craftspeople traditionally considered legendary, but whose presence in the Islands may actually predate the arrival of the Polynesians.

  “In addition to the temple site, you’ll note the lo`i, has been restored. Once farmed by the maka’ainana, these terraces traditionally grew the dietary staple kalo to make poi, along with ki plants and the flowering herb pōpolo, used in Hawaiian rituals. Later, with the availability of ample water, rice was grown on some lo`i. You have already seen restoration of some of the fishponds that were carefully tended to assure thriving supplies of mullet, awa, and o’opu.

  “This was the seat of political power for the Ko’olau Poko District in 1750. With the abundant fishing in the bay and excellent landings for canoes, Kailua was a favorite recreational area for the ali`i, their families, and retainers. When royalty visited, the meadow land within the rain forest was decorated with banners and the food and entertainment of a lū`au were enjoyed during sunny days and evenings lit with hillside bonfires.”

  Since our tour was connected to the Kailua Historical Society, we had been granted permission to visit the old Maunawili Ranch. As we moved toward one of the decrepit homes on the property, I was filled with the expectation of learning more about the life of Queen Lili`uokalani.

  “In the nineteenth and early twentieth century, success through mercantile enterprise, cattle ranching, and intermarriage between the Boyd family and royalty of the Hawaiian Kingdom made the Maunawili Ranch a gathering place for leaders of government and business. It was also a popular destination for artists and writers of international renown, such as Mark Twain.

  “There isn’t much to see today. The original Boyd home is gone, but we can view other historical features of the Boyd Irwin Estate. This includes a couple of period homes like this one, and a carriage way with a few remaining royal palms lining its course. Another remaining feature is an outdoor bath believed to have been built for Queen Lili`uokalani, the last monarch of the Kingdom of Hawai`i.

  “Throughout her adult life, she made frequent trips to the area. As the heir-apparent, Princess Lili`uokalani often made horseback tours in windward O`ahu, including visits to the Maunawili home of the Boyd family. The Queen was a noted writer of prose, as well as lyrics. A visit in 1877 may have provided the inspiration for her writing the famous song, Aloha `Oe.

  “It is said that when the future queen rode off toward Honolulu, she looked back to observe Edwin Boyd receiving a lei from a young Hawaiian woman, whom he then kissed tenderly. While the song is commonly associated with personal farewells, or allegorically as political commentary on the lost Kingdom of Hawai`i, the Queen reportedly said it was based on her memory of the two lovers bidding farewell to each other.

  “Since its early days of ranching, crops of coffee, sugar, and rice, plus orchards of fruit trees [including orange, papaya, cherry, and apple], as well as mangosteen, avocado, and kola nuts have been grown here. Today there are few agricultural products harvested from this land. But its overall contributions to the community remain vibrant. I’m sure the ancient Hawaiians would be pleased to see its wildlife flourishing and appreciated by locals and tourists alike. Artisans in woodworking eagerly await permission to harvest the wood of endangered trees which are damaged or have fallen.”

  I chuckled at this reference to the work Keoni and Makoa were undertaking at that moment. I had not meant to interrupt the presentation with my laughter, but evidently the comments on creative usage of the marsh were the conclusion of the tour. After encouraging us to make the most of the opportunities afforded by our unique access to this part of Maunawili, our leader departed for another lecture. Then, after conferring with th
eir instructors, the Chinese students left for an event with American students who were preparing to visit Beijing the following semester.

  I looked around and counted heads for lunch. Our tour group had dwindled to the three Chinese professors, two Canadians, and the seven of us from Mokulua Drive. While Izzy was inviting the tourists to join us for lunch, I called Keoni to see if he and Makoa could take a break. He declined, saying they were at a crucial point in their work, which they were trying to finish before the day got much warmer. I said I would call back when we finished eating. By then I would know if I was going on a hike and the men might know when they would have completed their task.

  Izzy and I carefully selected a spot to lay out a couple of blankets in accordance with the instructions we had been given for keeping the land around us pristine. Beckoning everyone to be seated, Izzy started pulling out plastic food containers and serving utensils. The twelve of us settled down in an uneven circle. As Joanne scooted back a bit to take a group shot, her camera’s battery gave out. Fortunately, my smart phone takes excellent pictures, so I handed it to her to continue capturing images of our continuing adventure.

  We were all hungry, so conversation was at a minimum initially. As always, Izzy’s guests were pleased with her menu. The majority of skewered teriyaki chicken, potato-macaroni salad, sushi with cucumber, and dried papaya were eaten quickly. Our first real conversation centered on Izzy sharing her teriyaki recipe and Joanne’s revelation of her secret drop of Dijon mustard in the salad.

  Once he was through with lunch, Joey became absorbed in the life surrounding us. He took delight in teaching the older tourists a few of the Hawaiian words he had learned in summer school. “Look, there’s a poloka. That’s the wrinkled frog. He’s not native to Hawai`i. There are so many of them now that they’re becoming a danger to the environment. And that’s a Mo’o’alā, a gecko. They’re little, but they can change colors, so they’re protected from being eaten by something bigger.” Proud of the knowledge he’d shared, Joey turned to offering the lizard a long piece of marsh grass.