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Changing Hawaii
EVER since Cindi Heffner and her family moved to Albuquerque several years ago, she's been a one-woman ambassador of Hawaiiana -- starting a hula halau, corresponding on the Internet with other former Hawaii residents turned New Mexicans and, since 1998, throwing a big annual potluck luau at a local school. It’s luau time
in New MexicoRemember Cindi? I wrote about her in an Aug. 20, 1999 Changing Hawaii column, "Aloha spirit thrives in New Mexico." Some excerpts to refresh your memory:
"Whenever New Mexico resident Cindi Molina Heffner goes out in public in Albuquerque, she is on the prowl for the telltale clues: rubba slippas, Hawaiian-style T-shirts, the flash of the shaka sign, the lapse into pidgin English. Once she even chased down the driver of a vehicle with the vanity plate "RAELANI' to snag her prey.
"Sometimes the people she seeks out actually spot her first, recognizing the way Heffner adorns her long brown hair with fresh flowers, or the distinctive Kamehameha Warriors bumper sticker and license bracket decorating her car.
"After these strangers' eyes meet, however, they aren't strangers for long. "Ay, you from Hawaii?' they'll ask simultaneously. Yeah, brah. For sure, auntie.
"It's like a human treasure hunt for Heffner, a 1968 Farrington graduate who has established roots in New Mexico along with an estimated 2,000 or so former Hawaii residents. "We're here and we miss home,' she says on behalf of her extended family of transplants and her immediate ohana of hubby, Les, who works for GTE, and their two sons, who both attended Kamehameha...
"So what happens when you miss Hawaii and its people, but you're in the middle of Albuquerque, N.M.? Why, you throw a big potluck luau, which is exactly what Heffner and friends (the Harrells, the McKinneys, the Kualapais and Tsinnaginnes) did last September.
"They secured the cafeteria at Susie Rayos Marmon Elementary, sent out news of the soiree over the coconut wireless, and waited for the 100 or so attendees to arrive.
"Incredibly, twice as many showed up, lugging containers brimming with lau lau, chicken long rice, manapua, adobo, sashimi, sushi and other island delicacies. It was standing-room-only, with the crowd spilling out into the parking lot."
THAT was back in 1998. Last year's New Mexico Ohana Luau -- held Sept. 18 at the much bigger John Adams Middle School cafeteria -- drew 300 to 400 former islanders for Hawaiian music and dancing, nostalgic delicacies and lots of tearful reminiscing.
This year's extravaganza is set for Saturday, Sept. 9, again at John Adams Middle School on Glen Rio Road. According to bright yellow pamphlets being passed around Albuquerque, the doors open at 4:30 p.m., with dinner served at 5:30.
"Come see old friends and make some new ones. Kanikapila (bring your ukuleles and guitars), hula, and talk story with your Hawaiian ohana," beckons the flyer.
"Kalua pig, lomi salmon, rice, haupia and beverages goin' be provided (for $6 per person/keiki 12 and under free). Please bring a Hawaiian style dish fo' share with da rest of the ohana as follows: Last names starting with A-N -- Hawaiian Style Pupu, Salad or Dessert/O-Z Hawaiian Style Main Dish."
Ay, you guys in New Mexico, the RSVP deadline is today, Sept. 1! So email Cindi Heffner at ehulamai@hawaii.com right now, wikiwiki. As we still say in the islands, time for grind.
Diane Yukihiro Chang's column runs Monday and Friday.
She can be reached by phone at 525-8607, via e-mail at
dchang@starbulletin.com, or by fax at 523-7863.