At the wrap of my lastest film production project, I was overwhelmed with the urge to explore the islands. A couple of opportunities whispered in my ear; one was luring me travel and explore the Big Island. So, I parted with everything unnecessary; my apartment on Oahu and my belongs and planned for my trip to Big Island. Prior to my Big Island departure I was offered the opportunity to help out an ohana on Maui. Well, the accomodations on Maui were a little more conducive to the weather in November. So, I opted to go live in Kula and work for a month. Shipped my car loaded with all the necessities for survival in the wilderness. When I arrived on Maui, I was greeted with overflowing hospitality and aloha. It was a welcome change from the diluted aloha essence of Oahu. I was priviledged to live on the Hawaiian Homestead Land and work for amazing friends.
I would wake up every morning to the vision a wonderment. From the bay windows of my apartment I could see from Hana to Lahaina and a wide spans of the pacific ocean. The sunsets were incredible and the rainbows appeared in abundance, sometimes a double rainbow would shine thru. Exploring Maui was a full time job. My CRV proved suitable for most terrain around the island. I would venture to Hana as often as possible to visit all the colorful sanded beaches and waterfalls and prolific water pools. I met interesting people that became life long friends in Paia. Visited all the small little towns. Welcomed the 3:30 am adventure to welcome the Haleakala Sunset. Hiked the very deserted property that I lived on. Maui was a time of connecting with myself again. Questioning my path. Rediscovering who I am and what I am and where I am and why I am. It was a good change of pace and scenery for me and a time of discovery. Not only was it a welcoming experience but it was a very trying time in my life, as are all my journeys. Riddled with growing pains and exhaustion of having to endure life's many challenges.
The turning point in my stay in Maui started when a dear friend started reaching out to me for encouragement and advice on her career. She would call me at 3 and 4 am, waking me with the dawn. It became such a ritual that when the phone didn't ring in the wee morning I was out of sorts. As time progressed, she looked to me for spiritual support and she would ask me to pray for her in the mornings and throughout the day. As days would pass we became more and more dependent on God and seeking God for strength and support and direction. At one point in our journey she started to ask me to get on my knees and pray. The act of bending on my knees and talking to God filled me with reverence for God and my belief system. I started to realize what I was lacking in my life for the past several years. It suddenly became clear to me that when I rely on my Heavenly Father, I am not riddled with such confusion and turmoil in my life.
God has an interesting approach to answering our cries for help. My decision to leave Oahu was to escape hurt and pain. I came to Maui for a new beginning and was again faced with interpersonal challenges. It seems to follow me wherever I go. I had a long talk with God because I couldn't solve this mystery of why I am always entangled in personal affairs that end up hurting me. I believe one explanation that rang true was because I am a person that cares enough to actively throw myself into peoples lives and take on whatever comes to me. When the interactions are good, they are truly rich and when they are bad, it devastates my existences. Okay, so how am I to change this about myself? One conclusion is to not get to deeply involved in others lives. Sounds like a simple solution. I started to adapt this new found tool and it started to make a difference. It didn't heal the past misfortunes that followed me to Maui but it was a start to a new chapter of my life and conduct in my life. This has brought hope for a better, more fulfilling future with those I am going to meet along the way. This was not a reprimand in my life but a loving solution from my Creator. It was a refreshing nugget of encouragement. I was not to beat myself up because I am a profoundly and unconditionally loving and caring soul. I was not to stop loving others. I am simply to exercise boundaries in my life. It was that AH HA moment. I admit that I am stubborn and want to do things my way. But, obviously my way has caused me pain time and time again. Some unnecessary, others necessary.
Well, after all these revelations flooded my conscious, it was time to move forward in this human journey on earth. I started to pray for clarity and direction. I was not sure that I was settled or going to settle on Maui. The only thing certain in my life was that I was too keep moving forward and continue to grow and it was not going to happen back on Oahu. I started looking for places to live in Paia and started exploring job opportunities for if and when that time came that I would have to be employed again. Still, I just wasn't settled on the idea of staying on Maui but where was I to go next, Lord? As I would pray, the idea of revisiting the possibility of join a Christian volunteer group on Big Island kept nagging me. Before I had planned to leave Oahu, I applied to the Mission Builders program at YWAM (Youth With A Mission) on Kona. At the time I applied, the acceptance dates didn't work with my schedule so I kinda put it on the back burner.
I decided to go to Santa Monica for a month and hang with my sister and help her launch the release of her solo album. This seemed like the best thing to do for a month. So, off I went to Southern California. Hanging out with my sister was a welcome time of refreshment and decision making. Once in a life time opportunity to be apart of my sisters life, her music and spend 30 solid days with her. She is my best friend and I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else for that time. But, it brought questions again as too my future. After my stay in Santa Monica, I went back to Maui for another two months. Within that two months I started to experience acute depression. I was lost and confused. I started to cry out to God again for direction. Again, I would hear, "Check Into God". I revisited the Mission Builders opportunity to see if they had space available. I figured that in order to get out of my rut, I had to run into the heart of His presence. I was scared because the work program is a 1 to 3 month commitment. I was gonna have to give up the possibility of working in production for a while. This was a tough thing to relinquish for the time being but I felt like God was telling me not to worry that I would not lose out on anything and to just go. This was a huge step for me. I was gonna have to give up life as I knew it, my freedom and my party life. But there was no other options for me at the moment. I reached out to YWAM again and they welcomed me with open and excited arms. Within 3 weeks, I was packed and ready to move to Big Island.
Two weeks before I left Maui, I was blessed with some amazingly wonderful gifts. I had some good friends come visit Maui and I stayed at their vacation house in Lahaina for two weeks. I was overwhelmed with gifts of love and physical and spiritual healing and connections. They introduced me to their friends that lived in Hana and I spent a couple nights in their baller hale. One of the nights we were stuck at their house because of a storm. It was magical. Then, there was two more weeks of ultimate spiritual blessings of pray, healing, meeting with God, laying on of hands and healing of the body and very rich fellowship. I almost cried when I had to say good bye to my friends. God sends us the most powerful gifts when we need. He rocked my world for those weeks. I was forever changed. They loved on me, encouraged me, talked to God about me, blessed me and put me back on the right track in my mental state and health state. It was supernatural. I experienced supernatural healing like never before, prayer sessions and prophetic words and fellowship as only like minds can experience. Again, life altering.
Two weeks after my friends left Maui, I arrived at YWAM on Big Island, Kona side on Friday, March 16th. My dear friend from Oahu who is living on BI, picked me up and gave me a mini tour of the Kona area before dropping me at the campus to check in to my housing. I am always over excited at the beginning of new adventures. This one was no different. I made it to my dorm room, which, fortunately for me I have all to myself for the time being. I spent Friday setting up my room in preparation for the weekend. I went on a field trip on Saturday to the North Side of the Island, then Sunday met up with some friends of old from California that I hadn't seen in about 10 years or so. They moved to Big Island a year ago. It was so much fun connecting with old friends. It was a great welcome to da island. I felt fortunate. This journey was starting out so blessed. Monday morning was my first day of immersion to the campus and the events and scheduling an my job and my communal living environment. I was so high on God. Everyone was happy and in love with life. This was infectious. I felt alive for the first time in awhile. All the testimonies of the young and old were encouraging and energy filling. To be back in the presence of God was wonderful; Soothing, Happy, Relaxing, Fulfilling.
I have been here almost 3 months and I find myself more confused than ever, again. I guess I like to know what the future holds. I am a serious, almost particular, planner. LOL. What I am certain of is that I hope to stay on the island after I have my stint here at Mission Builders. I ponder what my future life will look like. I haven't partied for over two months and it will have been 5 months once this job is complete. I am liking the purity aspect of this adventure and I have been tested. I still hang with friends outside of this environment and I am able to maintain being in the world and not of the world. I just hope that my desires are for purity.
My strong and current desire is to explore this beautiful and unique island. I have been bit by the exploration bug. It started with a visit from a couple of friends from Oahu who came over for spring break to hike and camp the island. I am so grateful that they reached out to me because it has been another life altering event. On a Thursday night I rescued them on the side of the road in South Kona, which gave me my first opportunity to venture out of Kailua-Kona and see some of the landscape. I brought them back to my town of Kailua, we had a fantastic meal at Big Island Grill. While at dinner, I was so motivated and ecstatic about joining them on their journey of camping and hiking the island so we made a plan to meet at Waipio Valley on Saturday morning. I was so filled with anticipation for this trip that I started considering what I was going to pack. I started gathering necessary items for camping; at my job, we found 3 sleeping and a propane stove - Score! God provides all the little things. I have a few cool items that I brought with me in anticipation of living out of my car on Big Island; Head lamp, cooler, lighters, batteries, Leatherman. I was now prepared.
Friday after work, I set out on my way to Waipio to meet my friends who said they were gonna camp there for the night. Again, another first time of travel the island. Headed towards Waimea and got into the town. Was a little turned around as to where to go so I took a road I thought was the one. A hour later I ended up back in Kailua-Kona. At first I was mad then I just laughed at the absurdity of it and then that turned to concern as to how to proceed. I decided to get back on the road and make it to the valley by night fall. I am extremely determined! Happy to report that I did make it in good enough time. Although, I was very concerned for the weather and my camping friends. As I traveled out of Waimea and towards Hamaku, it started to pour with torrential rains. This was not looking promising. I figured it was too late to turn back so forward I sojourned. Made it to the look out of Waipio Valley. Stopped my car at the edge of the very steep declining road. Read the warning sign that said only 4 wheel drive was safe to tackle the decline. Put my car in 1st gear and down I descended. I am not gonna lie. I was alittle fearful. It is said that the drive down is the most radical decline to sea level. It goes from about 2000 feet above sea level to sea level in a very short travel. All the "what ifs" haunted me all the way down, but I am a thrill seeker so it was a fun rush. Relieved to say that I made it to the bottom of the paved road. I did consider that it would probably be a challenge to get back up. Well, I forged forward onto the dirt road with some water filled puddles and rugged terrain. It was adventurous, ain't gonna lie. I was feeling rugged and accomplished till I came upon a wide puddle and proceeded through it only to realize that I might be in way over my head. The water level came almost up to my car hood. I accelerated through the puddle, barely sinking in the middle of it and made it to dry ground only to be greeted with another large puddle. I decided to proceed with caution for the next puddle. I knew that I couldn't back up and I was gonna have to go forward or get someone to tow me out. I had no phone reception. I decided to park the car and walk the rest of the way into the valley floor to find my friends. When I made it to the coast line, there were a few locals fishing. A couple of people where set up for camping. I walked around to the different groups describing my friends but to no avail. No one had seen them. There was, what appeared to be a small rushing river to cross, so I decided to wade through it to the other side. Another deceptive moment. I ended up waist deep and falling into the rushing river but did make it to the other side. Walked the beach for awhile but did not find my friends. I presumed that they must not have made it to the Valley yet. I knew I had to get back across the river but crossing back was even more difficult then the first and I ended up deep down in the water, head barely above water, trying to save my only sweat shirt from getting soaked and swam to the other side. So now I am soaked and have to make a decision.
After logical deduction, I concluded that I was gonna have to rough it in the valley for the night in order to meet up with my friends at the lookout in the morning as originally planned. I went back for my car and I figured that I would navigate my car through the second puddle and make it to the shore line and set up camp for the night. Seeing that I was already soaked from my feet to my neck, I decided to walk through the second puddle to assess how deep it was and where the best spots to cross would be. All to say that I figured it out and made it through the puddle and to the shore line of the Valley. I set up camp in the back of my car. Shortly after I was settled, most of the people fishing piled in there cars. It was a momentary minute for concern. Was I gonna be left down there all alone. I was relieved to see that there was one party remaining and they had a tent set up and then shortly before night fall a second vehicle pulled in and set up camp. It was a welcome moment of solitude. The weather was perfect, unlike the Hamaku which I traveled through to get to the Valley. Warm, welcoming breeze, clear skies and crashing waves. I made some supper, hung my wet clothes to dry and set up my bedding in the back of my CRV. The darker it got, the sleepier I became. I read my bible for a bit and closed up my car and lay to rest around 9 ish. As I laid in the dark I started to remember my hale on the beach front where I on lived on Oahu for 6 years. Hearing the ocean crash against the shore was soothing and memories of good times in my life flooded my thoughts. It was nice to be brought back to happy times. It was comforting.
I was awoke at sunrise, 5:30ish, but the sound of cars rolling up to the shore. About 15 cars in all parked and gazed at the waves. It was the local dawn patrol out for their morning surf. All guys, all locals. They all shaka'd me as they passed my car. I felt at home. It was like being apart of a large surf event. I felt anxious to wanna hit the surf with them. They made it seem so inviting. They weren't there more than a couple hours then all cleared out at once. Leaving the shore line once again deserted. I took my time in the morning. I walked up the shore, watched the surfers. Then settled back in my car with the back doors open starring at the waves. I read my bible, fixed some breakfast then wrote in my journal. As 9 am approached and there was still no sign of my friends, I looked up the Waimano Ridge trail and contemplated hiking up it to pass sometime but then I considered I would have to cross the creek again and the fog and cold air was rolling in. I opted out of that choice. So I decided to cruise into Hilo and hang out with a friend of mine until I heard from the guys.
On my way to Hilo, I was gonna try and stop some places; Akaka Falls, for one. I stopped at some of the beach points on the map. Picked up some hitchhikers. They were headed to the farmers market in Hilo. They were nice enough to stop at the Falls for a quick peek. Then off to Hilo we went. It is always a thrill to meet new people that have traveled to Hawaii and to hear there story so the ride to Hilo was informative. Dropped them at farmers market and I headed to Kurtistown to hang with my friend. It was nice spending time with another movie buff like me. We had great conversation, a nice home cooked meal and a shower. I was refreshed and ready for day two of my adventure. I finally heard from my friends who happened to be in the Valley after all. They were camping up in the very ridge, the Waimano Ridge, that I chose not to hike up. Looking back in hindsight, everything happens for a reason and in its proper time. We decided to meet up in Hilo, so they hitchhiked to Hilo. The gal that picked them up ended up camping with us that night. She was a traveler from Austria and I instantly befriended her. So we drove to the Volcano Camp Ground and set up camp for the night.
After we set up camp, we blazed a trail towards the active volcano to watch the spewing lava. It was pretty exciting. Once we came as close as we could to the volcano we sat on the edge of the ridge and watched it for a while. A half hour later the vog/fog rolled in and light rain fell. We made our way back to the camp site and hung out around the pavilion fire with a guy named Nicholas from Maine. A vagabond traveler with no wheels, meager clothing and food supply, no tent, and preferred walking to hitchhiking. He was a very kind and gentle man with a good heart. We talked story for an hour or so then went to bed. Martina in the front seat of her car, me in my back seat, Cody and Angel in their tent and Steve his tent and Nicholas on the pic nic table. All was well with the world.
Morning came. I woke with the dawn and happy for morning because my back was killing me. It was a very uncomfortable accommodations after the second night. But, strangely, I was still tired so I managed to fall back a sleep for another hour or so. I got up and collected wood for a fire. Everyone was awake by the time I got back to the camp site. We made breakfast, hung out for awhile then we all parted ways. My friends headed to the airport, Martina headed to Kona for a party and me, I heading back to Kona but stopped along the way at all the historical sites and beaches; most memorable being Green Sands beach at South Point. Drive my car long the rugged terrain Green Sands and chilled for a while then headed home. It was a weekend that I wish I could repeat... It summed up all the adventure that I have experienced since leaving Oahu...But that is not all...there is more to come....
I would wake up every morning to the vision a wonderment. From the bay windows of my apartment I could see from Hana to Lahaina and a wide spans of the pacific ocean. The sunsets were incredible and the rainbows appeared in abundance, sometimes a double rainbow would shine thru. Exploring Maui was a full time job. My CRV proved suitable for most terrain around the island. I would venture to Hana as often as possible to visit all the colorful sanded beaches and waterfalls and prolific water pools. I met interesting people that became life long friends in Paia. Visited all the small little towns. Welcomed the 3:30 am adventure to welcome the Haleakala Sunset. Hiked the very deserted property that I lived on. Maui was a time of connecting with myself again. Questioning my path. Rediscovering who I am and what I am and where I am and why I am. It was a good change of pace and scenery for me and a time of discovery. Not only was it a welcoming experience but it was a very trying time in my life, as are all my journeys. Riddled with growing pains and exhaustion of having to endure life's many challenges.
The turning point in my stay in Maui started when a dear friend started reaching out to me for encouragement and advice on her career. She would call me at 3 and 4 am, waking me with the dawn. It became such a ritual that when the phone didn't ring in the wee morning I was out of sorts. As time progressed, she looked to me for spiritual support and she would ask me to pray for her in the mornings and throughout the day. As days would pass we became more and more dependent on God and seeking God for strength and support and direction. At one point in our journey she started to ask me to get on my knees and pray. The act of bending on my knees and talking to God filled me with reverence for God and my belief system. I started to realize what I was lacking in my life for the past several years. It suddenly became clear to me that when I rely on my Heavenly Father, I am not riddled with such confusion and turmoil in my life.
God has an interesting approach to answering our cries for help. My decision to leave Oahu was to escape hurt and pain. I came to Maui for a new beginning and was again faced with interpersonal challenges. It seems to follow me wherever I go. I had a long talk with God because I couldn't solve this mystery of why I am always entangled in personal affairs that end up hurting me. I believe one explanation that rang true was because I am a person that cares enough to actively throw myself into peoples lives and take on whatever comes to me. When the interactions are good, they are truly rich and when they are bad, it devastates my existences. Okay, so how am I to change this about myself? One conclusion is to not get to deeply involved in others lives. Sounds like a simple solution. I started to adapt this new found tool and it started to make a difference. It didn't heal the past misfortunes that followed me to Maui but it was a start to a new chapter of my life and conduct in my life. This has brought hope for a better, more fulfilling future with those I am going to meet along the way. This was not a reprimand in my life but a loving solution from my Creator. It was a refreshing nugget of encouragement. I was not to beat myself up because I am a profoundly and unconditionally loving and caring soul. I was not to stop loving others. I am simply to exercise boundaries in my life. It was that AH HA moment. I admit that I am stubborn and want to do things my way. But, obviously my way has caused me pain time and time again. Some unnecessary, others necessary.
Well, after all these revelations flooded my conscious, it was time to move forward in this human journey on earth. I started to pray for clarity and direction. I was not sure that I was settled or going to settle on Maui. The only thing certain in my life was that I was too keep moving forward and continue to grow and it was not going to happen back on Oahu. I started looking for places to live in Paia and started exploring job opportunities for if and when that time came that I would have to be employed again. Still, I just wasn't settled on the idea of staying on Maui but where was I to go next, Lord? As I would pray, the idea of revisiting the possibility of join a Christian volunteer group on Big Island kept nagging me. Before I had planned to leave Oahu, I applied to the Mission Builders program at YWAM (Youth With A Mission) on Kona. At the time I applied, the acceptance dates didn't work with my schedule so I kinda put it on the back burner.
I decided to go to Santa Monica for a month and hang with my sister and help her launch the release of her solo album. This seemed like the best thing to do for a month. So, off I went to Southern California. Hanging out with my sister was a welcome time of refreshment and decision making. Once in a life time opportunity to be apart of my sisters life, her music and spend 30 solid days with her. She is my best friend and I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else for that time. But, it brought questions again as too my future. After my stay in Santa Monica, I went back to Maui for another two months. Within that two months I started to experience acute depression. I was lost and confused. I started to cry out to God again for direction. Again, I would hear, "Check Into God". I revisited the Mission Builders opportunity to see if they had space available. I figured that in order to get out of my rut, I had to run into the heart of His presence. I was scared because the work program is a 1 to 3 month commitment. I was gonna have to give up the possibility of working in production for a while. This was a tough thing to relinquish for the time being but I felt like God was telling me not to worry that I would not lose out on anything and to just go. This was a huge step for me. I was gonna have to give up life as I knew it, my freedom and my party life. But there was no other options for me at the moment. I reached out to YWAM again and they welcomed me with open and excited arms. Within 3 weeks, I was packed and ready to move to Big Island.
Two weeks before I left Maui, I was blessed with some amazingly wonderful gifts. I had some good friends come visit Maui and I stayed at their vacation house in Lahaina for two weeks. I was overwhelmed with gifts of love and physical and spiritual healing and connections. They introduced me to their friends that lived in Hana and I spent a couple nights in their baller hale. One of the nights we were stuck at their house because of a storm. It was magical. Then, there was two more weeks of ultimate spiritual blessings of pray, healing, meeting with God, laying on of hands and healing of the body and very rich fellowship. I almost cried when I had to say good bye to my friends. God sends us the most powerful gifts when we need. He rocked my world for those weeks. I was forever changed. They loved on me, encouraged me, talked to God about me, blessed me and put me back on the right track in my mental state and health state. It was supernatural. I experienced supernatural healing like never before, prayer sessions and prophetic words and fellowship as only like minds can experience. Again, life altering.
Two weeks after my friends left Maui, I arrived at YWAM on Big Island, Kona side on Friday, March 16th. My dear friend from Oahu who is living on BI, picked me up and gave me a mini tour of the Kona area before dropping me at the campus to check in to my housing. I am always over excited at the beginning of new adventures. This one was no different. I made it to my dorm room, which, fortunately for me I have all to myself for the time being. I spent Friday setting up my room in preparation for the weekend. I went on a field trip on Saturday to the North Side of the Island, then Sunday met up with some friends of old from California that I hadn't seen in about 10 years or so. They moved to Big Island a year ago. It was so much fun connecting with old friends. It was a great welcome to da island. I felt fortunate. This journey was starting out so blessed. Monday morning was my first day of immersion to the campus and the events and scheduling an my job and my communal living environment. I was so high on God. Everyone was happy and in love with life. This was infectious. I felt alive for the first time in awhile. All the testimonies of the young and old were encouraging and energy filling. To be back in the presence of God was wonderful; Soothing, Happy, Relaxing, Fulfilling.
I have been here almost 3 months and I find myself more confused than ever, again. I guess I like to know what the future holds. I am a serious, almost particular, planner. LOL. What I am certain of is that I hope to stay on the island after I have my stint here at Mission Builders. I ponder what my future life will look like. I haven't partied for over two months and it will have been 5 months once this job is complete. I am liking the purity aspect of this adventure and I have been tested. I still hang with friends outside of this environment and I am able to maintain being in the world and not of the world. I just hope that my desires are for purity.
My strong and current desire is to explore this beautiful and unique island. I have been bit by the exploration bug. It started with a visit from a couple of friends from Oahu who came over for spring break to hike and camp the island. I am so grateful that they reached out to me because it has been another life altering event. On a Thursday night I rescued them on the side of the road in South Kona, which gave me my first opportunity to venture out of Kailua-Kona and see some of the landscape. I brought them back to my town of Kailua, we had a fantastic meal at Big Island Grill. While at dinner, I was so motivated and ecstatic about joining them on their journey of camping and hiking the island so we made a plan to meet at Waipio Valley on Saturday morning. I was so filled with anticipation for this trip that I started considering what I was going to pack. I started gathering necessary items for camping; at my job, we found 3 sleeping and a propane stove - Score! God provides all the little things. I have a few cool items that I brought with me in anticipation of living out of my car on Big Island; Head lamp, cooler, lighters, batteries, Leatherman. I was now prepared.
Friday after work, I set out on my way to Waipio to meet my friends who said they were gonna camp there for the night. Again, another first time of travel the island. Headed towards Waimea and got into the town. Was a little turned around as to where to go so I took a road I thought was the one. A hour later I ended up back in Kailua-Kona. At first I was mad then I just laughed at the absurdity of it and then that turned to concern as to how to proceed. I decided to get back on the road and make it to the valley by night fall. I am extremely determined! Happy to report that I did make it in good enough time. Although, I was very concerned for the weather and my camping friends. As I traveled out of Waimea and towards Hamaku, it started to pour with torrential rains. This was not looking promising. I figured it was too late to turn back so forward I sojourned. Made it to the look out of Waipio Valley. Stopped my car at the edge of the very steep declining road. Read the warning sign that said only 4 wheel drive was safe to tackle the decline. Put my car in 1st gear and down I descended. I am not gonna lie. I was alittle fearful. It is said that the drive down is the most radical decline to sea level. It goes from about 2000 feet above sea level to sea level in a very short travel. All the "what ifs" haunted me all the way down, but I am a thrill seeker so it was a fun rush. Relieved to say that I made it to the bottom of the paved road. I did consider that it would probably be a challenge to get back up. Well, I forged forward onto the dirt road with some water filled puddles and rugged terrain. It was adventurous, ain't gonna lie. I was feeling rugged and accomplished till I came upon a wide puddle and proceeded through it only to realize that I might be in way over my head. The water level came almost up to my car hood. I accelerated through the puddle, barely sinking in the middle of it and made it to dry ground only to be greeted with another large puddle. I decided to proceed with caution for the next puddle. I knew that I couldn't back up and I was gonna have to go forward or get someone to tow me out. I had no phone reception. I decided to park the car and walk the rest of the way into the valley floor to find my friends. When I made it to the coast line, there were a few locals fishing. A couple of people where set up for camping. I walked around to the different groups describing my friends but to no avail. No one had seen them. There was, what appeared to be a small rushing river to cross, so I decided to wade through it to the other side. Another deceptive moment. I ended up waist deep and falling into the rushing river but did make it to the other side. Walked the beach for awhile but did not find my friends. I presumed that they must not have made it to the Valley yet. I knew I had to get back across the river but crossing back was even more difficult then the first and I ended up deep down in the water, head barely above water, trying to save my only sweat shirt from getting soaked and swam to the other side. So now I am soaked and have to make a decision.
After logical deduction, I concluded that I was gonna have to rough it in the valley for the night in order to meet up with my friends at the lookout in the morning as originally planned. I went back for my car and I figured that I would navigate my car through the second puddle and make it to the shore line and set up camp for the night. Seeing that I was already soaked from my feet to my neck, I decided to walk through the second puddle to assess how deep it was and where the best spots to cross would be. All to say that I figured it out and made it through the puddle and to the shore line of the Valley. I set up camp in the back of my car. Shortly after I was settled, most of the people fishing piled in there cars. It was a momentary minute for concern. Was I gonna be left down there all alone. I was relieved to see that there was one party remaining and they had a tent set up and then shortly before night fall a second vehicle pulled in and set up camp. It was a welcome moment of solitude. The weather was perfect, unlike the Hamaku which I traveled through to get to the Valley. Warm, welcoming breeze, clear skies and crashing waves. I made some supper, hung my wet clothes to dry and set up my bedding in the back of my CRV. The darker it got, the sleepier I became. I read my bible for a bit and closed up my car and lay to rest around 9 ish. As I laid in the dark I started to remember my hale on the beach front where I on lived on Oahu for 6 years. Hearing the ocean crash against the shore was soothing and memories of good times in my life flooded my thoughts. It was nice to be brought back to happy times. It was comforting.
I was awoke at sunrise, 5:30ish, but the sound of cars rolling up to the shore. About 15 cars in all parked and gazed at the waves. It was the local dawn patrol out for their morning surf. All guys, all locals. They all shaka'd me as they passed my car. I felt at home. It was like being apart of a large surf event. I felt anxious to wanna hit the surf with them. They made it seem so inviting. They weren't there more than a couple hours then all cleared out at once. Leaving the shore line once again deserted. I took my time in the morning. I walked up the shore, watched the surfers. Then settled back in my car with the back doors open starring at the waves. I read my bible, fixed some breakfast then wrote in my journal. As 9 am approached and there was still no sign of my friends, I looked up the Waimano Ridge trail and contemplated hiking up it to pass sometime but then I considered I would have to cross the creek again and the fog and cold air was rolling in. I opted out of that choice. So I decided to cruise into Hilo and hang out with a friend of mine until I heard from the guys.
On my way to Hilo, I was gonna try and stop some places; Akaka Falls, for one. I stopped at some of the beach points on the map. Picked up some hitchhikers. They were headed to the farmers market in Hilo. They were nice enough to stop at the Falls for a quick peek. Then off to Hilo we went. It is always a thrill to meet new people that have traveled to Hawaii and to hear there story so the ride to Hilo was informative. Dropped them at farmers market and I headed to Kurtistown to hang with my friend. It was nice spending time with another movie buff like me. We had great conversation, a nice home cooked meal and a shower. I was refreshed and ready for day two of my adventure. I finally heard from my friends who happened to be in the Valley after all. They were camping up in the very ridge, the Waimano Ridge, that I chose not to hike up. Looking back in hindsight, everything happens for a reason and in its proper time. We decided to meet up in Hilo, so they hitchhiked to Hilo. The gal that picked them up ended up camping with us that night. She was a traveler from Austria and I instantly befriended her. So we drove to the Volcano Camp Ground and set up camp for the night.
After we set up camp, we blazed a trail towards the active volcano to watch the spewing lava. It was pretty exciting. Once we came as close as we could to the volcano we sat on the edge of the ridge and watched it for a while. A half hour later the vog/fog rolled in and light rain fell. We made our way back to the camp site and hung out around the pavilion fire with a guy named Nicholas from Maine. A vagabond traveler with no wheels, meager clothing and food supply, no tent, and preferred walking to hitchhiking. He was a very kind and gentle man with a good heart. We talked story for an hour or so then went to bed. Martina in the front seat of her car, me in my back seat, Cody and Angel in their tent and Steve his tent and Nicholas on the pic nic table. All was well with the world.
Morning came. I woke with the dawn and happy for morning because my back was killing me. It was a very uncomfortable accommodations after the second night. But, strangely, I was still tired so I managed to fall back a sleep for another hour or so. I got up and collected wood for a fire. Everyone was awake by the time I got back to the camp site. We made breakfast, hung out for awhile then we all parted ways. My friends headed to the airport, Martina headed to Kona for a party and me, I heading back to Kona but stopped along the way at all the historical sites and beaches; most memorable being Green Sands beach at South Point. Drive my car long the rugged terrain Green Sands and chilled for a while then headed home. It was a weekend that I wish I could repeat... It summed up all the adventure that I have experienced since leaving Oahu...But that is not all...there is more to come....
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