On topic, yet off airport...

I took my Mom to Hawaii and upon leaving from Oahu, we stopped at the row of lei stands outside the airport.

A friend took his wife to a popular stand, I directed Mom to a stand with an elderly woman with no customers. As Mom picked a nice lei, the woman showed us pictures of her kids. "Auntie" asked where we were flying (we said Atlanta), and she took extra time to create the neatest little lei carrying case out of ti leaves... She told Mom that the case would help contain the moisture than plastic bags and to place the lei on the floor of the plane between our feet and the bulkhead where it would be cool.

My Mom made it all the way back to Florida and her lei was still in great shape. My friends wife did not have as much luck.

Sometimes it does help to take the road "less traveled" :-)

You have experienced Aloha in its purest form - straight from an Auntie....

Some of the nicest and most pleasurable encounters/experiences I've had in Hawaii are with "Aunties." I've learned much about the Hawaiian culture & people from one in particular. They are the keepers of the flame and I only hope they are passing it on to future generations.

There is one in particular that we make a point to visit every time we go. She's getting on in years (83) and still is going strong.

Mary