Adventure Tuesdays have Returned

Over the past few months my adventures during my off shifts have been full of other exploring other islands or I am so exhausted I just sleep the majority of the time. With all of the turn over of people at work those that I would have adventured with in the past have moved on and my bike only carries me so far.

This week though it felt like old times as I jumped in the car with two of my co-workers and we headed to Kona side to find a beach. I never thought I would be able to say this, but I went to a Hawaiian beach and we had the whole beach to ourselves - truly unbelievable. Granted it was one of those situations where we parkers in a small strip of gravel off the side of the rode and had to hike across a lava field for a while. The barbed wire too might have deterred the average tourist away, but our kama`aina status kept us moving forward. (The sign that said “beach” with an arrow also was very encouraging.) My hope is that this little beach day adventure has once again kick-started the wonderful Monday and Tuesday adventure days of old.  Thanks Big Island for keeping the adventures coming.

3 at Once

The goodbyes continue. Three fabulous women are seeking their adventures back on the mainland. As goodbyes are becoming more and more frequent the task should get easier, but it doesn’t. I think the quantity and quality of these ladies makes this goodbye that much harder to swallow. Still, I am glad we took the time to celebrate their chapter here in Hawaii; to move past the sadness and focus on the glimmers of excitement for what is in store for each them.  Katrina, Julianna, and Carrie, as you spread out across the great 48 please know that you will be very much missed.

Putting "Embracing the Mess" to the Test

For a good solid year, I work my way through the Be Messy Journal that Aletheia and I published almost two years ago now. I was faithful to the task. I practiced letting go or perfection and telling myself to just let it flow out of me. And I did. And it worked. I saw tremendous growth and a smoother connection between my brain and my hand.

But that project ended a while ago.

After a serious conversation with myself where I laid down some hard-core real-talk, I did one of my first pieces of artwork outside of the journal’s pages. I had no excuse really. I had authentic watercolor paper, paints, brushes, and a whole pinterest board of subject matter. I was the only thing holding myself back. I could easily tell myself, “oh you have never had any classes in watercolor before. You don’t know the first thing about it. If you make a mistake, it isn’t like oil or acrylic paints where you can just paint over it.”

Instead, I said, “Heather. Get over yourself. This does not need to be something that you have to hang on a wall. It is an opportunity to have to try, experiment, and learn. Read a post about traps that beginners fall into and go from there. Plus you have nothing but time to work on it so just go for it and see what happens.”

So this is what happened. I messed up. I learned and I exposed the lies I tell myself to the truth I know deep down. I can do it and I can do it for myself. No one else, just me.

Short Term 12

On our last night in Maui, we stayed at an air bnb run by a women named Janice. Janice was super sweet and welcoming. Through conversation Annie and I told her we were programs guides in a wilderness therapy program (the go to description as it is very hard to describe what we do). Well, come to find out the Janice’s son is a movie director who wrote and directed a film called Short Term 12. The story takes place at a foster child/therapy facility that house kids as they weight for placement.

After watching, I can easily say this is the closest representation of my job that I have found. We have way more rules (i.e. no technology) and never leave students alone, but beyond that the emotional roller coaster (walking with students that want to leave) and the unknown surprises that come each day are spot on. 

My nine months here thus far have been ones that I would never have imagined. I often wonder if I saw this movie prior to coming here if I would have taken the job. I don’t know. Part of me wishes I could see the film unexposed to the things I have seen, just to have a raw reaction. Because, honestly, all the things that happened in the film didn’t faze me. And that kind of scares me. But I suppose, at this point, there is no going back. 

Maui Relived

11 years ago I went to Maui for the first time. Having to follow someone else’s agenda, I remembered leaving the island vowing to come back again one day and see all of the times that I heard about: the seven sacred pools, the road to Hana, and all of the hidden waterfalls that the East side of the island housed in its lush, tropical vegetation.

The past 5 days was everything I imagined and more.  I had no clue the company I would keep on the second round of this Island’s adventure nor where their ideas would take me. I can say without a flea’s bit of doubt that we did our best to explore the nooks and crannies of this beautiful island. Yet, there is a place in my heart that knows the points on the map that we didn’t get to. Until next time, I will hold my new Maui memories in that special place that will always bring a sigh and smile to my face whenever I relive those 5 glorious days on Maui.

Thanks Laura and Annie for exploring with me. 

The journey wouldn’t have been the same without you.

Friday, April 29, 2016

Morning flight from Hilo to Kauluhui. Picked up my Laura. Chill at air bnb in Wailuku before heading up Haleakala for sunset and star gazing.

Saturday, April 30, 2016

Beach Day: DT Fleming Beach Park, Ka`anapali Beach, Hanakoe`o Beach Park, and Lahaina Banyan tree climbing. Camping at Kanaha Beach Park

Sunday, May 1, 2016

Eaarly rise for the road to Hana the Back Side! Stopped at Grandma’s Coffee and St. Peter’s Church. Hike the Pipiwani Trail to Wamoku Falls going through a bamboo forest and past Makahilea Falls in Haleakala National Park in the Kipahulu district. The took a short hike to Ohe`o Gulch (Seven Sacred Pools). One last jaunt to the Red Sand Beach in Hana, Camped at Kipahulu Campground where we were fed steak by our fun neighbors.

Monday, May 2, 2016

After being serenaded by Rainbow Light (a homeless man we gave a cliff bar to), we started the road from Hana. Wai`anapanapa State Park, Keanae, found a waterfall swim hole MM10, and a late lunch at Paia Flatebread. Camped at O`lowalu near Lahaina.

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

`Iao State Park, Ali`I Lavender Farm, Skyline Eco Adventures Zipline tour. Sunset at Ho`okipa Beach Park with so many sea turtles. Final stop: Mama’s Fish house for Pina Coladas. Stayed at air BnB in Haiku-Pauwela.