Love Thy Neighbor
By Braddah Lance
Last night I had to clear out da garage and if you seen my garage you would have just suggested to dynamite it.
I had years and years of accumulated organized chaos lying around from old trophies to, well, old everything. Since it's an open garage there was dust everywhere - along with a few former living things - and it wasn't pretty.
I started at 9am and didn't get done till 10pm.
Ok, ok. I was done at 8:30pm but was taking a "break" across da street.
Our street is decently long - I'd say about a dozen or so homes on each side -and we pretty much "know" each oddah. Aside from not knowing each oddah's names, we know wat kine car they drive/have, wat kine friends visit, wat time they stay home, if they get dogs, keiki etc etc.
Or it could be just my keen observations skills going shmall kine nuts again. 
Our immediate neighbor we talk story shmall kine wen we stay outside at da same time. It usually goes along da lines of common interests like wat we stay doing to our homes or our dogs. He asks from time to time if I need dis or dat to help out.
Our oddah immediate neighbor they stay around Da Wife's and I age so we end up talking about stuff "our age". I always ask them if they need help with anything cause they always buying new tools and I tell them no need if they only going use 'em one time cause I get tools they can use instead.
Our neighbor across da street, he's one character.
He reminds me exactly of NKHEA and even to da point my neighbor really no can hea, he stay practically deaf. He always comes ovah and asks if I need help with anything wen he sees me working or loading da truck. He always tell me come ovah cause EVERY Sunday get pah-tay his house. He share his beea's, his kau kau but most of all he shares his Aloha.
A rare treat in dis day and age I'd say and he's passed it on to his ohana.
It was about 7:30pm and I still had more than a couple hours of work left. Then his two grandsons come ovah, then anoddah uncle and my uncle. They all came ovah to help no questions asked - nothing in return. They helped clear my garage in a hour and we was pau.
Then it was time to relax.
Wen I go ovah it's feels like how it should/would have been back in da good 'ole days. Got da radio on - no tv unless got a game on - everybody sharing their mo'olelo's, their pupu's and laughing and teasing. Everybody listens and stay geniunely interested in each oddah's conversation.
Did I mention dat "Uncle" stay turning 90 dis year?!
Da hui at Uncle's house stay about twice my age except for Uncle's grandson's who still stay about 10 years older than me and you really wondah how da heck can practically four generations sit in one garage and wala'au and "understand" each oddah. Even though they are not my "neighbors", they end up being wen they around.
Gotta be da Aloha no?
Uncle did it right and passed it on to his keiki and now to his grand-keiki and it keeps getting passed on through witness of his actions and it'll definitely get passed on through me.
Do you know your neighbors? Do you lend a helping hand to your neighbors? Do you even say hi? Talk story? Know their names? Or is it usually just the casual nod, smile and hurry in da door?
Maybe da world could/would be just a bit bettah if we took da time and love thy neighbor..........
Eh, not dat kine love. 
Wassup Wit Dat!
May 17th, 2010 at 8:35 am
First, and lucky get you get good neighbors, BL. But you would do da same for dem too, right?
May 17th, 2010 at 8:38 am
We've been in da same building for 13 years now. We know most of our neighbors (da owners, not da renters so much) and we like most of 'em.
We do schmall-kine favors for each other - get newspepahs, water plants, feed pets - while dey on vacation. When I bake, if I get extra, I give to da neighbor across the hall who knows everybody's business (but he takes care of everyone too, so he's good).
May 17th, 2010 at 8:57 am
My neighbors? Not really. We know each other by face and talk in the hall. My brother's neighbors? Yep. My brother has a get together like that every week and sometimes the neighbors come over.
May 17th, 2010 at 8:58 am
the neighbors next door get some aloha, but, for the most part, it's a nod hello and move on with the rest of the neighborhood. not like at home.
May 17th, 2010 at 9:07 am
i guess i'm not too neighborly... my husband is more friendly that i am and waves and talks to more of the men-folk than i do. i've encountered a bunch of weirdos in my neighborhood so i tend to stick to myself... plus, we're not home and live in a back house, so i don't see my neighbors often. i do, however, talk to my aunt and uncle who are my actual immediate neighbors, though!
May 17th, 2010 at 9:09 am
Howzit BL!
You live in a great neighborhood. I live in a dead end street in an old neighborhood and everyone is retired. I know everyone by face not so much by name. Everyone keeps to them selves but watches for strangers that come around.
May 17th, 2010 at 9:14 am
I wish I was much closer to my neighbors. Mostly just the hellos. All in all it is good. They are quiet. I am quiet. No problems. I think I am the only one with plants and pets so no need take care of others while they are gone.
The owners are better. The renters need to learn how to live in an apartment.
May 17th, 2010 at 9:27 am
We live on a cul-de-sac with about two dozen homes. It's almost all owner occupants and many of us moved in about the same time...20 years ago. Though there's been some movement over the years, like you, we know most, if not by name, by face and especially car.
Immediate neighbors are all good. We know their families and friends. We're fortunate.
May 17th, 2010 at 9:30 am
Aloha All!
Lucky you get good neighbors, besides helping out, if everybody knows each other, it makes it harder for strangers to come around and make trouble. You hear too many stories of some chronic just pulling up to a house when the occupants at work and stealing all their stuff.
May 17th, 2010 at 9:31 am
Now that I've moved to PC/ Aiea, our neighbors are cool. We help each other out, get together on some occassions. I don't know all their names, but I can go by face! We live in a town home, and there's not too many keikis, it's a lovely neighborhood.
I am very happy where I live, I came from Chinatown, and my family lives in an apartment housing complex and there were nutty people who needed to go to the funny farm. My parents are still there, when I visit them I still see the same neighbores, just aging.
May 17th, 2010 at 9:41 am
We live in a condo, and we're pretty close to some of our neighbors. With one neighbor, we exchange food: they give us healthy vegetables grown from their mother's yard; we give them junk food like brownies and cookies and cake.
We have other neighbors that are senior citizens, and used to walk to Star Market, which wasn't too far a walk, and they liked the exercise. When Star closed, they had to walk FAR to go to the market, so I call them whenever I'm going to the market, to see if they want to catch a ride.
Other than that, I know my neighbors by face, and we greet each other when we see each other, but not much else.
You're lucky you have neighbors like da uncle, BL.
May 17th, 2010 at 10:38 am
My neighbor in the back......the father's 92 years old and used to regularly mow his lawn until a month or so ago when he had a stroke. The last time he tried to mow his lawn he couldn't get it to start. I went over and we checked the spark plug (new), he had a can of "Quick Start" the one you blast into the carburetor.......gas was full........we couldn't start it.
I then told him "Try wait..........." and went and got my lawnmower and did his yard for him. Even though he suffered the stroke and is in a care home now, his daughter mentioned over the weekend "Dad says OL going take care of da yard".........I smiled back at her and I'll help where I can as dats what neighbors do.
OL
May 17th, 2010 at 10:46 am
And to you Da Quote Of Da Day....
The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you're still a rat.
Lily Tomlin
Rogah dat! Anybody for dat mattah, no need be neighbors.
Dat's nice of all of you especially since I would tink you'd see each oddah more frequently in da hallways.
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If you get elevator.... how's dat convo?
Gotta have nice neighbors too since get pah-tay all da time yeah?
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Suburb?
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Really?
Yeah, gotta watch out for those.
So is dat a good thing or a bad thing?
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Jus' like me..... I no can remembah good anyways so I if I "see" you, I know you.
True dat. Lately we've been having some "odd" cars driving around so we all stay check 'em out and let them "know" we stay watching.
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You nevah know wat might happen if you just ask a question.... but then again they might talk your head off.
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Yeah, I saw wassap to my neighbors too wen I see 'em on da road.
Lucky you live Hawaii.
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Rogah dat - helps to "separate" da strangers from da "real" peeps.
We had two houses dat stay li'dat.... thank goodness I tink one of 'em got kicked out but still get one left. No trouble..... but lots of traffic.
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Good for you!
Don't you evah wondah wat it must look like inside their apartment... da funny farm people dat is?
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Typical you.
It's going to be a sad day wen his time is up.
May 17th, 2010 at 10:50 am
Hey Lance,
Like you I have great neighbors. I can honestly say that I trust them enough to have them watch over my kids. They are so willing to do this for FREE. My wife once said long time ago that she hopes that our house would be a gathering place for the neighborhood kids. That was ten years ago and boy did she get her wish. There are sleepovers and camp fires on a regular basis at our house. Thank goodness for Costco pizza. We live in an old neighborhood and everyone knows everyone. Once a year we have a block party and someone’s house and EVERYONE show up with some awesome food and drink. I would never think of moving. We feel so safe and welcome.
May 17th, 2010 at 10:54 am
My old street in Palolo had homes above and below street level, so we didn't know our across the street neighbors too well, cause we looked "down" on them
My new place on the mainland is typical tract home kind of place. We mostly know each other by profession, not name. Got the teacher, the dentist, the female cop (freaking hottie, btw), the nurse, the detective. I was the unemployed schmuck for a long time
Yours sounds like a unique neighborhood. In the older places, like where M lives, and I used to, people weren't too openly friendly like how you described. Seems like everyone treats their home like a castly with a moat around it. Loose dogs don't help the openess, either.
May 17th, 2010 at 10:58 am
@BL: I've honestly had about 10-12 rides with one of my neighbors in 4 years, so it's not something I worry about. As for my brothers neighbors, they have a informal deal. Don't call the cops when he makes noise, and he won't when they do. He's been trying to keep quieter lately because one of the neighbors just had a baby.
May 17th, 2010 at 11:37 am
Hoo, I feel good now!
My Condo neighbors are pretty cool. Cept the Associaton President live on my floor so gotta obey da rules ya know?
May 17th, 2010 at 11:47 am
I always tell my wife, the best kind of neighbors is the ones that leave you alone. But we have the best neighbors. We exchange Christmas gifts--perhaps because they have more money than us and we get better gifts in return! But our neighbors respect our space and so do we. When I need help moving my TV, I just ask nicely. When my neighbors go on vacation, we help them take their trash out of the driveway for them. We live in a gated community, so it is ultra-quiet and safe with all the cameras installed. At night, when the stars are out, we have the best view because our courtyard is pitch black. Been living in the neighborhood for 6 years, and will certainly stay until I die. Heck, I'm living beyond my means!
May 17th, 2010 at 12:50 pm
ova hea, everybody keep to demselves. give da wave or nod hello but das bout it. neighbor across da street I talk to wen i see him, an we exchange goodies wen get. ova hea is da kine cordial friendly.
May 17th, 2010 at 2:14 pm
Eh BL you talking stink bout me
you gatta talk a little louder 
I NKHEA you 
We live in an older neighborhood
I get great neighbors, on each side and across da street 
we all know each others names and always helping out each other 
Every once and awhile we have kanakapila in my garage and everybody invited to come pah-tay 
even opso stay come too sometimes 
NKHEA....... safety meeting tomorrow
May 17th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
I live in one condo and I pretty much know everyone on my floor by name. I talk story with them from time to time. We kinda tight with one couple who is around my wife and I age. Exchange gifts at Christmas and snacks when we make plenny. Get couple other peeps who live on the other floors that I talk to once in a while. I dunno their names though.
My parent's house is way different. They live PC. My dad knows pretty much everyone in the neighborhood. He knows all the names of the retirees who go walking past his house early in the morning. He wave at all the cars that pass his house. Everybody share stuff with each other - fish they catch, vegetables they grow, etc. The immediate neighbors are super cool. They all give my dad the keys to their house in case of emergency. Trippy. I wouldn't even think of giving my house keys to my neighbor.
May 17th, 2010 at 3:27 pm
BL - eh....cool you get dat kine neighbors! everybody know each oddah by name and help out.
and i can attest to da KHEA's hospitality and helpfulness as i have had da privilege to partake in some of dea pahtay's and "safety meetings!" oh....and his kegerator too!
i make shmall talk with coupla neighbors on my floor and know dem by name. mostly da ones dat lived dea long time. but everybody mostly stick to demselves. some come and go. but no hotties on my floor......dang!
May 17th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
You get cool neighbors...lucky. I always hear horror stories about bad neighbors, loud noise, drug deals, etc. Most of the houses up and down our street are original homeowners. We been here about 25 years and I couldn't ask for better neighbors. Next door neighbor is so close to us we have each other keys and she just walks in anytime like family. We also have keys for another neighbor that we are close too and a third neighbor leaves their keys with us when they go on a trip. I carpooled with another neighbor who lives down the corner until they reduced his hours a few months ago. We give each other fruits and other stuff, share tools, help each other, no problem if you run out of sugar or garlic...just go borrow from one of your neighbors. On one side, get rental and so far so good. Renters have been mostly military officers but had local families as well. New neighbors moved in last week and I think they military single men, haven't met them yet...crossing fingers.
May 17th, 2010 at 4:43 pm
Hey Lance,
We got neighbors in Thailand. We talked to grandma a little bit next to us - she doing fine, her daughter, soninlaw and their keiki lived there about 2 mths after we moved. in. Suddenly they disappeared and people start pulling up in front of their house - staring at the house. Then, staring at our house. Then - asking us questions. "Where dey go? When last time you see'um?" We don't want to say we see them sneak in late-night and turn on the tv in the house - but that's the only light.
Then, neighbor on other side. She's about 35 yrs old, nice kine. We thought married to Thai guy that was there all the time. Then haole guy show up from England. She tells us she's married to him and other guy just 'uncle'. I didn't want to say - one time I peek the blinds at 2am and see her and uncle in a sex embrace on her porch... oh well, Thai style. Living in Thailand a little different than living in Hawaii eh brah? Or maybe not. Lol.
Oh - almost forgot, 35 yr old neighbor told us other neighbor Grandma and the whole clan left that house because son in law took money to build someone a house, and just left town! No joke... oh well. Looking forward to coming back to Hawaii... Cheers brah!
May 17th, 2010 at 5:56 pm
I met my husband after he moved into my building. Love thy neighbor.
It looks like you have a really nice neighborhood and future babysitters!
May 17th, 2010 at 8:10 pm
I lucky we get good neighbors. My wife calls me da Mayor of the area, cause I know the all da neighbors from 3 streets down. But, we all get along and we get garage party every so often. thank goodness fo' aloha spirited neighbors.........
May 17th, 2010 at 8:36 pm
BL: awesome to have the kind of friendship you got w/ your neighbors.
Where I live now (since 2001) is a private lane. My landlady and her 2nd husb live upstairs... she's my classmate's mom. "S"s two older bros were friends w/ my cousin and brother so we're very familiar with each other. Before time, when S's husb and BIL used to do the yardwork I used to go outside and help rake, bring out ice water (they had their own beea later), l'dat.
My neighbor in the unit next to me, we used to hang outside and talk story all the time until one day he never came home cuz the FEDs arrested him for drug trafficking. GEEZ, good judge of character I turn out to be.
Now, S's nephew lives there and I take him stuff when I have too much goodies from work like malasadas, manapua, cookies, ...but he drew the line at mangoes last night. "I'm not a mango person!" with his two index fingers crossed to me. hahaha
S's husband is my Rent-A-Husband, he fixes stuff around the apts cuz he's the fixxit guy for the two bldgs. S and I watch each others stuffs when we go away. You know, watah plants, watch the cars, take the mail and newspapah.
The lady across the lane is our Gladys Kravits (MLC). She knows everything about everybody and who's car belongs and who's does not. Oh, don't get me wrong, we all love her, she's wonderful. All the old-timers are friendly and we watch out for each other. The rest are apts full of peeps that come 'n go. We just wave and smile.
May 17th, 2010 at 8:39 pm
Our bldg is fun when got power outtage and stuff cuz we gather outside, chairs, radio, coolers, snacks... and just taaaaaaalk stories forever. eh, dat's da local style.
May 18th, 2010 at 5:57 am
@Sally, #28: that reminds me of when Hurricane Iniki hit. I was living in Seattle at that point (1992). I was worried sick about my parents. When I was able to call home (and they actually answered the phone), I found out they were next door, hanging out with the neighbor who had a generator, grilling pupus and talking story. They live in a terrific neighborhood and have been there for just about 30 years.
May 18th, 2010 at 9:04 am
People li'dat I admire so much. No like "give in" just keep on truckin'.
Rogah dat! Good on you.
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Wat about adults? Some of da things you cook sound supah ono! I'll bring da beea.
Awesome!
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Hmmm, interesting. Locally, for da most part, we try assimilate wit who knows who first THEN wea they work.
So wat? Now you just da schmuck?
Yeah, shmall kine sad dat kine although I'd understand if da neighborhood wasn't "safe".
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Knocking on wood, none for me.
We got da same deal too!
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Dat must suck! Almost like having class right next to da principal's office.
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As long as their's respect, it's all good.
And das how a home should feel.
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As long as friendly and not snobby.
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I NOT TALKING STINK ABOUT YOU..... I STAY SAYING GOOD STUFF ABOUT YOU. You can hea' dat?
Ho, I understand.... invite opso but no invite me. I get it.
May 18th, 2010 at 9:04 am
I have great neighbors here we mow each others yard..and snow plow in the winter time...each year we have a big luau...with hubby making the grinds...teriyaki chicken..and what ever they bring...it's been nice...we do have one neighbor who just is not social...but that's okay...live goes on...I do however miss my Kukea Circle neighbors in Waialua...they were the best...all Japanese ladies...hubby would help them out with what evas...when the mango tree was full with them..they bring some over...when the tangarine's was ready...we'd get a bag or two each season...and when they would travel...we'd watch their house...and they'd come back with cookie's from where ever...they were a great bunch of ladies...and we invited them to every luau...and each time we make laulau..we'd send the keiki's over...all's good..sometimes we just gotta show our ALOHA!!! and that's the best we can do!!! They may not be like us...but then we get ALOHA all the time!!!
May 18th, 2010 at 9:36 am
You good eh? Know your floor by name!
Different generation.... we'll see if dat carries on.
Now dat's trust!
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Well I wouldn't know....... I was nevah invited.
Don't you hate it wen dat happens.
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Yeah, I know. Very lucky.
Sounds like you in one utopia type neighborhood. Right on!
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I'm tinking not too much. I gotta ask though, is it noisy there? Just from wat I see on tv and stuff (nevah been there), it seems like da homes are very close to each oddah and da night life seems to go 24/7.
I'll make surah da sun is out for you.
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It looks like you took one of da 10 Commandments literally.
Good for you! You nevah know wea love may be.
Aren't you going to be a babysitter?
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E Komo Mai back........ Mayor.
Rogah dat!
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Yowza!!!
Watevah he no like you can bring to me.
Hmmm, da last outage for us everybody just stayed inside but I'm surah if went out longer we would have been outside.
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Sounds like it.
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Gotta have one right?
Sometimes das all people need.