Feeling more like a local resident

This trip to Hawaii (and now all that follow) overall felt so different than past trips but this is also because I arrived with a different mind set. I arrived knowing that I wasn’t going to just stay home (at my cousins) and hang out with only family. So I made friends with anyone possible! I became friends with the neighbors, I had friends in oregon who introduced me to friends they had that lived on the Big Island and I even joined a gym to keep the fitness up but it also made for more connections. I went out more on my own as well.

If I was hungry and wanted to eat out but had no one to go with, I wouldn’t let that stop me. Below is sushi from me favorite sushi place nicknamed (but on the sign) You Make The Roll. It’s in Kailua-Kona and there is literally NO sitting inside. You walk in, order and then go outside and wait for it at a picnic table or you order to go. It’s tucked away just enough that it is kind of a secret and has weird hours. Those 2 are enough to keep the masses away but it is still pretty crowded.

I should also warn you… this post is a bit of a smorgasbord of information and photos. A collection of memories and information. A collection of my time on the island, getting more connected than ever before.

There it is! in the below photo. Tiny little house with umbrellas over their picnic tables.

Way up in the hillside above Kona is where the historic and artistic village of Holualoa sits. you can find Donkey Mill art center just 3 miles outside of this town.

The art center is pretty small but it’s an art center, not a school. There is a gift shop, a gallery, workshops, and lectures being held here all the time. The individuals who keep this place running are some of the most lovely people I have met.

Some photos I took from around the property.

I believe this lady celebrating her birthday is named Rose. This was a 90 something birthday that she was celebrating if my memory serves me right. I just happened to be there the day of the celebration. It was one of my first days at Donkey Mill and it really set the vibe for the type of people who call that place their creative home.

Some fun ceramic pieces laying around the Mill.

This is the view from The Donkey Mill area, looking down over Kona.

Papaya! This photo makes me hungry just looking at it. It has to be one of my all time favorite hawaiian breakfasts. Right up there next to an Acai bowl or Banan, located on Oahu.

Kekaha Kai was a beach that Zoe and I frequented often. It, like most of the beaches on the Big Island, requires four wheel drive OR extremely careful driving to navigate the boulders and craters along the driving path.

This beach also requires a bit of walking but its all worth it! Except for maybe that one time that my slipper busted on the walk back to the car. We were on this same path, (above photo) made of sharp volcanic rock. I found myself taking steps with one foot and sliding the broken slipper along as best I could with what strap was left. That made for one long walk back to the car. I can often be found carrying 2 pairs of slippers with me now days.

Eventually that volcano rock ash turns to powder soft sand as you get closer to the beach.

Big Island Hawaii beaches aren’t like typical top 10 beaches of the world. They have more personality, more character and they are just overall more scenic. Being harder to get to they are also less crowded then most beaches which is nice!

My friend Jesse and I took his daughter June to the beach one day and I caught this epic shot of her. She is a true water child of the islands.

These are some photos from an art session with 3 other ladies where we made geli prints on paper and wax paper and then turned them into cards, envelopes and wrapping paper. As I prepared for teaching my art classes at Donkey Mill I got a lot of practice in making what I was anticipating teaching.

Below is my cousin Reade, he is who I stay with when visiting the Big Island. This guy is so kind and giving and one incredibly great dad. He has become one of my favorite people to turn to for advice when I need it. We have been thru a lot together and I’m not even sure he realizes it. The girl to the left of him is his niece and my 2nd cousin (but this is Hawaii where everyone is just a cousin or an auntie or an uncle) Ka’aimea and her oldest son, Bohdi.

These are Reades boys, Kaninau and Keaili.

And Lokella, Reades oldest daughter.

and then the youngest daughter and a spit fire, this one! Kaiulani. So incase you have lost count with the kids… Reade has 4 kids, 2 boys and 2 girls.

When all of the cousins get together, most of them anyways… we have a way of bringing out the crazy in eachother.

Part of feeling more like a local means finding connections such as this one… free fruit! These were from the porch of a coffee farm house I passed on the way to Donkey Mill. Jesse told me that they often put fruit on the porch when they have more then they need and that its free to anyone. Free avocados and plantains!? Crazy good find!

I will forever be a crossfit girl, This sport has won my heart over and I haven’t found another type of fitness that I enjoy more than I do this. Crossfit Kona is my box (box is the CF term for a gym because a CF space is usually a bit of a box) when I am visiting the family. They see a few visitors show up but mostly its just a great community of locals.

Im wearing the pink shorts and Zoe is kneeling below me. To the left of me and one guy over is Johnny (with the beard) he is a great coach and the owners son. This photo was taken after a saturday class.

I’ve had an interest in kids crossfit for awhile now and when I found out that crossfit Kona offered a class I asked the coach if I could shadow him. Decided it was great time to get my feet wet in this area of fitness. I’m interested in coaching this in the future if it works out, for sure! the biggest hold up is it costs $2,000 in certs to be able to do it. Life goals! Haha!