Day 1: Travel Day (and Poke)

Back at it again! Sadly, without Alex, who recently moved to Austin to start an amazing new job. 

Strange collection of figurines
at the Vancouver airport.

After some indecision about switching up my travel plans now that I was solo, I began my 26 hour day at 5am by driving across the border to the Toronto Airport. I crossed two time zones on my journey westward, encountered a lot of French speakers, and found ways to pass hours of time in airports between flights. My fellow passengers were polite, friendly, and easy-going (Canada!). Crossing into Canada to fly back into the U.S. saved me money but, ultimately, was a huge pain. I had to go through customs twice and they confiscated most of the gluten-free snacks I had packed for myself. I read all of Laura Hillenbrand's Unbroken, pausing at the plane crash survival chapter to question why I had chosen this particular novel for my 12 hour plane ride. It was a fascinating read that kept me occupied for most of my trip.

In case you forget you're in Canada.

Floating out of my last flight at 3am EST and into the open-air Honolulu airport, I was hit by a wave of tropical air that cleared my head. Travel days are exhausting but this one was worth it. Janine met me in her adorable Mini Cooper, which she would later give me permission to drive, and handed me a cooler full of poke and rice, which I had requested in lieu of a lei. We stayed up for a few hours talking and playing with her puppies before I drifted off, the sheer curtains in the open house gently floating to meet the edge of the bed. I woke up 5 hours later, watched the sun rise from Janine's back porch, and made some resolutions.

Can't wait to get started!

 I will walk or run or walk every day.

I will do two of the following every day: 

1. Be in the ocean

2. Hike

3. Eat an acai bowl or poke

HAWAII 2015!

The gang is getting back together and adding some new members to boot! Coming June 2015 Unreal Hawaii will return for two weeks with Janine, Alicia, and Genevieve starring in a fantastic summer reunion on Hawaii's finest island.  Viewers can expect to see their beloved stars snorkeling in teal waters, dining on poke and acai bowls, and hiking the dizzying heights of Oahu, as well as having new adventures with underwater life (sharks?!) and possibly boats! This season introduces new stars - Alex and Jesse - and will include some exciting plot twists. Inside sources suggest that this season someone new is engaged and one of our other beloved stars has been recently married! Stay tuned for details. Can't wait to share with you!

Day 42: Aloha Hawai'i (Departure Day)

Morning of my departure. Flight just before dinnertime. Janine goes to work and, despite the rain, I go to the beach. I hadn't been in the water while it was raining before. As I arrived the SUPers and kite surfers retreated to their cars while I abandoned mine, stashed my keys in a tree hollow, and walked toward the water. The beach was deserted but for me and my many tumultuous thoughts. The rain added an element of chaos to the experience, confounding the senses. Eventually it became a soothing cascade which gently kissed the parts of my body that weren't immersed in the ocean. I bobbed as I had for the past six weeks, letting my body flow with the current and the swell of each wave, until the drops lessened, willing the physical experience to transfer to my mental state.

Leaving was difficult. What was I going home to? Would I ever feel this way again? Traveling in this way had healed me before, helped me learn more about who I was and where I wanted to go in life. Saying goodbye to my friend was hardest, knowing she was facing life's challenges alone for a time after we had shared so much together. Who will we be when we next see one another?

Aloha.

Day 41: Waimea Valley

In my last few days I decided I wanted to revisit the North Shore to check a few more things off my Hawaii wish list. I finally got a picture of the other side of the North Shore sign and visited Waimea Valley, a botanical valley and historical site whose name means "Valley of the Priests".

Waimea Valley is one of the last partially intact ahupuaa on O'ahu, 1875 acres of sacred land that has been part of Native Hawaiian history for more than 700 years. The section that I visited is part cultural center and part botanical gardens. I took a self-guided stroll through the lush vegetation for a few hours, ending with a quick dip in a swimming hole/waterfall area.

Sweet crepes at No Ka 'Oi with Janine

I stopped for lunch at my favorite place on the North Shore, the Beet Box Cafe, and after for a scoop of ice cream at Scoop of Paradise. I am feeling comfortable with traveling on my own and learning to appreciate the freedom and peace in my solo adventures. Headed back to Kaneohe shortly after lunch to spend time with Janine, as I am leaving soon. She took me into Kailua for crepes at a local place. We had a lovely dinner together, experimenting with savory and sweet, buckwheat and regular!

Day 40: Diamond Head Summit Trail

In my last few days I have been especially enjoying my time hiking alone. There's something about the beauty of hiking here, especially in new places. I feel connected to the land and overwhelmed with the beauty of it all at the most unexpected moments.

I nervously made my way to Diamond Head Summit Trail in Janine's car (still not feeling confident in my driving abilities on a standard), parked, and followed others to the trail. This one was a little more populated than other hikes I've done, but still worth the view at the top.

Days 36, 37, & 38

Alicia left this week. Her visiting was wonderful for me as I got to reconnect and form a new friendship with my best friend's twin. Her departure reminded me that my own would soon follow. I do not want to leave this beautiful place - with it's breathtaking views, agreeable climate, culture, food, and of course, Janine!

I spend most of Friday running errands with Janine and catching up, talking about her life post D-Day and what our futures hold in store. Alicia is engaged and soon to be married, so we talk about that and dolphins, relationships, my mother's illness. I wish I had more time here, and yet I know it is time for me to get back to my own life.

Saturday I finally hit my goal of running for the entire length of a 5K. Janine and I take our snorkeling gear to Shark's Cove despite the clouds and threatening drizzle, and see the most amazing tropical fish and coral, alive and thriving. So many kinds! I will have to remember to bring an underwater camera when I come back to visit again. After snorkeling we carefully picked our way around the jagged edges of the cove, named Shark Cove for it's fin-like protrusions, and look in shallows for interesting marine life.

We grab dinner at Whole Foods on the way back and heat to Kailua Beach to watch the sun set.

Day 35: Polynesian Cultural Center

Samoan actor climbing a palm tree

On Wednesday Alicia and I hit the beach early in hopes of meeting up with someone who had offered us a kiteboarding lesson. Unfortunately the wind did not cooperate so we spent the wee hours of the morning in the sun and sand with people walking their dogs on the shore. On our way home we grabbed one last acai bowl for Alicia, then headed out to the Polynesian Cultural Center where we would spent the next 10 hours.

I'd seen buses all around the island with the Polynesian Cultural Center's logo stamped on it but didn't really understand what was in store for us until we were in front of a large "amusement-park-like" complex.  I would equate my experience with a culturally-themed educational Disney World. The center is divided into six Pacific cultures, each sporting a village and people representative of an authentic island village. The "natives" in each village wore culturally-authentic garb, spoke with the accents of their respective cultures, and demonstrated arts specific to each culture.

One of six displays at the Canoe Pageant

In addition to an interactive movie theater inside a fake volcano and a sprawling river with canoe rides, little Samoan, Aotearoan Fiji, Hawaiian, Tonga, and Tahitian villages were set up at along the perimeter of the park. Throughout the afternoon we saw actors climb 40-foot coconut trees in bare feet, tattooed warriors perform war dances, tribesmen perform on a log drum (lali),  learned basic hula movements, threw spears (unsuccessfully), twirled poi balls, played tititorea (a Maori stick game designed to develop hand-eye coordination), watched the Tahitians' famous hip shaking dances, and listened to Tongan ta nada (drumming) on oversized drums. Later that evening Janine joined us at the center for dinner and a show, themed "Hā" (breath of life). A story of a family told through Polynesian dance, music, and fire knives.

The basket in the forefront holds poi

At one of the many booths set up at the P.C.C. I was able to cross an experience off my Hawai'i list: taste poi. Poi is a refined paste-like powder made from the mashed up root of the taro plant. The Hawaiian people believed the taro plant was the original ancestor of the Hawaiian people and, as such, taro was a staple in Polynesian food. To make poi the roots of a taro plant are boiled and mashed into a powder, which is mixed with water and mashed again. The finished product is a purple paste that is traditionally eaten with the fingers. At the P.C.C. a volunteer showed us taro in the many stages of becoming poi and encouraged us to try the goop with toothpicks. It was surprisingly sweet - reminiscent of sweet potatoes - and sticky in texture. Despite Janine's gentle teasing throughout my trip about not liking poi, I didn't mind the taste and would have tried more, had I been given the chance.

Alicia, Janine, and me (+ creepy man in background) at the Hā show