(for Dennis, Kauai driftwood sculptor)

As I walk onto the sand
the day after it was created,
I don’t expect to see it still
upright, given the traffic
of the two- and four-footed—
not to mention a high tide.

But there it stands
on Tunnels Beach—
LOVE, in all its glory,
beaming at me and every
other being who can read
its driftwoody message.

Much later, in the pre-sunset
hour at Ke’e Beach, here
comes the artist, head down,
studying the sand as he
walks, collecting stubby
bits of wood, tossing them
into a loose pile.

I sit on a rock at the water’s edge,
letting waves lap into my lap,
as he considers his building
blocks, selects one and digs
a timber slanting into sand,
then angles another piece
to meet it.

And though I know what
he’s going to spell, I’m riveted,
watching the miracle of
ALOHA take shape.

This close to the water line
the fragile sculpture likely
won’t last the night. But no
matter—here comes a local
couple sauntering down
the beach.

Brah! You da aloha guy!

The sculptor grins. Shakes
hands with another local boy
and his beaming ku’uipo.

You puttin’ it out there,
the aloha. Spreadin’
it around, brah!

The artist nods as he and his
fans look toward the sun
lowering itself toward
the horizon, admire
the ALOHA.

Art may be ephemeral,
but the sentiment is eternal.

And, as the sculptor lopes off
across the sand the way he came,
we applaud even more
the generosity of one man
on the beach, doing
his bit for love.

•••

ku’uipo (koo-oo-ee-po): sweetheart, lover