The Honor System

Okay, so it's been way too long since I last posted. I've come to discover that whenever I have time to do something other than take care of kids, cook or clean, I have a host of other things I "should" do or really want to do. I've been wanting to write about this honor system thing for a while now, though, so here goes...

As I've been writing this blog in part to talk about how life is different in Hawaii as compared to the mainland, the honor system is definitely something I've been encountering frequently here on the island. There seems to be a higher degree of trust and honor among people than I recall seeing back in California. For example, Alex had his spring school pictures taken last week. The school sent home the usual school picture packet telling us what to expect, how to best prepare our child and how to choose from their selection of poses. Payment was not required. They took the photos and will send a full package home with Alex. If we like them, we choose the photos we wish to keep and send the rest back with a check. So we only pay for the ones we keep and they trust us to send the rest back??? And to pay at all? I've never heard of such a thing, have you???

Down the road a bit there is a produce stand. They mostly sell macadamia nuts, but you never know what you might find. I've never seen anyone there watching over the stand, they simply put out a jar and ask that you kindly pay for whatever you take. One of these days I'm going to give them some business just to experience the high degree of trust they put in me, a total stranger.

A couple of weeks ago I finally stopped by the local consignment store at a time when their door was open (which, I now know, is only on Wednesday afternoons). I walked in to find a small store full of interesting finds and no one in it. I spent at least 20 minutes in there before a woman walked in. She just smiled at me, came in and picked something up and was about to walk out when I asked, "Do you work here? How do I pay for what I want?" She said, "Oh, if you find something you want, just walk over to As Hawi Turns and you can pay one of us there." As Hawi Turns is a little shop geared towards the tourists right on the highway. I had my hands full of little things I planned to purchase like a $3 wetsuit for Aaron and some decor items. I could have easily carried it all straight to my car and driven away. I wonder if they ever would have noticed the missing items. I did walk down to the storefront and paid my $30 as I could not have lived with the guilt had I simply walked off with it all! They might have never known, but I would have. It makes me wonder about others, though. Is everyone around here really that honest?

These are just a few "honor system" examples that I've encountered in our nearly three months here. I think it's so interesting and actually very cool!