DFR Travels: Trouble in Paradise...

Monday, January 18. Hot.

Lahaina day for us. It is about 40 miles and 3/4 of an hour north[?] of here. We had a healthy breakfast and headed out. Great road, improved every time we come here.

We were parked and walked the strip, up and down, in less than an hour after arriving. We just have to have a trip to Lahaina every trip, just for old time sake. The main drag is known as Front Street. Lahaina was at one time the capital of Maui but it is better known as a whaling town, whalers from the East coast of the USA. Shortly after the whalers arrived around 1819 and saw all the lovely Hawaiian girls and their lovely upper bodies all nicely tanned, the Missionaries arrived 1821 and covered them up. Hence the Muumuu: a long cotton smock that goes from the neck to the ankles.

The buildings in Front street burned to the ground in 1917 and in some cases, were never rebuilt. That is why there is a clear 200 yard stretch on Front street of ocean-front in the middle of town.

We spent some time in the shade of the big banyon tree where there was a craft show on. We enjoy talking to the young artists there, woodworkers, and glass workers mainly.

We had our main meal at the Hard Rock Cafe and headed to home at Kihei.

** ** **

The drama for the day, really enough for the whole trip...

About 10 minutes on the road home, Fellette was driving as I had a beer for lunch, a pedestrian was poised ready to sprint across the road. Fellette braked and the car behind did not stop in time. SCREETCH, CRASH! Bang, we had been hit, hard. Fellette and I looked at each other and asked, are you all right? Yes! Just confused, but what happened and what to do next? The car engine was still going so we pulled off to the side of the road. The other car had stopped some 100 yards back, remained there a few minutes and then did a U-Turn and fled back to Lahaina.

We were dumfounded. A good samaritan drove his car behind us and took off and pursued him, stating that his boss had phoned the police and advised what happened. Another person approached and gave his name and phone number as a witness.

I had also phoned the police but had a bad connection. The cars bumper was hanging on by a thread, so I ripped it off, with my bare hands! We folded the bumper in 1/2 and put it in the back seat, [plastic!] The tail pipe support was on the ground and the tail pipe was down on the ground as well. I said we can support it and get to a police station or the U-drive place, whichever comes first. No rope so Fellette said take off your belt, use that. So we drove the next 20 miles with no muffler to speak of and my black belt holding us together.

After we first headed to Kihei, I got a phone call from the police department. She said the officers were on the scene and please return to the scene. We did. Two police cars there, nice guys, took the particulars and said we could go. They said they had the offending car in Lahaina.

I went in and thanked the people who phoned the police and then we drove to the rental car place. 3/4 of an hour later we drove away in a nice shiny Sentra.

Back home and we noticed our shirts smelled. Obviously fear-sweat smells differently than regular perspiration and can break through antiperspirants. I never knew that! And now you do too! We cleaned up and went to the Mai Tai Party at the pool area at Maui Hill.

While at the party we struck up a conversation with a couple from Vancouver Island. I related the incident and he asked "What colour was the other car?" I said white. They saw that car, abandoned on the road to Lahaina. It looks like the guy did a runner.

Hopefully that is good for us: Hit and run, abandoned the car. Maybe stolen maybe no insurance, maybe drinking, who knows. Regardless, if it costs us, we are indeed lucky to be uninjured and able to laugh [?] and write about it.