Keep on keepin' on

Every morning when we wake up it takes a bit for us to realize where we are and what we are doing here.  I guess moving after living in one place for nearly twenty five years will do that to you.  

My new wake-up routine reminds me of the end of the movie, 50 First Dates, in that I replay a mental video of recent events to get me up to speed as to why I am in a strange bed, in a strange room, in a strange house, in a…well, you get the picture.

It is good to go through the cognitive gymnastics and replay the myriad of decisions and actions that have brought us here.  It gives pause for reflection and allows for a moment of gratitude.  And, it also provides clarity and affirmation that this is where we are supposed to be.

Which isn't to say that life here isn't without its struggles, sacrifices, or acute moments of pining for our kids, our family, and our friends.  But, it is the life we have chosen and we owe it to ourselves to work diligently towards making every day a good one.

I'm not going to say that it has always been easy, but in some ways, being here does make it easier.  At the very least, for me, the recovery rate of going from a downcast mood to happy one is much quicker here.  Maybe it is the immense beauty that envelops us.  Or the authentic happiness that we see reflected in people's faces everyday.  Or maybe, it is the feel of the warmth on our skin, the deep blue of the sky, and brightness of the sun in our eyes.  

But for whatever the reason, I know that being here makes us feel good about...being here.  And that gives us heart in living this extraordinary adventure.

Take care and enjoy, 
- Mahalo

Out and about in Haleiwa

Last night, Gail and I attended a local happening in Haleiwa.  It was an art walk of sorts, and our favorite local band/musicians, Ron Artis, and his brother, Thunderstorm, were playing an acoustic set, so we went to hang out and enjoy the evening.

The event took place at Haleiwa Joe's, a very popular restaurant in town that overlooks the harbor.  The vibe was chill with a painting class going on, live music, and works of various artists on display.  The weather was mild and seem to fit the mood while people milled around on the lawn, took in the art work, and enjoyed the view.  

Gatherings like this is but one of the many wonderful things that contributes to this North Shore town's famous 'hang loose' character and charm.  Of course, beautiful vistas, the world's best surf, and genuinely welcoming folks doesn't hurt either…

Take care and enjoy,
- Mahalo

A little sun, a little rain, a whole lot of fun!

Gail and I went snorkeling this afternoon and got quite a surprise.  When we left the studio it was cloudy and windy but nothing unusual.  

When we got to the beach, families were enjoying the afternoon and some fishermen were casting for their dinner.  We put our gear on and began our outing.  The waves were a bit bigger than usual and with the wind blowing it made for a fairly strong current, but nothing that was unsafe.  After a while of swimming around I began to hear something odd and felt something hitting my back.  I popped up to see that a storm was coming through fast and hard.  

I did a quick scan for Gail to make sure that she was ok and when we made eye contact we just smiled, shrugged our shoulders and went back to snorkeling.   The sound of rain underwater was pretty cool to hear and the rain felt like a gentle massage on my back.  I kept popping up to watch the waves coming at me and the dark water swirling all around.  I looked up and down the beach and what was a lively scene just minutes before, was now a deserted stretch of sand, which made for an erie and surreal feeling.  

After we were done and got out of the water we were met with a torrential downpour.  We retrieved our now-soaked towel and things and began our walk home.  By that time the wind really kicked up and the rain got heavier and it felt like we were getting pelted by light hail, which surprisingly, did have a bit if a sting to it.  Nonetheless, we kept laughing like school kids and enjoyed it all the way home.

Hot showers were in order and once showered and dry, we were starving so we broke into the pupus, which tonight was cone sushi and pickled ginger.  Ono kine grindz, brah!

Today, as is with most days here, we continue to be awed with life on these islands.  And time and time again, just when we think we are getting the hang of it, we experience something new and exciting that puts a welcomed twist in our days. 

Take care and enjoy, 
- Mahalo 

It was a good day

On Saturday, Gail and I helped with a beach clean up and we found it to be a very rewarding experience.  Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii organized the event and gathered together a great group of volunteers to clean up an isolated, but very trashed beach in Kahuku.  Also, later in the afternoon Gail and I helped with the separation of the plastics, trash, and derelict commercial fishing nets that had been collected.

Upon our arrival at the beach, we were met with a very somber sight.  The would-be wonderful stretch of coastline was blanketed with a myriad of items that washed ashore from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (also known as the North Pacific Gyre).  As this particular locale is at the northern tip of Oahu it gets the brunt of the currents and as such, it collects an inordinate amount of garbage deposited from the GPGP.  

It is crazy to think that with all the trash we picked up (over 800 lb.), we only made a negotiable impact in the overall cleanliness of the beach.  Which isn't to say that it was for naught; on the contrary, Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii had over one hundred volunteers involved and that made a huge impact in educating, raising awareness, and giving everyone a first-hand glimpse of the sheer magnitude of debris floating in our oceans.

Another very good outcome of the clean up is that Adam Lowry, co-founder of Method, was there to join in the clean up and to help with the sorting of plastics.  Method is - to my knowledge - the only company that is taking ocean debris and recycling it into bottles for their soap products.  This step, albeit a very small one, is geared towards raising public awareness as they help rectify the problem of plastics in the oceans.  It is a very crucial first step by Method in demonstrating that ocean debris can indeed be recycled into industrial-grade plastic, thus opening the door for future ventures involving the harvesting and recycling of ocean plastics as a viable commercial endeavor.  

Of course, this progressive move by Method is but a stopgap measure to help alleviate the devastating consequences of the GPGP, with the real solution being in keeping plastics, trash, and derelict nets out of the oceans to begin with.  And that my friends, will take a collective, herculean effort from all of us in taking responsibility for the creation, usage, and disposal practices of plastics, trash, and jettisoned commercial fishing gear.  And, this impelling need has to be addressed not only at a local or regional level, or even just at a national level, but rather, this has to happen on a worldwide scale.  It is a tremendously daunting undertaking to be sure, but can you imagine the escalating and dire repercussions should we choose to not embrace this challenge?  

Ok, so obviously I get wrapped pretty tight on this matter, but I'll get off my soapbox and get back to the story.

At the end of the day, Gail and I were invited back to the SCH campsite to share in a celebratory beer for a job well done.  As we were sitting on the beach basking in the glow, we were kept company by two sleepy Hawaiian monk seals.  Talk about a payback for our efforts!  Getting to see these animals was indeed a wondrous experience and served as a confirmation that what we did earlier that day did matter.  

I have said this before, and please bear with me as I say it again...I love this place!!!

Take care and enjoy,
- Mahalo