Hawaiʻi is a tough place for beer. The vast Pacific Ocean surrounds Hawaiʻi, making it one of the most isolated island chains on the planet. Brewing beer or finding a good variety at a store is often a challenge. This makes sharing beer with friends a cherished time in our remote paradise. We were at a beachside home on the North Shore of Oʻahu, not far from where a local lifeguard won last year’s big wave surf competition on his day off. My buddy Alexander’s poi dog, Bagle, was a perfect fit for our group’s bottle share. Most of us there were also “poi dogs”—Hawaiian pidgin for mixed heritage—and so was the selection of beers everyone brought. We managed to bring together a diverse number of local craft beers, beers from the continent, and a few imports to enjoy.
As we shared our favorite beers and relaxed to the sound of the breaking waves under the light of the fading sun, Bagle invited each of us to throw his favorite toy around the yard. He was more active than we were, sitting in our lawn chairs and catching up. It seemed like there was no world beyond the water’s edge.
At sunset, Bagle and the empty cans and bottles said farewell to a day spent in our enchanted land, a day in Hawaiʻi with the poi dogs.
Words + Photoby Paul R. Kan