Li turned to Biff and grinned. Then he clasped his hands over his head, making a handshake of congratulation. He was so thrilled at seeing Biff make it that he forgot about himself. This time it was the expert who spilled himself into the water.
Biff rode triumphantly into shore alone.
The luau was ready. The guests had arrived. Li burst into Biff’s room.
Biff got to his knees, carefully feeling for his balance
“Wikiwiki, Biff! Hurry. Everything’s ready.”
“I’m wikiwiki-ing just as fast as I can.”
“Here, put on this aloha shirt—all the kanes wear them. The wahines, the women, wear holukus or muumuus. You call them mother-hubbards, only ours are brightly colored with big flowers printed on them.”
“What do the kids—what do you call them—keikis? What do they wear?”
Li laughed at Biff’s pronunciation. “How many times do I have to tell you that every letter in a Hawaiian word is pronounced? Here’s how you say ‘children’ in Hawaiian: kay-ee-keys, with the accent on the first syllable.”