No Outlet Roadtrip

Sometimes when a door opens, you don’t walk through you run while inviting people to join you. 

My door: a vehicle that would not be in use due to the owner taking a trip off the Island.

My plan: Roadtrip to circumnavigate the amazing Big Island to dive even further into its diversity. 

The friends: Brianna for the whole trip, Annie for the first half, and Julianna to join for the last day. 

The only rule: go down every road we feel draw to explore. And that is exactly what we did.

The name of the trip was two-fold: 1.) most of the streets that we ventured down had a no outlet (or dead end) sign and 2.) all of us were feeling a bit worn down from the job. After a few back-to-back tough shifts we were all feeling like we had no outlet. 

Fortunately, this trip came at the perfect time.

5 days, 9 districts, 18 beaches, 6 mountain/volcanoes, 1 coffee farm, 12 cliff bars, 10 CDs, 2 whales, 2 painted churches, 2 rainbows, 3 waterfalls, 2 libraries, 1 crow mailbox with 4 dolls on top, and 679 miles on a moving, growing, volcanic island in the middle of the pacific that currently has a total of 4038 square miles

Priceless :)

Friday, February 5^th: 

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Camped at Whittington Beach Park

Saturday, February 6^th: 

Ka’u Coffee Mill, Na`alehu Farmer’s Market, Wood Valley Temple, Punalu`u Bakery, Hana Hou Restaurant, Camped at South Point

Sunday, February 7^th: 

Sunrise at South Point, Drive toward Oceanview, Miloli`I and Ho`okena beach park closed due to dengue, Pu`uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park (lunch), Painted church – St. Benedict’s (1902), Kealakekua Bay – Grey sand, Magic Sands/Pahoehoe Banyans Beach, “Dead End” road cliffs with drenching waves, Wawaloli Beach Park (pine tree beach), Surfers at sunset, tail gate dinner, Saddle rd drive to return Annie, Night in Hilo.

Monday, February 8^th: 

The fantastic 5 panoramic: Mauna Kea (top), Haleakala (small top L), Kohala (top R), Mauna Loa (bottom L),  Haulalai (Bottom R); Waialea Bay (Beach 69), Hapuna Beach State Park, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Pu`ukohul Heiau National historical site, Spencer Beach Park (sunset), Waioloa Beach Resort ice cream w/ hula keiki, Kapa`a beach park camping

Tuesday, February 9^th: 

Maui greeting with 2 killer whales sightings and a swordfish jumping out of the water, Pololu valley hike, north kohala library, `upolu airport, retreat center, Hamakua Coast, Akaka Falls, honolii beach park, night in Hilo

Wednesday, February 10^th: 

Isaac Hale Beacj Park, Poihiki Hot Springs, Mackenzie State Recreation Area, Kahena Black Sand Beach, Painted Church

O`ahu and Back

My first visitor has arrived – and with her came two friends. I got to experience my first island hop this past week to the island of O`ahu. Our schedule was jam packed with lots of sights, sounds, and tastes from the island. The hardest part for me was getting over how small the island of O`ahu is. You can get to the other side of the island in an hour! I learned that all of the other Hawaiian Islands can fit inside the Big Island with room to spare. I also learned that the population of the capital city, Honolulu, is greater than the rest of the Hawaiian Islands combined! That just over a million people crammed into one city on a small island in the middle of the Pacific. I am happy to live in the second largest city where things are a little bit more spread out and the streets aren’t crawling with tourists.

The back end of the trip took us all back to the Big Island to Volcanoes National Park. I have encountered this park many times with work, but it was nice to return with the opportunity to capture all that have seen with my own camera. Our day on the tail was long, but I was proud to see how everyone pushed through. I told Mom that although she might be pretty miserable in the moment, I had a feeling that the hike across the solidified lava lake was going to be one of the highlights of her trip.

After tour more of the Big Island while I went back to work, she admitted in the end that I was right. 

Mom – so glad you got the chance to experience this magical place!

Friday, January 8^th: Waikiki Beach

Saturday, January 9^th: Day Tour of the Island

Sunday, January 10^th: Pearl Harbor and City Tour and Germaine’s Lu`au

Monday, January 11^th: Waimea Valley, North Shore, and Polynesian Cultural Center

Tuesday, January 12^th: Back to the Big Island, Jagger Museum, and Caldera

Wednesday, January 13^th: 

Kilauea Iki Trail, Thurston Lava Tube, Pertroglyphs, Holei Sea Arch (whale sighting)

Thursday, January 14^th: Line Dancing

Reflections Part 4: Be Messy Journal

I must confess: I had to file for an extension. The due date for the journal to be complete was back at the end of December. The new due date turned into January 1^st. I can admit that I almost made it; but there is a part of me that doesn’t want to finish. I have learned so much as an artist about letting go, about just letting the pencil/marker/crayon/tooth brush do what it feels like doing. My creativity does feel like it gets a little workout and have been surprised at what has appeared as a result. I am not sure what will fill the gap when all is said and done, but I am truly happy that Laura Messerly took the challenge with me to embark on the journey into the mess.

2015 Stats