Fall, Kauaʻi Style

Whenever I see a picture meant to capture, fall it usually has the same ingredients: red leaves, a scarf, and somebody holding a warm drink while standing outdoors in weather that requires a jacket. Fall on Kauaʻi has a different look. You can see pumpkins and still need sunscreen. You can talk about Thanksgiving plans while wearing slippers. The weather may not announce the season in the way it does elsewhere, but people do. The calendar fills up, families make plans, and conversations at the shop begin turning toward holiday meals.

I particularly enjoy the unplanned conversations at Kauaʻi events. You spot someone you know across the way. You stop to say hello. Before long, you’re hearing what their family has been up to, getting a recommendation for another event, or talking about a person you both know. That can be hard to fit into a busy week. On a Saturday, it feels like part of the day.

After the hurricane, those conversations may carry a little more weight. “How are you?” isn’t always a question with a quick answer right now. Some families are doing better. Some still have a lot to sort out. And some might be having a perfectly enjoyable afternoon at a festival while also dealing with a problem at home. We can make space for both. I hope there have been chances for you to get out and enjoy the island again. A community event, a farmers’ market, a visit with friends none of these makes the recovery work disappear. They do give us a chance to feel connected while that work continues.

Now it’s Sunday, which has its own personality. There are usually a few chores left from Saturday. Someone may be checking what’s needed for the coming week. Eventually, there’s the question that turns up no matter how organized you are: What are we having for dinner? I’m going to put in a word for a pot pie. It’s a particularly good Sunday meal when you want something satisfying but don’t want to spend the last part of your weekend working out a recipe and cleaning up afterward. If there’s room for a sweet slice, I won’t talk you out of that either.