Here’s a little peek into Hawaiian living for you.  We drive down a main road through town at night--a busy road, mind you--and have begun to notice that Hawaiians seem to like to hang out in their carports.  Sometimes its just a couple people vegging out.  Sometimes it seems to be the whole Ohana (family).  People party there. The carport is like a sort of extended living space.  You’ll see card tables and chairs set up under fluorescent lights and people gathering around them.  And we’ve seen tons of TV’s, even nice large flat screen TV’s mounted up in the corners of the carports.  Why do you suppose this is? I mean, when I want to relax I want to be in the back of the house, away from the noise of the street, revving car engines and dog-walkers. Since we live on a busy street right now, the front of my house is not a relaxing place to me.

The other day we took a drive out into a more rural road to check out some homes we could see from a distance.  And when we got up close we discovered they were mega-mansions, elegant villas on lots of land with commanding views of the valley, the Ko’olau Mountains and the ocean.  As we drove past one , what do we see but two people sitting in chairs—at this point you can guess…in their carport.  Well, actually they had a six-car garage, but the fact remained in that gorgeous place with patios and balconies and sprawling golf-course style lawn, they were still sitting out in the garage.  !???!  What is it with the carport?  We just chuckled.  Tonight I found our two kitchen barstools had migrated into the carport, where husband and son were having their chimichangas and Frescas.  …We must be assimilating.  

   Now if I can just be sly enough to get a photo-journalistic type picture to add meaning to this post....hmmm.

So where do you like to relax the most?  And tell me, why do you suppose the folks here like to hang out in their carports?  The breeze?  To people watch?  To ward off burglars?  Is this cultural?  Why don't mainlanders do it?  Or do they in your town? 

• Post A Comment! • Send to a Friend!

Posted by Anonymous

I was convinced that the art of the front porch had been lost. Instead of nice, welcoming front porches with swings, we have large, sprawling decks in the back of the house where no one can see us. I've lamented this development because I really love a good front porch (not that I don't like decks, I'd want that too). Maybe this is the Hawaiian version of the front porch. They like the cool breeze, they're all about sharing aloha; why camp out in the house where neighbors can't share the aloha?

What I don't get is the flat screen in the carport. Do they bring it inside at night? I would think that would be a prime theft target.

Wishing I could carport with you right now...

~Al

• Permanent Link

Posted by ApplesofGold

LOL-that is very interesting and amusing! Maybe it's a front porch mentality. I like sitting in camp chairs in front of a bonfire in the backyard w/ friends & family talking to relax. I defenitely don't relax by wtching tv outside. That is odd. Oh well-different strokes for different folks. Holly

• Permanent Link

Posted by Anonymous

It's 24degrees here right now....I refuse to go outside. :)

We hang out in our living room. Aren't we adventurous?

Emily
thelearningneverstops.blogspot.com

• Permanent Link

Posted by ClagettsFLStyle

Here in FL you can catch people doing the same thing. They even have big screens that cover the openings! Too funny.

Most of the places you seem them are in neighborhoods that really don't have backyards. I guess people like to sit out in their garage/carport and people watch and or stake claim "this is my kingdom" LOL.

Since we live in the woods on 2.5 acres, there's not a lot of people watching to do. We mostly sit on our back porch/lani and watch the birds and our crazy dogs.

By the way, stop by my blog - I left you a sweet treat!

• Permanent Link

Posted by Happyhome

One thing that has been hard to get use to in our new Texas neighborhood is the rear entry garages. People go in the back of their house and you never see them. It has been difficult to get to know people in the neighborhood. Looks nice from the front, but not so good on building a sense of community. Maybe we'll try dragging our chairs out front and sittin' a spell. The big screen TV is staying inside though.

Angela

• Permanent Link

Posted by Anonymous

I think you unknowingly touched upon the simple way of life here on the island. The Hawaiians don't need some big Great Room to entertain themselves with elaborate Bose surround sound systems and a couple couches and Lazy Boys. All they need are some folding chairs, a few card tables and for some reason a tv, whether big or small, tucked up into some corner of their carport. They also don't seem to care about central AC to keep themselves cool and seem to prefer the cool breezes coming from the trade winds. They truly are very simple people who simply crave fellowship with their family and dear friends (and perhaps a good Northern swell). Perhaps us mainlanders should take some notes...

• Permanent Link

Posted by CTdittmar

Wow...that's a great comment! I think I quite agree with you! Hawaiians are really into their family and gathering together. Community is important here. I think it is like the "front porch" back East. Life is mostly lived outdoors here and for most of the year, being inside is just simply stuffy. Sadly this sort of community is becoming lost in our culture/society today. Nobody seems to have time to linger on porches with our schedules jammed full of every activity under the sun. It's that "margin" thing...my husband and I were talking about it just tonight. We need room for margin in our lives and not feeling rushed. I liked Al's comment too about "sharing aloha; why camp out in the house where neighbors can't share the aloha?"

• Permanent Link

Posted by Lindsey G.

People do it in base housing garages here in warm weather. My parents always used to hang out in their garage year round as well with friends. I don't know what prompts it-- maybe it's the lack of pressure if a friend comes over for a clean house-- you always expect a garage to be dirty :lol:

I find the absolute best source for slings, btw, is www.thebabywearer.com In their forums is a for sale or trade section which is extremely active for all kinds of baby carriers. If you know how to sew, they are fairly easy to make as well. The kind I made Leah is a fitted pouch, but I've also sewn ring slings. (I'm pretty sure you've seen me wearing both at some point). Jan Andrea's site has some really easy instructions: http://www.sleepingbaby.net/jan/Baby/index.html
For sewing a pouch, I recommend a fabric with slight stretch- slight meaning usually 97%cotton, 3% spandex- a stretch cotton sateen, a stretch velour, possibly a stretch cordoroy (though hold it up to the light to be sure that the weave of the cordoroy below the wales is tight), or a stretch twill. For a ring sling, it's best to have a nice strong non stretchy fabric. Twill, linen, duponi silk (single or double layer), denim, apparel weight cotton all work well for a daily sling. For water use you can also use a sports fabric or mesh!. You can buy the rings at www.slingrings.com (do not use typical craft rings from a place like walmart as they are not meant to be weight bearing).
If you have something particular in mind I'd be happy to sew it for you, too. I don't know what all you have access to in terms of fabric stores and such in Hawaii. I can't promise that there wouldn't be any flaws in it's appearance, but I'm getting better and everything I have made has been a structurally sound carrier.

• Permanent Link

Posted by ChristianUnschooling

I always thought I'd have a nice wrap-around porch, porch swing, maybe a hammock...but in Las Vegas, the houses just aren't built that way. I'm ashamed to say...I'm a garage-sitter. It gets DANG HOT here! Garages offer SOME shade...and I can see the kids bicycling up and down the road. I have some nice padded chairs and often a neighbor mom comes over and we gab and watch the kids play...handily the freezer is right there so the kids come in and out to get popsicles etc.

For the record (if it makes it any better <giggle>, I DON'T hang out there without the kids outside!

Elissa

• Permanent Link

Posted by callmekate

We do most of our relaxing around the tables in our diningroom and kitchen. However, after my husband's surgery, he was camped out in the livingroom on the couch for quite some time and we were all in there with him. It was strange, because I don't usually sit in the livingroom and if I do, I fall asleep. Sigh. When I was growing up, we were always on the patio or the front porch (in Southern California) and when we visited my grandmother in NC, we hung out on the porch swing on her grand front porch. I guess here in the rainy Northwest, sitting outside is not the norm. Our garage is full of my husband's woodworking equipment.

Sounds like we need a carport!

Kate

• Permanent Link

Posted by 4sweetums

We live in an older part of town where most people have nice front porches and spend a fair amount of time on them. We really only have a little cover to get in from the rain so we sit in lawn chairs in the front yard under the magnolia tree. I am mostly only out there when the kiddos are riding their bikes up and down the sidewalk but in our town alot of the folks sit out on their porch talking to neighbors and folks walking by. As for relaxing, I curl up in bed with a good book. LOL!
Blessings,
4sweetums

• Permanent Link

Posted by EEEEMommy

What a great post and comments. It's interesting to think about. I've often mused about the shift from the front porch to the back deck. It's sad really. Some neighborhoods have been able to maintain the sense of community. Cul-de-sacs full of playing kids help, but many neighborhoods appear like ghost towns. If anyone is outside, they're behind the house where no one can see them.
I've been feeling pretty lonely lately. I could sure use a little aloha life up here.

• Permanent Link

Posted by Momof5littlewomen

I'm catching up on reading blogs while on vacation. We have a man in our neighborhood who sits in his garage doorway. There is rarely a day that I don't see him out there for sometime. I hope to have a porch soon because I would love to sit out front.

June

• Permanent Link

Posted by Anonymous

I have to say that our favorite place to "hang out" is in our back yard. We especially like it right before or after dinner, when the yard has been mowed, when the kids are playing outdoors and the birds are coming to the feeders. We haven't done much relaxing here yet, but I'm sure the back yard with the porch swing and the pool, will still be a main gathering point...that is, if the pool looks nicer than a swamp this spring!! Cute post.

• Permanent Link

Posted by Juliestew

This must be a NJ thing too. I dated a fellow in college and his parents loved to hang out in the carport. They had indoor/outdoor carpeting in there, lawn chairs and a tv.
It was like an extra room in the house.
Go figure!!!

• Permanent Link