Talofa from PARADISE: As I sit here composing this letter at my latest, "almost state-of-the-art" Mac, I find that I am feeling nostalgic. I see by the calendar that in just a few months, Sieni and I will have been living in Samoa for 5 years - and, a few months ago marked our 10th anniversary of "Good-by L.A.", and the beginning of our search for Paradise. Which means that exactly ten years ago we started sending this silly little newsletter to about 20 close friends who wanted to know how we were doing on our search for Paradise, and now we have a mailing list of over 1500! I would like to start numbering these newsletters, but the problem that I have is that I don't know how many letters we have already sent, because I never thought to keep copies. So, maybe some of you "old-timers", can come to my rescue and drop me a note telling me what you have on hand in the way of old newsletters - just the date and "subjects" would be fine. Who knows, maybe I'll gather them all together and surprise you one day with a large parcel of South Pacific Junk Mail. Now, I know that there are some of you who will think that I should concern myself with more important matters, like finding a cure for the common cold, or coming up with a new map of Europe with moveable boundaries to show all of the new countries, or solving the mystery of who really shot J.F.K., rather than cataloging old newsletters. Well, you are probably right. I may very well have been out in the sun (and away from "the real world") so long that my brain has become baked, and this newletter is the type of endeavor that stretches my limits........

COCO NUTS IN THE NEWS : Among our newsworthy COCO NUTS in this issue, we happen to have a couple of DENTISTS, of all people. One day I was sitting around the bar "talking story" about the guests, and locals, who rely on us to be their "doctors". Well, Dr. Gordon and Ursula Cook heard my stories, took pity on our "victims" and immediately upon their return to California sent us the latest in "do-it-yourself-medicine". So, I now have computer software (would you believe it's called Doc In The Box) that will give me a diagnosis and another, called PharmAssist, that tells me what medication to dispense. Next, Gordon has promised to send me the latest software on Brain Surgery. Thank you Gordon & Usi! Speaking of medical care, thank you Dr. Terry (and wife Carin) Young, for coming all the way from Honolulu, just to fix my tooth. It sure beats the local service! Last, but not least, thanks to Ian for writing the wonderful newspaper article that's included with this letter.

COCONUTS "STAYS FAMOUS" In a surprisingly short time, COCONUTS is becoming known world wide. From time to time, I will share with you some of the articles that are printed about us. I know you care. But even if you don't, here it is anyway - the enclosed article from Australia's Sunday Mail newspaper. For those of you who really KNOW Mika, our crusty but benign head of food and beverage, you will no doubt agree that Ian was very generous and kind when he described him as "about as diverse and abstractly extroverted as Ernest Hemingway." I personally like Julia's (Mika's wife) description of Mika - "He's not old, he's just funny."

WATERFRONT NEWS : Gayle and Roger, our newly-weds, and their new "child", the Water Sports Centre, are getting well established and well known. There was a nice write-up about their operation in the June, 1994 edition of Skin Diver Magazine. Roger, our certified PADI Dive Master (and gentle giant) has really perfected his "Resort Dive" which enables people to SCUBA dive with only 2 hours of instruction. It is always a lot of fun to talk to the enthusiastic guests who have returned from Champagne Reef, following their first underwater experience. It seems that no matter what their pre-dive phobia, Roger's gentle, caring, expert manner makes everything seem like a piece of cake.

HOTEL NEWS : BLOW THE TRUMPETS!! BEAT THE DRUMS!! HEAR THE NEWS!! Our newest accommodation, our Deluxe Fale On The Beach, has opened to RAVE REVUES... just another Robert Ross (our genius L.A. Architect) creation. Just imagine yourself in Paradise, with your very own thatched roof fale on your own private beach. Resting in your king size bed, you gaze out to the beach at your doorstep and the sea beyond. Time for a shower. Step down to your split level living room and then down a few steps more into a lava rock grotto - bathroom. There's a white tile floor, lava rock walls surround you, but on one side..... it's entirely open to a private garden. Step down into your huge, sunken, tile tub. Turn on the hot water and ....... you are under a waterfall! Warm water cascades down the lava rock, in-between exotic ferns. Sound like Paradise? With all due modesty, I think it may very well be one of the finest experiences in the entire South Pacific. Now that it is done, what do we do next? Well, right now we are constructing a larger and more beautiful version - with TWO BEDROOMS and a BIDET! Opens in August.

RESTAURANT NEWS: We do seem to be getting well known for our great accommodations, but the best kept secret remains our fantastic food. I can't begin to tell you how many guests have confided in me how surprised, delighted and astonished they are to discover the fabulous food that we prepare and serve at COCONUTS. We were very honored to have recently hosted a luncheon for the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Mr. Juan A. Samaranch, and 30 visiting members of the IOC, some of whom flew in with him on his private jet. AND, they loved Mika's Cajun Sashimi! Speaking of which, in response to popular demand, send Mika US$10 (US$ only), in cash, travelers checks, money orders or credit card (Visa, Amex, MasterCard or Diners) and Mika will mail you a package of his special, secret, Cajun Spice Mixture and the recipe for his famous creation, Cajun Sashimi.......

TOFA SOIFUA: Time to shut down my Mac, and join some of the "Manu Samoa" (Western Samoa's championship rugby team), who have come over from Apia for a sunset cocktail at Sieni's Three-Stool-Bar. So, it seems like we are coming to the end of another beautiful day in Paradise. Pretty soon, out on the Palm Terrace, the band will start playing, one of the men from the village will blow the conch shell to signal the fire-knife dancer to light the beach torches, and another "sunset ceremony" will take place. Indeed, we are very blessed. Only one thing is lacking - and that is sharing Paradise with YOU! Please join us soon. Love from all of us here at COCONUTS to all of you COCO NUTS and would-be COCO NUTS!