1997 Post Xmas Cigar Crawl II
January 3, 1998
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1997 Post Xmas Cigar Crawl II January 3, 1998 |
Happy New Year and Aloha!
Sheesh! I can't believe that it's already been a year since our first crawl in 1996! Wayne Lau from Singapore was the asc-er who was the motivation for the first crawl. Since then, we've had the Waikiki Mini Crawl, Honolulu Herf @ Da Club, Waimanalo Herf & Surf, Honolulu Herf @ Da Club V2.0, and the Honolulu Herf With Da Mig! The group's grown from the original three crawlers (Wayne, Jim Mulligan, and myself) to about twenty regulars from all islands!
Wayne Lau was back visiting from Singapore again, so we thought that it would be appropriate (and fun) to go on another crawl! So why was the 97 Post Xmas Crawl held in 98? We pushed it back a week in hopes that Steve Herman (Bigguy) could join us! Unfortunately, he arrived a day later, but more about that later!
ASC-ers Robert Nix and Jon Fia
So the plan was to meet at the Havana Cabana at 2:00 PM, have a few drinks/cigars and hit the road to any of the shops the out of towners wanted to visit and maybe end up at the Havana Pacific Club. But the Havana Cabana was so comfortable and we were all having such a great time, so we ended up staying there the whole afternoon...drinking, eating, herfin, and shooting the breeze!
Wayne Lau was the first to arrive with his impressive traveldor filled with great (and I mean GREAT!) cigars! Since it was just me and him, I quickly got into trading mode and got just about everything! Hah! See...it pays to show up on time! We were quickly joined by Robert Nix, Jon Fia and Bill Medeiros and soon, the room was filled with laughter and large billowing clouds of blue smoke! Unfortunately, the other part of the original trio, Jim Mulligan, was unable to make it. : ( Something about the rain!!! Sheesh! One of those guys! Just kidding Jim!
The conversation covered Wayne's recent trip to Geneva and Spain as well as stories of life in Singapore. What we all found fascinating was that the cigars we all take for granted in the US are not too common in his part. In Wayne's eyes, we're very fortunate because we get all of the wonderful, expertly crafted Fuentes, Diamond Crowns, LGC's...while his Habanos are sometimes inconsistent with rough wrappers! In our eyes, we thought to ourselves...what a life...he smokes cubans all day whenever he feels like it and we have to smoke those crummy Fuentes, Diamond Crowns and LGC's! And when we are fortunate to get our hands on them, we're somehow considered to be trading with the enemy! Something's definitely not right here!
Bill Medeiros and Wayne Lau
I'm not sure if Wayne realized it, but he's actually somewhat of a legend because we always talk about him at out get togethers. One of the things Jim and I always talk about is the trick he does with the Swiss Army Knife. So we're drinking, and smoking and lo and behold...Wayne busts out the SAK and uses the scissors part to hold the tiny stub of a cigar and continues smoking! If we ever have a "smallest butt" contest, my money's on Wayne!
I have to apologize for having to leave so early. The gang continued onward to somewhere else. And Jon, I hope you folks finally made it to Davidoff's for your Royal Buteras! Thank you gentlemen, it's always a pleasure to share a smoke with you! Your generosity and kindness are the things which make Hawaii so special. Wayne and Bill, thank you for flying in to join us!
But wait, there's more! Steve Herman of asc fame was also flying in the next day and wanted to get together for drinks and cigars on Sunday evening! So Wayne and I met up with him at his hotel and was joined by his two absolutely charming daughters! We started off with drinks at the Hilton. Steve also had a smallish cigar....I abstained since I was the designated driver. After drinks, we headed through Waikiki to the award winning Sam Choy's on Kapahulu Avenue. Dinner was delicious, the company couldn't be better.
Steve and his two charming daughters!
Steve spoke about the SHAT (Steve Herman Aging Theory) and gifted us samples of a well aged El Rey del Mundo Flor de La Vonda. And I have to admit, I'm now a believer because I've had the exact same cigars aged for maybe a year and a half and it looks nothing like his sample! And the taste, construction, and draw are absolutely outstanding! I can't believe it's the same cigar! Steve was kind enough to gift us another for later on (but this one's definitely a keeper!) as well as an aged Short Story and another Fuente!
Steve and Wayne, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to meet with us! Thank you for the cigars, the friendship, and the aloha! You two are truely wonderful gentlemen and I feel very fortunate to be able to call you friends. Until next time...we bid you a very fond and warm alooooo-ha!
Best Regards,
DanO
ASC/ICG Hawaii Coordinator
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