Friday, October 26, 2007

It's Aloha Friday

I dedicate this edition of Aloha Friday to my new best friend, Oxy Clean.


When we moved to Hawaii almost a year ago I was ready for sun and sand and surf. I was not ready for red dirt. Who knew that red dirt would take over my life?


King of the Red Dirt Hill



My dad would tell you that it's not dirt, it's soil. I don't know the difference, but let me tell you, it is dirty. Red dirt is like a permanent dye on your socks. And your favorite white skirt. And your new white t-shirt.

Once dried in, it is impossible to remove. One little dirty sock thrown in with a load of whites can cause all sorts of trouble.




But that natural dye can be a good thing - you can buy authentic Hawaiian red dirt dyed t-shirts. Though red dirt socks would probably be better for John.


Oooh! Shoes on over those socks! That's a good start, but if it's wet out the red dirt will seep through your shoes and still stain your socks...

I find red mud footprints on the tile. And red mud footprints on the bathroom vanity. And red mud fingerprints on the refridgerator. And red dirt rings around the bathtub...

The soil in Hawaii is high in iron. When the iron rusts it causes a red color. That's how we get Alaea or red dirt!.

I have seen this red salt at the store, and have wonder what it is. It turns out that it is sea salt mixed with a little hawaiian red dirt. It has a high amount of natural minerals and it is supposed to taste great. I'll have to try it...

Also, there is a legend that when King Kamahama was out with his soldier and they ran out of Poi and got really desperate, they would swim to the bottom of a river and eat handfulls of the red mud to survive. Yum!

Hope your Aloha Friday is a clean one!

10 comments:

orchard_girl said...

To quote Dad...dirt is what is under your fingernails. Or maybe what is ground into your clothes. Soil is what is on the ground.
Yeah for Oxy Clean, I love that stuff.

Deanne said...

Sounds like a mother's laundry nightmare!!!

Tori :) said...

Oooh. So not fun.

Super Happy Girl said...

I see red. Lots of it.

So, Oxy Clean: really good? DO tell. I have not bought it because I hate getting my heart broken, like when I bought CLR becuase they promised any stains would come off tile and toilet bowl and glass...never happend, total scam.

Butterfly Wife said...

Hey, is that red dirt much different from the red clay-like stuff they got in the South? I like good old-fashioned brown dirt, that soil-like stuff.

Nice model, btw. :D

Unknown said...

I think you need to send this to Oxyclean. I see Spokesperson in your future. :-)

nikko said...

Sounds almost as evil as Texas Mud. Won't come off of shoes for anything.

Yay for oxy clean!

Anonymous said...

I Love the Red Dirt Post, but where is Hannah? Is she a;ready slacking on her saturday guest post? I am totally bummed!

Amanda said...

Trouble in paradise? ;) Red dirt would be a pain!!

Batya said...

I Israel, the soldiers come home every couple of weeks, so mommy can do their laundry.
I'm an expert. The paratrooper had mud and the tank loader had machine oil.
Get a washing machine which allows you pre-wash for cold washing.