Another beautiful day found me again at center stage. A couple from Mexico started me off with a fiver, and once again I was off to the races, chalking up a $17.75 day. These gorgeous August afternoons have bathed the tourists in the aloha spirit.<\/p>\n
An Indian man gave me a dollar, after which he and his wife sat on a bench in the shade for a half dozen songs, applauding after each one. A girl from London did a credible hula, then walked away. A man from Texarkana stopped to chat; he was delighted that we New Yorkers seemed to understand his drawl, not the case, he informed me, with those other Northerners he recently met in Seattle. He was very taken with John Boyd\u2019s sacred music ensemble.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey sent a chill up my spine,\u201d he told me. \u201cThey\u2019re very professional.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUnlike what I do here,\u201d I said, \u201cwhich is very unprofessional, but lots of fun.\u201d<\/p>\n
After a lengthy chat, he let me get back to my gig, joining the Indian couple in the shade.<\/p>\n
Two willowy women from Toronto approached. They both were 6 feet tall or more, one blond, one brunette, with a photographer in their wake. \u201cDo you mind if we take a picture?\u201d one asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course,\u201d putting leis around their necks, \u201cand then we\u2019ll do a hula.\u201d They made quite an impression on the people walking by, many stopping to watch and take pictures. The Texan got off his bench to snap a few himself.<\/p>\n
A short time later, I cajoled a group of six 20-somethings to dance. They set up 3 on my left, 3 on my right. The right-hand contingent coordinated their movements to \u201cThe Hukilau Song,\u201d throwing their nets into the sea, but the left-hand couldn\u2019t get started and watched flat-footed until the music stopped.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m generally reluctant to ask women in religious garb to dance, but if I detect any interest, by way of a slackening pace or a smile, I might go for it. I\u2019m a little less hesitant with the Hasidim, but in all cases I\u2019ve yet to receive a positive response. This day was no exception, although, for the first time a young, round Hasid gave his bewigged wife a dollar to drop in my case.<\/p>\n
The Texan and his wife got up to leave. \u201cI got some great pictures,\u201d he told me, peeling a fiver from a wad of bills. \u201cHave you got a card, I\u2019ll send them to you.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"