I Open at the Close

We landed last, last Saturday night and I almost threw up on the car ride home because we were not getting on a plane again next month to go back; good thing I hadn't eaten more than a package of Delta cookies and half of a Starbuck's blueberry scone that day. It has been a year since we were here last -- much has and much has refused to change. But let's reminisce on our last days spent on little O'ahu for the sake of... the sake (ref. not Professor X).

We should have taken it for a sign that we were supposed to leave when they hacked off another one of our coconut trees. Such a tragedy. It was hollow inside and could have caused severe injury if they hadn't, but it still seemed harsh. We're not there anymore so someone else can deal with burning the place to the ground for their misdeeds whatevs.

Gunstock ranch is some serious beauty. They have just got it going on -- especially at sunset. It's weird that our drive home won't have this view anymore.
We used to say that the country really isn't country anymore even though everyone says that about the North Shore still. And in reality, it isn't, just like we used to say... but the longer you live there, the more you feel like it is country. I mean, compared to town, it's crazy country for sure. Compared to actual country sides though, it isn't. It's this beautiful medium where you have to go an hour away for regularly priced (for HI) groceries and still have neighbors to laugh with/at while you walk up to your door. You get scenes like this one every day, but you can still circle island in a couple hours (traffic pending). We'll miss that.

Our last outing in our car was to the Billabong Pipe Masters; good choice, huh? The parking was horrendous, but the walk is beautiful anyway.

Even though we've seen this structure and others like it a billion times, I don't think it's possible to actually realize they build these things annually. Honestly, a three-story building for just a week or two of standing and then tear down? And then there's a completely different one that gets built a mile over for the next competition. Impossible.

Oh yeah, and these too.

On the way to the car, a hen and her wee chickadees were scavenging excitedly. Glen and I squatted down and drew the chicks nearer by tapping the ground (they naively think you've stumbled upon a heap of food so they come nearer; ha). The one in front was a brave little fella with almost no basic animal survival skills built in. It will learn quickly or will not get the chance to if you catch what I'm getting at. It'll die.

One of Glen's professors (Dr. Gold) is a beekeeper -- which means Glen is now intrigued with the idea that beekeeping can be a thing for us later... yeah, no. I'm fine if the bees are kept in a place far away from my place (wherever my place is at any one time). This was in Kahuku at some farms who've allowed the bee boxes of private owners.

He told us to wear things that make you look like dead plants; white being the least aggressive color to them. I wore my whitest cardigan and best running shoes. I stood on the edge of the truck bed to be as close to jumping down and running as possible because I wasn't chancing anything. I'm not specifically lucky in these types of situations. As it happens, I didn't get bee stings, but the mosquitoes took every opportunity on my ankles. Someday payback is coming to them and I hope I get to invoke it.

Staying far wasn't safe forever with Glen around. He brought one in the cab so enthusiastically I wasn't sure if he understood the beating coming to him or not. The bee (thankfully) turned out to be one of the queen's sex slaves, so it didn't have the ability to sting me. No, really; this guy's only purpose in life is to inseminate the queen. And there are more too. They get too big to fly for any meaningful distance so they literally can't get away. I'm not saying they want to, but who's to say? Glen was very happy about this whole experience; especially the part where we got a big jar of honey from Dr. Gold's house. Needless to say, it is an ongoing battle of the bees in our relationship. Thankfully, his mom is on my side.

So, to sum up... we love HI and HI can't do a thing about it. We're grateful to be in CA with family and friends again though! Christmas is tomorrow and I haven't been able to feel my toes in a week and a half. I think I'll survive 'til summer...

No bees.

Aloha Christmas Eve Wednesday and a happy birthday to Ashley McIntosh!!! Hope your birthday nap is filled with dreams of unicorns and platypi hugs.

Mormon Monday: Having Fun, Part 1

This is the video I mentioned we made in my last post. Our friend was making a video compilation of a bunch of videos friends made for his wife's birthday and we made this for her! It was fun and a really great way to spend time together. So much of our "together" time right now is being spent campaigning or grading quizzes or sleeping or driving across the island that we don't get to do normal, fun stuff like this. And if I wasn't a member, I'd probably be thinking to myself what a Mormon does for fun because they can't dance, right?

In high school my best friend and I were Mormons; all of our friends knew it, it wasn't a big deal. We didn't drink or do drugs and everyone knew it. This one night in particular, we were at a friend of a friend's house celebrating our friend's birthday party. It was extremely fun and you know why? Jolie (my best friend) and I didn't have inhibitions, no need to drink them out of us.
We set up shop in the garage because it was equipped with couches and Brisk cans all over the floor. We sat down and began our talk show for the night -- this is where the cans come in, they were our microphones. We were extremely bad at the English accents, but no one seemed to mind (or remember). Everyone thought we were just as drunk as the next person, which may have not been the best example, but we were teenagers without testimonies. We were seriously having the best time over anyone, I guarantee it. Everyone else was moaning about some stupid drama here and there, but we were just in our huge dreamland in the one-car garage busting guts all over the place. We got yelled at several times for being too loud and for drinking the Brisk when we were specifically asked not to. Trouble is, we don't drink tea as Mormons and we were probably contracting infectious diseases from the real culprits, so who's got it worse buddy? It was the best party I had ever attended and remains my favorite memory of high school.

The point is, Mormons have fun, just not a lot of the same fun as everyone else. We make dumb videos and go on hikes and play sports every week; and if you grew up with/in a devout Mormon family, you probably still play Settler's of Catan every Monday week night out of habit.

We love having fun. Come to any activity and it's sure to be a hilariously-wholesome, good time with major treat action. It must be that we just have more time to bake and cook and craft because we don't clutter our nights with drinking, not sure though. We wake up and get on our knees, not in front of the toilet for sickness (besides that whole pregnancy deal), but to consecrate our day and dealings to the Master of heaven and earth. We are the way we are because of Him and I love it.

Aloha

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

Kaimalielani and Her Mommy & Daddy

I mentioned in my post about starting Hulina Lani Hikes + Photography that Thomas and Sharolyn came to O'ahu for a family reunion. It was the tops. We had never met their sweet, sweet baby Kaimalielani and we were so happy to finalllllllly be rid of that ugly truth. She is, as they say, the stuff.

Okay, so babies don't normally gravitate to Glen at first. It may be due to his height or maybe his perfectly straight teeth. I am the human children like first out of the two of us probably because I'm short and have crooked teeth :) But can we just talk about how much Kai loved Glen right from the beginning? It was interesting to have Glen hold a child and never once whisper something like, "Oh, Breanna! You wanna hold her? Take her, she wants you." I was so proud of him haha. Truly, I was. Don't get me wrong, I love holding babies and being relatively good with them, but it was fun to see Glen love a baby so much simply because she was content in his embrace. It is a prime-time embrace. She was rarely away from his body, the cutest.

 If you haven't figured it out yet, we went to PCC in the afternoon and had an awesome time! Thomas and Sharolyn's nephew came along with us. He got a much needed chief tattoo from the Fiji village on his leg and one on his face from the Tahiti village. He was very proud of them, and rightfully so.

A group picture with the island of the long white cloud. We didn't get around to all of the activities in the villages, but the company was superb and the laughter was rampant. We love them!

Look at her! She is so adorable and relaxed. Her name is a beautiful description of not only her parents' happiness to receive her, but of her sweet personality. We can't wait to visit with her again in December.

On a lame note, one of the coconut trees in the courtyard of our apartment building suddenly died. It seriously went brown and then frond-less in a couple days. Such a sad experience. We woke to the sound of it crashing to the ground.
That was our main anchoring tree for slacking; not that we could anymore anyway (housing forbade us to do it because it was too dangerous...excuse me, but you have rust holes in your playground equipment, I'm pretty sure my piece of rope is safer than that crap), but it felt like a piece of my experiences here was being chain-sawed and hauled away to a dump. Lovely.

Just look at Kai's face again; if you're as annoyed at the last part as I am it makes you feel better about the world. We were so happy to have met her and reunited with Thomas and Sharolyn. And if you can believe it, Kai is even cuter in person.

Aloha