Captain Cook Observation

I have lived in the Captain Cook area for a little under a year. The thought of writing down my observation of this small town has not come to mind until I started my project. Now that observing and absorbing the feeling of the town is always at the back of my mind, I have been more in touch with my senses.

Sight

At first glance, Captain Cook may look run down, ghetto, and not worth a pit stop. Under a microscope, it's a totally different story. The historical meaning this town holds is shown in every crack, nail, and crevice in the wood holding together the old buildings. I not only see beauty but a huge mural of the events that have happened over the years. When looking at this small local town I feel a warm glow of community and hardship that even I, a haole, can feel.

Scent

Captain Cook is known for coffee farming and it definitely smells like it. Since the small town sits on the side of a mountain, the air is crisp and the smell strong consisting of trees, flowers, and a faint smell of the ocean wafting up to the tip of the mountain. Early mornings are full of a cold smell that wakes me up, sometimes more than my alarm. Walking into town intoxicates one with the smells of local food shops, city trash, and the rich smell of coffee beans. The combination of it creates the environment of Captain Cook's entity.

Taste

Although a person cannot literally taste a town, one can try the tastes the community gives. The local restaurants owned by families of generations offer a wide diversity of cultures for anyone to try.

The taste of Thai, Chinese, Hawaiian, and so many integrated ethnic groups working in the same industry with the common goal of showing what they are passionate about. I haven’t had the opportunity to taste all the famous spots, but the ones I have been to have been worth it.

Hear

The small local town is usually quiet despite the foot traffic that occurs in the more modernized areas. Most sounds come from mother nature herself. Birds, mongoose, insects, and farm animals emit the expected sound that echoes through the adjacent properties and houses. A constant hum of coqui frogs takes most of the spotlight while a bird whistle here and there can be heard. I listen to these noises and enjoy the serenity that nature gives me.

Touch

When your foot hits the pavement after stepping into town you can feel the emotion and vibe of the place. The soft wind may give you a chill, the hard sun may cause a glistening sweat, or maybe a downpour attacks your clothes and soaks it instantly. Although these are only examples of weather, you can already feel the diversity that Captain Cook brings. Entering small shops and grazing the tourist traps you can feel the hot coffee cup from a local shop, the swinging of the new earrings you bought from a family-owned jewelry store or maybe you feel nothing but the surroundings and its calming sensation massaging your mind. I personally have felt a few of these things. I observe and absorb quite a lot from the environment, but when I am in the safety of my house in Captain Cook even the furthest shop in the town can reach me and put me at ease.

My Personal Observation

Obviously, one sense cannot be 100% experienced at any single moment, but combined of each 5 senses can create a lovely escape from daily life. I can spend hours describing each and every little detail I perceive and appreciate. Captain Cook is one of the more local areas, but anyone can enjoy what it has to offer. The taste, smell, touch, and hearing that comes with being human will definitely be activated when you experience the authenticity of Captain Cook. I always ponder on the history of this small town, the people that live here, and what it has to offer me and others who visit. Often in the morning, I experience a sort of deja-vu if you will, of my home city Boise. The silent but loud crickets haunt the morning winds and the sky gleams a low grey that slowly warms up as the sun floats to the east. But that similarity disappears when I see the vast ocean across from my deck. This doesn't take away its beauty or significance though and I always appreciate seeing what the ocean has to draw in its wavy lines of currents. Overall the unique feeling that is found here is one that I have come to value in my daily life, and I hope you do too.