PHOTO PROMPT © Brenda Cox
Regardless of how glamorous a travel destination is, there are always underbellies that noone sees or wants to know about. Hawaii, for example: all eyes feast volcanoes and too-blue water; noses breathe sea air and sweet flora; skin brushes large tropical leaves; ears listen to birds, drumbeats, and partygoers; mouths taste tropical fruits and wild caught mahi-mahi grilled on the barbie.
What vacationers don’t want knowledge of are pineapple farms where meth-fed slaves climb trees to harvest them and who sleep in tin shacks. Some will, however, meet downed slaves, served as Kalua Pig, at Sunday night’s farewell luaus.
[100 words]
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields is the creative host of Friday Fictioneers.
Tao Talk 
Grizzly last sentence. A metaphorical rendering of a death indeed
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Thanks much for reading and your comment, Neil.
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Another reason to avoid the Kalua Pig.
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Thanks, Frank, I think you’re right.
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I’ve been to Hawaii once. It was supposed to be paragraph 1 and was a lot more paragraph 2. Like everywhere, there’s no paradise without those working to make it so. I’ll pass on the kalua pig, thanks.
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Thanks much, and good to know from someone who has been there.
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Yes, I’ll skip the meal. Put me right off a trip! :-)
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Thanks, Iain!
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No pineapple or pig for me….
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Same here! Thanks, Max.
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I’ll skip the food and have a pina colada instead. lol
Isadora 😎
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I hear you! Thanks, Isadora :)
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A luaus to be avoided. This reminded me of the slavery that I saw in India.
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Michael, real slavery is so much worse than fictional slavery. Sorry that it exists there and I’m sure it haunts you yet today to have seen it. Thank you for reading and your comment.
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Grisly was my my immediate reaction too. There’s always an underside to paradise. (K)
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Yes there is!
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I would love to visit Hawaii one of these years. In fact, my family had planned to go there earlier this year, but then we had some major issues on the home front that prevented us from going. Perhaps, it was for the better. It’s sad many “beautiful places” also have their dark sides!
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I’ve always wanted to go to Hawaii, but I’m not sure if I ever will. So sorry your plans to go were thwarted :(
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Thanks. I prefer to view it as postponed rather than cancelled. Perhaps, there will be another opportunity!
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Eek, what an ending. Sadly, the underbellies are everywhere. Humankind is a doomed race.
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Gabi, I agree, we are doomed :(
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Dear Lisa,
I felt the same way when we went to St. Thomas. Such a beautiful place and so many living in poverty. Thought provoking piece.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, it’s so unfortunate that you have to turn a blind eye to part of any paradise you may want to visit. Sorry you saw it firsthand. Thank you.
Shalom,
Lisa
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So often in life, we only see what they want us to see.
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100% agreed, Keith.
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aww, reality does bite. :(
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The last grizzly sentence has put off! everything Hawaii!
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:) My job is done. (just kidding, I have nothing against Hawaii)
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Well, you’ve certainly cured me of any desire to have kalua pig–or maybe even of wanting to visit Hawaii!
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Ooops!
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Such a brilliantly drawn contrast. I may never eat pork again.
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Thank you very much, Sandra.
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I find the meth adds a nice flavor to those downed slaves all the way down to the Walter White meat.
The descriptions and flow were great in this. Is it weird that it makes me want pineapple?
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Your comment is way better than the story. Thanks, Nobbin.
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That’s good. I’m using that comment as this week’s story. Thanks, Lisa.
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So true. We all like to smell the roses, but never the manure that makes them grow.
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Well said. It is difficult to enjoy the beauty of a place when there is (like others have said) a dark side and human suffering is just below the surface. Not to sound too depressing, but it’s hard to find a place without at least some. Nicely written, Lisa!
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Brenda, thank you very much. I think it’s the light and shadow that walk hand in hand with every thing, I agree.
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Fantastic imagery in para 1 – all five senses aroused in this gorgeous place. But wow, what a tumble after that. Brilliant.
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Margaret, thank you for your high praise. Glad you enjoyed the story.
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I like the way you describe Hawaii.. it’s a brutal truth that we have to accept unpleasant part of a place too. Very thoughtful
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Vartika, thank you for your supportive comment.
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Gruesome, but great!
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Thank you, R.M. :)
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I found pages of recipes on the web for Kalua Pig, but none of them admitted to the real ingredient… :-o
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That proves it!
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Your story speaks the truth of behind every beautiful tourist spot there is poverty, an unacknowledged darkness. And as for kalua pig…I’d add an “h” and imbibe but never eat. Excellent story, Lisa! (As always.)
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Sascha, thanks much for reading and your astute comments. Cheers!
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Oh what an end. The seedy side indeed. Yeah I’m suddenly no longer hungry
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Thanks for reading, Laurie.
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