LAUFOU ALA'IMALOU LAU MAYNARD IS A PROMINENT ADVOCATE ADDRESSING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE - IN AUCKLAND - ALSO QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES.

Laufou Ala'imalo Lau Maynard -

and his wife Aniva Doris Young
 visited San Francisco -

my good friend Lau Maynard and advocate who 

makes his home in New Zealand.

It is always nice to see good friends - especially since I last saw Laufou Ala'imalo Lau Maynard - ten years ago. 

He has his tattoos - appointing him a Matai- his tattoos are something to behold.

The " Matai " is the title linked to a Chief - you have the singing Matai and the speaking Matai. Know Laufou Ala'imalo Lau Maynard - he is both.  This is my subject opinion - the little I about the subject.

We met at short notice - after his arrival in San Francisco - and thought it best to break bread and share memories past and present. Reminisce.

Here is a photograph -

of Laufou Ala'imalo Lau Maynard -

and his wife taken in New Zealand.

I have a link posted at the end of this 

article - of his trip to San Francisco ten years ago.

San Francisco is always welcoming and even at short notice on a sunny day - with lots happening - just waiting for Lua and his wife to arrive at the Ferry Building - from Richmond - was aspiring - the hustle and the bustle.

The Farmers' Market attracts thousands - and with all the construction going on - the Ferry Boats still ply  -  each ferry bringing to the docks - hundreds of people.

I had not been to the docks in a long time - and it was great to be there and meet so many people.

Many see me at meetings, forums and other gatherings - and bring that fact to my attention. They love to get my opinion on issues and the many factors I address on my blog.

I like - to listen and see what they have to say. That is why I always say we have some astute and stellar citizens in San Francisco - glad they love my advocacy.

Francisco Da Costa

The people of New Zealand and we 

here in San Francisco have advocates 

that inter-act with one another -

my last trip to New Zealand was a memorable one
the above photograph was taken 9 years
in New Zealand - up on a hill - beautiful country -

 meeting friends from time to time from New Zealand 

strengthen our bonds - as it should be.







Last time around these four Brothers
from New Zealand visited us in San Francisco -
I have more about their unique trip -
a link at the end of this article
that was ten years ago.

We decided to take what I call 

the limousine - our MUNI - 

to Fisherman's Wharf -

it was great to see so many gather at the wharf -

pass by Alcatraz - and then soon it 

was time to break bread - sit down and relax
catch up and reminisce.

We stopped to take a photograph

of Alcatraz in the background -

while we watched hundreds enjoying

themselves - Fisherman Wharf was buzzing -

and we were looking forward to the next event.

Aniva Doris Young 
prim and proper -
for some quality dungness crab -
she said she enjoy her dish.

My wife Maria was instrumental organizing the next event -

breaking bread and entertaining our good friends from New Zealand.

We remember when we visited New Zealand some ten years ago - how, we were treated and taken from place to place the many museums and restaurants.

The beautiful islands - reminiscent of the smaller ferry boats we took - landing and seeing ray fish in access of five feet wide - the clear light blue waters - pristine.

The hospitality of the Maori people and other New Zealanders.

We hiked up a hill - and saw one of kind scenes - New Zealand is beautiful - as seen in man films - the air clean and the ocean pristine.

We saw -  the Rockefeller Vineyard - acres of land - complete with a bunker - just in case - they needed to preserve their dynasty away from home - which is America.

Few known the United States were plotting to colonize New Zealand - but as luck would have it - to the advantage of the British - World War II broke - so quickly the Americans and the British - made a pact - and decided to take on their common enemy the Germans and the Japanese.

There is a museum and a documentary that reveals this fact to the public at large.

As much as I tried to get more information - it is found in some books - but going to the site in Auckland - is the real stuff for military historians and those interest in such pertinent factors.

It was time to break bread -
all organized by my wife Maria -
putting her best foot forward -
culinary expertise.

It was time to take the MUNI -

passing through Chinatown -

the Muni bus jam-packed - something -

we saw first hand - at pick time -

we took the historic street car back to the Ferry Building.

The bay was calm - 

too this one shot -

waiting to see the Ferry to arrive -

I had to wait a while - and all that more -

gave me a lot to think - about the immediate area -

more with the sea level rise and impending sea wall.

This is the skyline just opposite -

the dock where the Ferry lands -

from Alameda - and Sausalito -

lots of construction activity -

in the immediate area.

Some 11 years ago - Lua and his friends came to San Francisco - we took them around and made them feel at home.

They could spend more days with us - and we at the height of our advocacy work - were more than happy to take them around.

I was looking at my many articles I wrote and found one that depicted better - what happened then - complete with photographs.

Here is the article and the photographs :

http://www.franciscodacosta.com/articles/blossoms099.html