Hulina Lani: Leeward

A couple weekends ago, we went Leeward and it was magical. They have seen more rain this summer season making the hills and mountains filled with green grasses. These mountains are usually dry brush all over, so it was such an awesome experience to see it lush and living; made us want to frolic with the mosquitoes and mongooses.

Coming from La'ie area is probably the longest distance from the Leeward side. The main road (Kamehameha Hwy.) circles the island, but the western mountain range (Wai'anae Range) cuts the entire West side off. So, we have to snake North of the Ko'olau Range and then all the way South to get beyond both ranges. It's a beautiful drive, but time consuming and you never know if there will be an accident that makes you turn back around because it's a two-lane road.

On this particular Saturday, the Reef Pro was going on in Hale'iwa and we stopped off there on our way to watch some of the competition. It wasn't very exciting... at least not when you're comparing competitions; I think it's main hype comes because it kind of kicks off the competitions on the North Shore. Maybe I'm just being too picky, but if you're going to choose only one to go to, my suggestion would not be this one.

When we got back on the road, we drove all the way to the end of the road up the Leeward coast. We got out and played around on the rocky shore taking pictures and saving animals #nbd

The wave action was fun; I love crashing waves on rocks. It's so exciting! You can watch it build and build and build and then BOOM. So cool. South shore was better the time we went to Makapu'u here.

We may have definitely saved this little guy's life that day. We found it sitting on a dried up portion of the rocks with a little of the shielding crushed. I didn't have any of my many shield urchin fixing tools in my satchel, but we put it in a good spot with plenty of water filtration. I felt good about it. Even if death was imminent, I'm happy to give at least a more comfortable death bed. That got unexpectedly sad; let's move on.

We got back in the car and drove down to Makua Beach for some fun, but we kind of just took pictures and skidded away. Other than already feeling a little apprehensive going Leeward, there were some seedy folks there (one just started peeing right in front of us as we were walking onto the beach). So, we took a few pictures and left them to theirs.

We went back up the road to Yokohama Bay (Keawa'ula Bay) to finish our day and it was an awesome time. So much beauty and the water was so nice too.

As I was taking the above shot, this guy hopped over to me with his camera in hand and spunky smile. Meet Lee:

He was very good at speaking, not in English really, but just speaking to people haha. He had seen me from a little ways away and decided I was getting a better angle, so he needed to use my position. We were laughing and talking like good friends, but I'm not sure we were having the same conversation. I just wasn't sure if I could understand him or he could understand me... then he just started taking pictures of me, which I thought was interesting. I would protest, but he would just shoo me back into his shot and yell at me, "Beauty and more beauty! STAYstaystay!"

 He also kept encouraging me to change the settings on my camera to pump up the colors and exposure. At the end of the day, he insisted on getting my email so he could send the pictures he took to me when he got home that night. And he actually did haha. 

The sun is seriously not even above the horizon in this picture; I had to edit them to look less Lisa Frank-ish haha. Gotta love those rainbow dolphins, Lisa.

Glen had taken the camera from me at this point and was taking pictures of me with the sunset, but Lee kept hopping straight in front of Glen yelling all the while. It was hilarious and people were starting to stare, which made it even better.

The sunset was magnificent and the drive home was filled with tired giggles over our new friend Lee.

And now, I'm going to Pipe because the waves are out of this world right now. OhyeahyeahyeahYEAH! See ya.

Aloha Monday.

Hulina Lani: Maunawili Trail

The longer we stay, the more friends we have to see leave; not that we have a ton to lose or anything, but that's probably what makes it harder. A lot of friendships are borne through adversity especially while in school (maybe that's why University sounds so much like adversity, I don't know. I'm no English scholar nor even an English student. My last English class was three years ago and I was horribly comma-happy then too. They're just too cute not to use, you know? What's the big deal grammar sheriffs of the world?). I've always had trouble with relationships... I seem to give too little of my time, my emotion, my life, my love. They never know how much they are appreciated or needed; I think it's because I have trouble relating to others out loud, I'd much rather be pen-pals that see each other regularly; write out all of my conversations with people. There's more time and less pressure for me to say the right thing at the right time. But that isn't actually realistic because I like being with people and why would anyone want to write out a conversation with me if talking is available? A plus would possibly be awesome forearm and hand muscles on one side. Maybe we could become ambidextrous from it! Calligraphy enthusiasts! So many possibilities! No takers? Yeah, my expectations were low -- all good.

So Glen's friends inevitably become my friends too (even if they don't want it; Glen's inclusive like that. Such a sweet man) because I never step up to the task. Ha. We met Sebastian through classes and the gym. He was is at the gym all day, this guy. Not really, but if you needed to talk to him and didn't know where he was... first reaction is to check the gym on campus. I know what you're probably thinking, "OMG! You're friends with a meat head, gross." But it totally isn't true with Sebass. For some reason he skipped over rule #3: be a total jerk to anyone with biceps smaller than their face; and also try to talk up your "sex-life" every chance you get. Sebass is awesome and an all around good guy...and is now in the single-game in Las Vegas, ladies. Put a ring on that. Haha. Just kidding kind of.

For our last outing, we went on a hike none of us were familiar with, the Maunawili Trail. It's a beautiful, 10-mile, A-B hike. Not much elevation gain because you start half way up the mountain off the Pali, which I was definitely into.

Science nerds talking about science nerd stuff. They really were. I love it, even when they're on break from school they bring up stuff that they had to study their brains out for the last couple of years. True love for a subject I abhor, that's beauty. Glen is also teaching everyone the art of washing your hair with 'awapuhi kuahiwi. We're trying to see if we can smuggle some to CA when we go home. It should be interesting.

There was a ton of fruit on this hike. The evidence is still on my sandals. Here, Shawn's up in the trees on the cliff's face along the trail picking guavas for us (you've met Shawn before here... and he's single too, just sayin'). The only problem with having fruit so readily available to you on a hike is the bladder situation. Fruit, I love. Relieving fluids on a trail, I don't love. But it's either relieve or suffer the wrath of a full bladder because we all know the fruit is being eaten.

Just so you know, it is a rare scene to behold my nails painted and without chips. #eighthwonderoftheworld

We turned back midway because we all had to get back to La'ie for different reasons and there was no car waiting for us at the end. We were supposed to have a switch of keys midway with a group that had started from the opposite end, but that didn't pan out. We could have done it with our car, but our brakes aren't really working right now. So we made the safe decision not to use it. It would have kind of ruined the whole 'hang out with Sebass one last time before he leaves' anyway.
Aren't we just amazing models? It's like we were born for it or something. It's so amazing. That's sarcasm.

And we topped her off with some manapua from 7-Eleven. And yes, I'm shoving two into my mouth simultaneously. Classic power move. Also, I'm pretty sure my grandma flew to Hawai'i and was stalking us in that black Honda behind me because that parking job has her name all over it.

And just so you know, I do have some friends. I don't want to make them feel ostracized if they read the top portion and thought to themselves, "Man, I thought we were friends!" Also, I love all Glen's friends even if you didn't accidentally become my friend too! No disrespect meant to anyone; it's just an observation I've made several times that I don't want to forget. Because when I do forget, it usually means I'm more susceptible to it happening again. So there's that.

We miss you Sebass! The gym isn't the same without you :)

Aloha 'oe

Hulina Lani: Pu'u O Kila

The friend that left this time was Jorey (you might recognize his name from when we helped him propose here to his now wife, Lauren). He has been reunited with his beautiful wife in Utah for about a week now and we miss them. Most of our friends are from Glen's classes (that whole thing about me not being good with friends... yeah) and I actually love it even though science ain't my thing. It's fun to see Glen be such an amazing friend to others. It gives me an example to fall short of follow. Jorey has spent many nights sitting on our couch talking about things over my head and eating freshly baked somethings because that's what I contribute to the conversation. Ha. 

This last outing with him was a hike in the heart of Kahana Valley. Kahana is a beautiful State park that is actually inhabited by families with ancestral ties to the valley. The people who live there now must have relation to those who inhabited the land before it was a State park. They don't get to just live there though, they must be willing to cultivate and foster the culture of traditional Hawai'i; it's called a living park for this reason. Glen and I have volunteered there a couple of times to help restore the fish pond in the bay and help in the lo'i (taro patches). They also have a gorgeous traditional Hawaiian garden where all of the plants are intermingled. There are no rows of papaya or banana trees; everything seems haphazardly placed, but the caretaker is keenly aware of their positioning. This form of farming not only sustains the health of the land, but produces more fruit per acre because plants are everywhere. Obviously, a machine cannot prune this garden and neither can a person without experience within it. I believe that if all of us would give more of our time and energy to be more self-reliant and responsible, this earth would benefit greatly from it. By no means am I an environmentalist in the extreme form that is used today, but I love this round planet.

On the afternoon we went to hike here, I thought it was extremely inappropriate for the children who were playing outside to be threatening our group just because we look white. As we walked passed them, they were shouting at us and calling the men names. The culture of Hawai'i and its people will never live on if we continue to discriminate based on outward appearance; it hurts me deeply whenever I hear or see this kind of behavior. 

Individuals are not characterized by their heritage or looks and we should especially not generalize characteristics within such bounds. One of my ancestors from Hawai'i was a murderer, so if we are to generalize based on his looks and ancestry, all Hawaiians are murderers and should be hanged. You might think that's an exaggeration and you're entitled to your opinion, but know that this is happening. Racism will not end until we can look at one another without judging based on historical acts or what we have heard. A person is a person, while we might inherit certain characteristics from being raised that cannot be seen in a glance or two. I cannot say that I am completely free of this kind of behavior, but if we could all just try a little harder to be kind and loving toward one another we could spread happiness like Coca-Cola commercials without the rotting teeth. I am surely not saying it is those kids who are to blame either, it is a culture throughout the world of racism and fear of differences. We all have the choice to be like everyone else or break free of idiotic traditions like racism. It is outrageous to see so many people discriminate against each other for not having the right skin color. If you think you're free of this, I beg you to search yourself again and often because it is not easy to uproot and will probably never stop being a struggle. And I'm not sorry for soap-boxing (mostly because a whopping two people will read this, but also because it's filled with truth. Okay, okay I'm done).

Pu'u O Kila

We started at the end of the main road through Kahana. There are many trails through this valley and it's easy to get lost on a different trail, pig trail, or just plain lost. I would suggest going with someone who has experience and is willing to lead the pack, Shawn was our pack leader even though he really didn't want to be the leader. 

The only river crossing is this and it is the remnant of an ancient aqueduct used to steer the rains from the mountains to the lo'i and gardens on the floor of the valley. We swam in this stream (except further along its bank) it after working in the lo'i because you just have to after working there. There's no way to explain the amount of mud that is embedded in your skin after a day in the lo'i. We opted out of swimming on this occasion because it was already pretty late in the day and we wanted to reach the valley again before night fall.

Despite the ease of losing your way, there are a surprising amount of signs and markers as you progress along the valley. The trail starts out easy enough, mostly level trail with a little elevation gain and loss, but nothing compared to what's coming. 

After you start the ascent, the valley continuously becomes more gorgeous. I don't know about you, but aerobic activities are not my strong suit especially when elevation is involved. Down is cake, but up is (I don't want to be dramatic, but...) like shoving a Brussels sprout muffin in my mouth while shaking pepper on my face. I hate sneezing. I don't need to say anything about the Brussels sprout thing because that's too obvious as it is.

The views were gorgeous and the conversation was heavily stunted by breathing (for me). As you reach the higher elevations of this hike, the trail becomes less trail-y and more walking on/through/in deathly sharp ferns. Glen swears they feel good and I swear he has the healing powers of Wolverine because I was bleeding from the beginning. There's a Geo-cache at the top that you can put your name in. It was getting dark and I don't do well with unstable-to-no-ground circumstances with full fledged sunlight, so most of us turned back to reach the valley before dusk (it was only another 15-20 minutes to the top, but I wasn't risking it). Glen and Jorey reached the top and put their names in the book, so if you're ever up there... their names are there with ya. And that's Shawn, our leader!

It was a great hike and we were happy to spend some of Jorey's last moments on the island with him. He came over for one last late night couch hangout with cookies and he was gone. We'll miss you, Jorey.

Aloha 'oe

Trying Something New: Hulina Lani Hikes + Photography

Since we've decided to stay in HI until the end of the year (if my grandma hasn't told you yet, there's some news for you), I've decided I probably should do something with my life besides hang out with kids and make muffins (although these are still high on my list of things to continue doing). So, I've decided to try something completely new! Exciting!

Hulina Lani Hikes + Photography is something I thought of in this whole process of trying to decide to stay or go during these last couple of weeks. It's basically a tour guide, but on hikes around O'ahu filled with cool stories about the land we're hiking on and you get the benefit of having it documented for you! I always want someone else with Glen and me on hikes to take our picture together so we don't have to jimmy-rig our camera on some slippery rock or branch or whatever, so I'll be there snapping away for you. Helpful! And I'm kind of into photography the more I do it and I've always loved editing photos, so yeah!

I don't know how this is going to work or if it will, but I'm here and trying. We'll see. It is a very short time we have here, but I don't care; I'm going for it and if you'd help me by telling anyone you happen to know coming to O'ahu, well that would be really sweet of you. Send them here to check out my Hulina Lani Hikes + Photography page and hiking posts, message me on Facebook, or have them send me an email via hulinalani[at]gmail[dot]com for more information! Please let me know if you do so I can go all gush over you for doing that; I mean, it'd mean a lot to me.

If this happens to go anywhere I'll be happy. Even if it only goes so far as me putting myself out there, it's totally worth it. What is there to risk, ego? I've done nothing to merit having one, so I think I'm good on that point. Ha. We can laugh about this when it all goes South; not like right away because it'll probably sting a little, but give it a couple months. Yeah.

Okay, a little normal life talk though:

(A picture in place of a page break... and we're off)
It has been equally rough and awesome. Rough because we have literally spent every moment talking or thinking through the next five months of our lives. We had our tickets primed for take off, selling our stuff, eating every last thing in our cupboards before we left, etc. Then a couple weeks ago, Glen was offered a teaching position of a few science labs at BYUH for the Fall semester. I wasn't shocked that he was chosen (he's the best out there), but it was jarring for both of us to face the option of staying when we were ready to fly home. Long story into two and a half words: We're staying.
Awesome because friends came for family reunion time in HI and we got to see their baby for the first time out of the womb! Thomas & Sharolyn with their sweet, sweet baby Kaimalielani (Kai) who loves LOVES sucking on my knee. Let me tell you, she has some legitimate power in those facial muscles! They'll have their own post soon!

Let me take this time for a little gratitude and reflection:
Marinda, Bruce & Bronson - You know we love you and are extremely sad we won't be there for the birth of Bronson. Thank you guys so much for changing the date of your baby shower to coincide with our flight home; we are very sorry that it didn't even need to be done because now we won't make it. Regrettably, it will be awesome without us in attendance. Again, we love all three of you and can't wait to see you in December!
Ian - We are stoked for you and the work that you will do in New Mexico! We'll miss you, but for the best cause so it doesn't sting very much yet. We know you'll try your best and that's all the Lord asks. Do good, Ian; we're always praying for you (and Alex).
Vi & Ben - Ugghhhh! We love and miss you both! December cannot come soon enough! All of the activities that were to be had in these months must be fulfilled when we get back; ever stalwart! We should do a bonfire night and exchange Christmas presents there because that sounds awesome! Invite everyone! (We'll just give our gifts low key on a "walk" so no one feels awkward hahaha).

We'll see how the latter end of this year pans out.

A Bucket of Chum.

We've been really enjoying our time together. Glen is going to start medical school next year [somewhere], so time together will be hard to come by. I hope we've been utilizing this time as much as I think we have.
Other than hanging out with each other and friends, there isn't much to say about life that you probably don't already know.

What ensues hereafter will seem like chaos, but will hopefully end in a well-rounded collage of recent activities (probably ending up looking like chaos).

2014 World Fireknife Championships

Polynesian Cultural Center

'Aiea Loop Trail

On the drive to the trail the mountains were lush and overflowing with waterfalls. I'm surprised there aren't more collisions on days like this.

Pu'u Ma'eli'eli Trail

Crouching Lion Trail

 Brinley's 2nd Birthday Party

Hickham Airforce Base

 We went to Landon and Courtney's house after the Frozen mayhem; Lanny completed his ice challenge with freezing cold water! The slushy mixture hurt my fingers and my brain to watch him being drenched with it.

 The Fourth of July

Turtle Bay

Happy [insert holiday just in case we don't get to say it directly to you]!!! We'll be home in two months after we're finished calling this place home.