JoAnn Bassett - Islands of Aloha 07 - Moloka'i Lullaby (22 page)

EPILOGUE

I wish I had a better gift for giving bad news, but afterward, George Bustamante told me I’d done a good job. Malama cried when I explained the events that led to her son’s death, even though I delicately left out the part about the unfortunate assignation between Leonard and Amanda. It was enough for her to know that Lono had been given the money freely, and that her son hadn’t harmed Richard in any way.

I told a half-truth story at the Kaunakakai Police Station about talking by phone with Richard Atkinson. I asked that they clear the late Leonard A’amakualenalena’s name of any suspicion of manslaughter, given that Richard was still very much alive. I don’t know if they believed me or not, but the detectives I spoke to seemed fine with making life a bit easier for Malama by closing the case. Again, I erred on the side of discretion by not mentioning anything about the feds and the art forgeries. I figured I’d leave it to the FBI to track him down if they got wind of his faked death—not my circus, and certainly not my monkey. 

I left Moloka’i that afternoon wishing I’d been able to experience that part of Maui County under happier circumstances. For me, the island has an authenticity and a sense of earthy realism that I find lacking in most of Hawaii today.

As the tiny plane took off for Maui, I rubbed the dent on my left ring finger and marveled at the white mark that had bloomed there after only a few months. Before heading out over the ocean, the plane circled the vast fields of green and gold and I consoled myself by vowing to not wait another twenty-five years before coming back. Maybe I’d volunteer to help Sifu Doug at the Moloka’i kid’s tournament. After all, for the next three months, my calendar was pretty much empty.

AUTHOR’S NOTE

Originally, I wasn’t going to write a book set on Moloka’i. I’d heard all sorts of trash talk about the place, and I didn’t want to spend the necessary time on the island that it would take to write a story with “local color.” But local color is what readers have come to expect in the “Islands of Aloha Mystery Series.”

My friend, Gail Ballantyne, set me straight. Moloka’i is her favorite island, and she’s been to them all. She encouraged me to at least give it a shot. So, I did. What I found there is a place of beauty, peace, and haunting memories.

If you’re up for a little adventure, and you’re okay with things a little more “down-home” than “up-scale,” then I think you’d enjoy a visit. Go for a day, or two, or a week. You don’t have to ride the mules down to Kalaupapa—there’s a fifteen minute plane trip that ends up at the same place.

I’m glad I didn’t listen to the harpies, and I hope you’ll agree.

By way of thanks, I’d like to start by thanking Gail Ballantyne, for nudging me forward. And I’d like to send a big
mahalo nui
to Darrell Duvauchelle, of the “Moloka’i Duvauchelles,” who spent many a bored teenager summer on Moloka’i, but still smiles when remembering the good family times (and enormous shower-house spiders) there. I’d also like to send a warm
aloha
to Tom and Karyl of Moloka’i Komohana Bed & Breakfast in Maunaloa. We truly enjoyed their “Friendly Island” hospitality and I appreciated hearing their stories of the island and its people. And many thanks to John, our tour guide at Damien Tours, for an incredible day on the Kalaupapa Peninsula. I’d also like to give a shout-out to the mule skinners of Moloka’i Mule Ride, for getting me up and back “topside” in one piece. I’m not going to send my
mahalo
to my mule, Ilikea, who really was the epitome of “stubborn as a mule,” but I’ll acknowledge that at least she gave me something to write about.

I’d also like to thank my “beta” readers, who point out the typos, non-sequiturs, and all-around boo-boo’s: Diana Paul, Tom Haberer, and Francesca Moses Schelenski.

And where would I be without you, my readers? As Farrah would say, “bummed out.” So,
mahalo
to each and every one of you who’ve been with me as we’ve followed Pali Moon around the islands.

I especially want to thank the following readers who’ve offered encouragement, support, and reviews! I couldn’t do it without you:

Sandy Parkhill

Marcie Grover

Felice Brodsky

Sandy Burke

Melissa Perkins Simmons

Robin Kelly

Diane Tosney

Montgomery County Gym

Cindi Grey

Sue Evans Miller

Tamara Stark

Mary Ann Alger

Linda Lang

Wendy Lester

Sue Cook Goodwin

Linda Mitchell

Kukana Kalewe

Sheryl Wetmore

Now on to one final adventure: we’ll be going back to the Big Island for “Hilo, Good-bye.”

Other books by JoAnn Bassett:

The Islands of Aloha Mystery Series

Maui Widow Waltz

Livin’ Lahaina Loca

Lana’i of the Tiger

Kaua'i Me a River

O’ahu Lonesome Tonight?

I’m Kona Love You Forever

The Escape to Maui Series

Mai Tai Butterfly

Visit JoAnn Bassett’s website at:  www.joannbassett.com

“Like” her Facebook page at: JoAnn Bassett’s Author Page