Page 31 of Big Island Weddings
She shot Nate a grateful look, and he winked. “Save me some lau lau.”
“‘Olena, come eat,” her mom called from inside. None of them had eaten yet; they had all been too nervous about the PCI to choke down hospital food.
The fridge was bursting with containers that their community had brought by, and Mahina muttered under her breath as she juggled casserole dishes and plastic bowls.
“Half of this is mac salad. What are they thinking? Are they trying to give him another heart attack?”
‘Olena took two of the biggest bowls and set them on the counter. “We can take them to the soup kitchen this weekend.”
“No. I don’t want them in the house. You can take them by the shelter on your way home.”
“Okay.” ‘Olena left the bowls closed – she wasn’t about to eat one of her dad’s favorite foods in front of him while he ate rice and vegetables.
Mahina dropped a plastic box onto the counter with more force than necessary. “Take these mutsubis too.”
“Hey!” Mano shouted from outside. “I heard that!”
“No more spam!” she shouted back.
“You can’t come between a man and his mutsubis!”
“I can and I will!” Mahina sounded fierce, but a moment later she slumped and let out an exasperated laugh. She carried their plates out onto the lanai, and ‘Olena followed with three glasses of iced mamaki tea. Juniper had dropped by her house the day before with a bag full of the dark green leaves – apparently they were good for the heart.
Mano gave ‘Olena a mournful look and said, “She’s trying to starve me.”
“You’ll live,” Mahina said curtly.
“No more malasadas or butter mochi,” he lamented.
“Definitely not.”
“You expect me to eat like this every day?” He poked at the plate of steamed vegetables and brown rice. “I’ll waste away to nothing. Where’s the Hawaiian food?”
“There’s plenty of healthy Hawaiian food,” ‘Olena cut in.
“Like what?”
“Huli huli chicken,” she shot back. It was one of his favorites. “I’ll get some for dinner tomorrow.”
“What else?”
“Poi,” Mahina said.
He scoffed and wrinkled his nose.
“Lomi lomi salmon,” ‘Olena said. “Lau Lau. Poke. There’s tons of stuff, Dad.”
“So why you feeding me this cardboard, then?”
“Just eat it,” Mahina grumbled.
“Grandpa!” Kiki and Luana came racing through the garden. Luana tripped to a stop in front of him, but Kiki slammed right into him in her excitement.
“Careful, little opihi,” Mahina scolded gently.
“She’s fine,” Mano said, wrapping an arm around his granddaughter.
“That’s another healthy Hawaiian food!” ‘Olena exclaimed.
