Finding Aloha and Humptulips in Washington

After my stop in Aberdeen, I continued north on US Highway 101. On the way, I encountered a road sign pointing the way to Aloha, WA. This town name really caught my attention, as the state of aloha, that is, Hawaii, was my home for about 10 years. Aloha is a Hawaiian word that can be described as hello and goodbye or as love such as in love for your neighbor. A feeling of caring and hospitality for others is known as the aloha spirit. I have seen this spirit displayed in Hawaii and also in Washington State.

Aloha, WA, is about 18 miles off US Highway 101 and not far from the Pacific Ocean. Since this was to be a one day road trip, there would not be time for adventures too far off the main highway, or so I thought. On my next trip through this area, I hope to visit Aloha, WA, and the historic Aloha Tavern, which has been around since 1922. I hope to find that the aloha spirit is alive and well in Aloha and other places in Washington State.

Along the way was also Humptulips, WA, another interesting town name with a funny ring to it. This town name is of American Indian origin, as are many town names in Washington State. Humptulips comes from the Chehalis Indian word for "chilly".

The Oxbow Tavern just past Humptulips seemed like it might be an interesting place to stop, but not this trip. You may wonder why I have this interest in taverns. It is not so much because of my drinking habits. At taverns, I see opportunities to get to know the colorful patrons that reside in the community and to soak up the local flavor and history of a town. Perhaps not at this tavern, though, as it was damaged by fire in 2001 and the tavern was listed for sale for many years. The building is still standing, though, so perhaps I will be able to find out the current status of the building during my next trip.