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I was working for TCT Sept 1959 in the
Special Service Dept as a Lifeguard. I later was transferred to the
Hourglass Print Shop and later to manage the Boat Pool. The boats at the
time were at best could just barely float let alone be used for any safe
boating. I bought a 13 G3 Glasspar with a 75 HP motor. Water Skiing and
Scuba diving was our main outlet of recreation.
I also did a little over time working
unloading supply ships as most of us did looking the extra money. I was
approached by a very big man at the dock and he told me to grab a fork
lift and head out to some obscure building and wait for a truck and
unload it. This man's name was Timis. After having a problem with
unloading some of the equipment he came by to check on why the truck was
being held up. I got a crash course in driving a fork lift. Hence my
first lesson with heavy equipment.
My contract was completed and returned to
Hawaii working at a number of jobs one of which was Barry/s Union
service in Kahala. At the same time, I was becoming involved with the
crew who were training dolphins for the future Sea Life Park at Makapu.
I moved to Washington to go college and one thing lead to another I just
never found my way back home.
In 1969 I hired on with Global Assoc and was
supposed to take over the Global Assoc. auto maintenance shop. Once
there, things changed so I became a laborer. In short order I was
reassigned as a rigger on a crane based on Meck Island. In no time I
made many friends mostly local boys from Hawaii. As it was we would
rotate on and off Meck every three months. I ended up as a rigger
/helper and finally as a Mechanic in the Heavy Equipment Repair shop.
During these times I got to know Bear and
German. They sized me up and knew I knew nothing about rigging and
working around heavy equipment. My brother was on island with his family
working as the dentist. (Nicknamed "Jawbreaker") As it turned out my
family doctor from Washington signed on as one of the island physicians,
Dr James Carter.
During this time I hung out with Kaliani
(Leroy) Kealoha of which, he was an excellent guitar player and singer.
Harry Kaihiki was also one of the top island entertainers at the time
and spent many hours enjoying the company of such great talent and all
around good guys.
As you would guess time has taken its toll
on my memory and names have just faded away. However I have a nice
collection of photographs I want to share, again the names are gone but
not the memories of good people and good times. Among the many
activities on the island was the darkroom and to be sure Macys unlimited
supply of good camera gear. I can still remember fondly making the round
of Macys looking to see what the hot items were for the week. Dr. James
Carter showed me how to process film and create images.
As a result of
this hobby, when I returned to the mainland I banged around from a
number of lame jobs and in 1974 I decided I should returned to college
to get a degree in photography. As a result I have worked full time as a
commercial photographer for the past 41 years. So, life on Kwaj wasn't
all bad, my time there launched me in to a new career.
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Steve
Vento - Email:
fourptmd@cox.net |
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