Halloween

Halloween came to the islands a few weeks ago. I’m not sure when or how it first came to the islands but when I surveyed the younger members of my staff, they could not remember a time when it didn’t exist.

For the ex-pat community, Halloween is a major event on the social calendar and is celebrated at the Rusty Anchor. Most Halloweens I could open up my plastic tub and pick from among the many costumes I’ve accumulated over the years. That tub is back in the states so this year a new costume was necessary. Being that my copy paper cumberband and bow tie had won me top honors as king of the prom back in May, I was motivated by desire to maintain my creative concept costume credentials.

As days approached I waited for my epiphany. Patiently I waited knowing that the idea would come to me in its own sweet time. The days ticked by. I had the idea of being Pohnpei itself. Some greenery, some garbage and a rusted out car and I could double for any road in Pohnpei. Lacking a spare rusty fender and not wanting to collect raman noodle packages or dirty soda cans, I let that idea pass.

Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday all passed. Saturday afternoon I decided it was time to act. With no new idea, I downgraded my original concept and decided to just stick with the greenery. The bananas leaves were starting to cover the walkway on the side of the house so I decided I’d accomplish two tasks at once by chopping down some leaves and dressing up as a banana tree.

About 4pm I picked up the machette and got to work. I’m no engineer but I’ve learned patience so I spent the next hour working on different ways to cover oneself in banana leaves and still be able to walk. My goal was to go completely camo but the soft leaves bend and flop over, which would require me to have a five foot circumference. I did some calculations and realized that at that distance I would need help ordering a drink from the bar since they don’t have waitress service at the Rusty. Alterations were needed.

The ever helpful Wenonoa and I worked on some modifications. We had the back almost complete when the epiphany hit me. My eyes met Wenonoa’s. It was one of those moments when the same idea hits both of us and we both just nodded knowingly.

The back of the costume was taking shape in a way that it could easily be fashioned into a cape. pringsteen’s 1992 release Lucky Town contains a song titled “local Hero.” The chorus drifted into my head and the costume’s concept became clear. It was superhero time.

Dr. Lois Engleberger is a long time ex-pat on Pohnpei. She runs the non-profit Island Food Community of Pohnpei. Using the tagline Go Local, the organization promotes the benefits of eating a diet rich in local plants and fish. Applying the superhero motif to my collection of banana leaves, Localman was born. Armed with just some packing tape, a pair of scissors, and a pile of banana leaves, Wenonoa and I crafted a superhero costume for Localman.

We went traditional. Having grown up in the era that I did, it would be inconceivable that a superhero would be without a cape or mask so those were the first things to be made. Since a large pile of leaves still took covered the kitchen table, I decided leg and arm coverings would make a nice addition. Sure, the banana leave armored protection wouldn’t protect against bullets or bombs or even a machette chop, but they did look cool.

Staring at the reflection in the mirror there was no doubt in my mind that Localman would be a prize winner. The only question was whether anyone would take the time or effort to organize a costume contest and, if so, whether my costume would stay in one piece long enough to enter.

Fortunately, the Aussies had taken the lead. Not only had they prepared appetizers for the evening, they judged the costumes. By midnight when they announced the winners, my costume had lost a lot of its luster. The arm bands were gone and the cape had come apart in the front but they had seen it in its full glory from when I first showed up. Yours truly was awarded winner of the best costume and received a 12-pack donated by the bar.

Lois, who wasn’t there, was excited to hear about my costume. The Kaselehlie Press dedicates a page of the paper to health and nutrition articles prepared by and about the Island Food Community. The recent issue contained a 3 by 5 picture of me in costume. Me being me, I was amused and excited to see my picture in the paper but slightly disappointed to see that they hadn’t gotten a picture from before the costume started to come apart.