SCAM ALERT!!!
Do not trust this sneaky old man nor the younger woman who hangs out with him.
We were a family of two adults and two younger teenagers strolling around Hilo, shopping and enjoying the farmers market. We hadn't been on the Big Island for very long and this was our first opportunity to see what kind of local items were offered on the Island. I say this knowing a 13-year-old and a 15-year-old with their own hard-earned chore money, wanted to buy some souvenirs.
We meandered into the Akaka Falls Trading Post, and the old man in the photos showed them some cheap plastic necklaces (a knock-off of what is normally a traditional Hawaiian real nut necklace, found everywhere for $4-$5). Without us adults nearby, he sneakily sold EACH child a $15 plastic (not even a real nut) necklace because they didn't know any better.
As this was happening, the woman was nonstop talking my ear off telling me about her daughter who lives near me in California. Okay... ??? I was trying to be polite until she told me her daughter, who is 20 years old, already had 4 college degrees... as I questioned this, not surprisingly I could plainly see this was a lie based on her back up statements. Fine. I'm not here for a new lifelong friend, I'm clearly just a person who has the patience to listen to some unhinged woman's ramblings.
The old man was also trying to get my boyfriends personal information so he could start sending him a new newsletter he was writing (huh?)
After these diversions, and the sneaky theft of money from the children, the old man wanted to pose for pictures with the kids which seemed creepy in the moment as well, but we nonchalantly complied... maybe it will make for an interesting vacation memory?
We realized much later what had actually transpired... and thus reminded me of a time when riding the subway in Barcelona when a pick pocket was taking my attention away on the subway, as he simultaneously stole my camera from my bag. Everything is clear in 20/20 hindsight. read more