The Origin of Kona Jack's
On a mountain road overlooking the kona coast stands a fish market named Stan's. For over a decade,
Daddy Jack drove his jeep up the rugged trail to meet the fishermen bringing in their afternoon catch.
The big "haole" would open a primo beer, listen to the stories of the day at sea, banter with Stan in his own version of pigeon english, and fill the shop with his ebullient sense of wonder and joy at being a Hoosier on the big island of Hawaii.
Stan would be about his work, arranging the rainbow of fresh fish taken that day from the warm Kona waters: ahi, mahi-mahi, ono , pink and red snapper, and fresh-water prawns. He'd place them carefully on a snowy bed of ice, taking them up one at a time to prepare them for his customers.
Daddy Jack watched with pleasure, considering the gleaming display before him and designing the perfect meal for his friends and family back at the beach house - perhaps grilled mahi-mahi for his growing sons, sautéed prawns for the girls, blackened snapper for the weekend guests, or maybe baked ahi and candlelight for his wife.
One day, Daddy Jack stayed later than usual watching Stan at his art, slicing and teasing the fillets from their delicate bones, handling each piece as if it were a rare oriental sculpture. Beyond Stan, through an open-air window, Daddy Jack could see the sun setting over Kealekekua Bay, fiery orange melting into ocean blue.
Stan looked up and followed Daddy Jack's gaze. "Watch for green flash, green flash like night's first
star. Make wish and it will come true". Daddy Jack had heard this Hawaiian legend:
watch the sunset closely under perfect conditions and at the very moment between sunset and twilight you
may see a brilliant green flash - perhaps once or twice in a lifetime of watching.
That very evening Daddy Jack saw his green flash. The little shop was flushed by the brilliant light. Daddy Jack raised his large square fists in the air and echoed the traditional cry of Hawaiian fishermen: "Hana hou - let's do it again!"
That was Daddy Jack's wish - to serve and revel and feast with friends and family again and again, and someday to bring to his friends in Indy a place like Stan's: fresh fish at fishermen's prices; a relaxed, healthy atmosphere; a hint of the tropics on the North side of Indianapolis. We hope that you'll enjoy his dream.
Hana hou! Let's do it again!!!
Jim Thompson, Proprietor
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