Lurking on the Tightrope

Chapter 3-1

Chapter 3

Abby is telling Pari about the North Shore's world-famous waves and surfing competitions as they complete their beach walk.

"Good morning, Abby!"

They turn to see a tall woman with straight, sandy-blond hair and slender long legs entering the beach, wearing jogging shoes, compression shorts, and an athletic top.

"Is this Pari?” she asks Abby, then turns to Pari. “Abby has been singing your praises and I am happy to meet you."

Abby introduces Katerina Rivera and mentions to Pari that Katerina lives in the cottage directly across the park from her in The Ring. After pleasantries are exchanged, Abby relays that Pari is visiting for one week, leaving Sunday. Katerina offers to accompany Pari to Pearl Harbor and a tour of the Battleship Missouri on Ford Island on Wednesday. Pari accepts and thanks her.

"Of course," Katerina says to Pari. "I'll enjoy it very much. I'm kind of tired of taking visitors shopping and to nightclubs. Abby said she thought you would prefer the visual beauty and spirituality of the island and its history. This is refreshing."

"She's right.” After a brief hesitation, Pari grins awkwardly, referring to Abby's speculation. "My interest in shopping and nightclubs is minimal. I look forward to joining you Thursday."

"Oh!", Abby interjects. "And Tuesday? Tomorrow! Can you join all of us for the filming on Diamond Head?" she asks Katerina.

"Yes. My brother and Camila are donating a drone that should be sturdy enough to handle the wind currents up there. Miguel said it will arrive today. The drone will be perfect too for stunning shots of Moe’uhane and its waterfall."

Katerina smiles a goodbye and begins her run, while Abby and Pari commence their short walk back to The Ring. Abby explains that much of Tuesday is dedicated to filming videos for the Moe’uhane Ahupua’a — a nature preserve — that will be played for park visitors and included in media and fundraising promotions too. Tuesday morning will feature a special group shot and interviews on Diamond Head, Tuesday late afternoon will be filming throughout the ahupua’a, and then still shots and video of other sights in Oahu will be included and intertwined as well.

“The footage extends across the island because of the Moe’uhane’s importance to its history and future,” Abby says. “I will take you there after lunch.”

“Is that a Hawaiian word?” Pari asks. “What does Moe’uhane mean?”

“Dream.”

“Is Katerina a sports star?” Pari asks.

“No, not really. But she studied performance dance and classical dance in her teens and twenties. I don’t even know for sure what performance dance and classical dance is, but that’s what she called it. Katerina is graceful and athletic. However, I haven’t seen her dance before and I don’t believe she has pursued dancing professionally on the islands.”

“She’s at least five feet ten or five feet eleven. What does she do professionally?”

“Katerina doesn’t have a 9-to-5 type job,” Abby answers. “She extensively helps her brother and sister-in-law, Miguel and Camila, in many ways and they depend on her a great deal. Both are famous, in their own specialized worlds. Miguel is a former pro baseball player and Camila is a business owner and TV salesperson. Instead of having personal assistants or teams of helpers, both trust Katerina to help them with their home, especially when they travel, as well as helping with their scheduling and arrangements and charity fundraisers, and so forth. Miguel and Camila are the ones who live in the tall home in the center of Apapane Ring and they own the four cottages, including mine, on the estate too. Katerina makes their lifestyle possible and they are a close family.”

––––––––