Mele Kalikimaka

The Bing Crosbey song “Mele Kalikimaka” warmed me up to the idea of spending Christmas in a place that isn’t going to receive snow. I didn’t know how the actual day would unfold, but due to the 11 hours difference in time, I did have a superb idea on how to spend Christmas with family. Behold the power of Skype! On Christmas Eve, Hawaii Time, I got to lie in bed and watch the happenings of a Christmas morning on the other side of the world. Seeing kids at Christmas always warms my heart but to see my own nieces and nephews open their gifts was truly unique. Plus the fact that they were doing it in the technical future was even more mind blowing.

My actual Christmas Day was full of laughter, food, gifts, and games. I sat down with my eclectic Ohana from all walks of life. This Christmas turned out exactly as I hoped it would, and it will be one that I will always remember with a savoring smile.

Decmeber 24^th: Christmas Eve/Christmas morning Skype with the Sephtons

December 25^th: 51 laimana Christmas, Brianna’s Christmas Celebration

December 29^th: Kama`aina! Look who is now a resident of Hawaii!

Kona Side Sea Adventures

As a three-month treat to myself, I wanted to do something special. A gentleman that I met back on the catamaran back in Santa Cruise heard of my move to Hawaii and told me about one of the high lights of his life was swimming with the manta rays on the Big Island. By the end of our trip, he mentioned it three or four times. This obviously left a dent in my memory so I thought I would check it out.

The three-month mark was at the end of November, but with the holiday schedule flipping things around and other logistical road blocks (getting to Kona) the adventure was just wasn’t coming together. I started involving others, inviting co-workers and getting other peoples advice on rental cars and places to stay. This opened up some unexpected doors that I never thought possible.

The way Monday and Tuesday unfolded was completely magical. One of my co-workers had done the swim before and knew exactly where to go and what gear was needed. Instead of going with a commercial guide, Jessie Lou made the trip smooth and easy. I will never forget the sight of a beautiful, mystical create doing a barrel roll just a few feet from me.

Camping in the district of Kohala on the Northern tip of the island, we were greeted with a beautiful sunrise and a glimpse at some of the first whales of the season. The open, clear sky provided a view of Haleakala, Maui’s volcano, across the 70-mile gap between the two islands. We too could see 4 out of the 5 volcanoes on the Big Island- Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, Kohala, and Haulage.

The day rounded out beautifully with a birthday celebration for Liz on the soft sands of Makalawena and the poolside view of a Lu`au. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to celebrate my three months in Hawaii.

Monday, December 14^th: Night swim with Manta Rays, Camping in Kohala

Tuesday, December 15^th: Liz’s Birthday – Whale sighting with Haleakala, Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, Kohala, and Haulalei. Makalawena Beach, Royal Kona Resort Drinks, and Lu`au

Making the Thanksgiving Rounds

With shift work in a place that operates 24/7/365 you just have to roll with the holiday schedule because we all are going to suffer together. My shift, the Kohola (whale in Hawaiian) shift, was assigned to work over Thanksgiving. This caused a series of Thanksgiving celebrations to unfold the week before and a few more with the students at work.

I honestly wasn’t really all that disappointed that I had to work the actual day. The logistics team made some amazing food and it was great to see the students rally to make thank you cards and decorations.

Plus I got two Thursdays off in a row making it possible to go to line dancing twice in a row!

Wednesday, November 18^th: Thanksgiving at Gary’s with Tide Pool Adventures

Thursday, Novemeber 19^th: Friends-giving at Caleb’s, Line Dancing double dose!

Wednesday, November 26^th: Thanksgiving at PQ

Saturday, November 28^th: Hilo Parade of Lights

Monday November 30^th: Waipi`o Valley

Reflections Part 3: Be Messy Journal

Create something with toothpaste

Self portrait with Mud

With the end of the year rolling in fast, I am still working diligently to complete my Be Messy Journal goal. I have been taking the journal to work with me and have been finding it interesting how it is a great conversation starter. I have even challenged some of the students to try some of the exercises. As an incognito co-author I have had to be careful. Students aren’t supposed to know our last names. Mine is written on the front of the book for all to see. I am grateful that there is nothing unique about the name Heather.

Create an award for yourself (refrigerator door worthy) 

Finger-paint

Paint what you are thankful for

Found Poetry

Halloween in Hilo

In Michigan growing up, Halloween was a time when you have to combine creativity and practicality. What costume could I come up with that was good but also warm? In Hawaii, warmth isn’t an issue. The warm weather also gives rise to the front lawn party signaling trick-or-treaters to come their way instead of the ol’ front-porch-light signal, a candle in comparison to the front-lawn-party beacon.

For the first time in ages, I had to put my costume creative juices to work. Over the past 2 months I have been adding line dancing to my off-shift ritual. I go the Thursday I get off. I am usually bone tired and in disbelief that I have any brainpower left to get my feet to go where they are supposed to. In the end, I start my walk home at 11:30pm completely reenergized. Line Dancing has become my therapy. And so with the opportunity to have that feeling twice in one week, I made myself dig deep in the ol’ creativity box. With little to work with in my closet, I was pretty proud of what I was able to pull off. I only spent $2.50 on the cape (a shirt that I sowed into a cape shape by hand), turned other articles of clothing inside out, wore some backwards, and used yellow card stock paper to create the accents.

A part of me thought I would be the only one there who dressed up. After all, it was optional. After I arrived I was so glad I did! Everyone embraced the fun and by the end of the evening two Batmans and a Cat Women had showed up as well. Taking the forgotten-sidekick angle was a superb idea!

The night prior I got to cross a hard to find item off of my bucket list: a silent film with live music. The Palace theatre was celebrating its 90^th birthday by showing the original film that opened the theater in 1925. The pipe organ player was absolutely phenomenal! This guy played for two hours straight without one sheet of music. The standing ovation at the end was well deserved.

Friday, October 30^th: Silent Film At the Palace “Don Q- Son of Zorro”

Saturday, October 31^st: Halloween “Fun” Raiser Costume Party