Apu Willie

I met with Apu Willie, man Luli, for kava last night at 24 Haoa.  He has been in Port Vila since 1968, worked for a while on fishing ships (has been to Philippines, New Caledonia, Tahiti, Australia, New Zealand, and PNG), and stayed for some time in Noumea to learn construction.  He has been a builder ever since.  He said the earthquake last week was the strongest he has ever felt.  Unlike everyone else I've spoken with, he believes the Seabell hotel that cracked during the quake is still strong, just the plaster cracked, and even though it was built on reclaimed land the foundation is very very deep.  I've heard ex-pats say they wanted it to fall down because they see it as an eye sore.  I've never heard a ni-Vanuatu say they wanted it to fall...

A daylight view of 24 Haoa Nakamal:

The kava at 24 Haoa ran out at like 9, which is funny since it has a reputation for having kava available until 8 in the morning.  We went up to Seaside Green Light for a few more shells and his wife met up with us.  She is woman Lironessa and works as the house girl for David Stein, a former PCV who started a business in Port Vila selling solar and other alternative energy sources to people on the outer islands.  She told me the news that one of my mothers and former Home Care trainer, Lydiano Dick, passed away on Sunday.  That was a little bit of a shock for me, she was not old, in her late 50s maybe.  Everyone things that when she got remarried to man Malakula (her first husband died), that's what caused her to pass away.  I guess this guy had two wives before her, and both of them died as well within a few years of getting married.  And a former student of mine, Krissy, is getting married to one of their sons this October.