Our favorite Things: The Big Island!!!

On the short plane trip back to Oahu from the Big Island, Jessi wrote
a list in her journal of her favorite memories and mental images from
the past few weeks. It is such a great list that instead of trying to
tell you every detail of our trip so far, I've just copied it to the
blog and added some complimentary photos. I think it will be easy to
see why we loved our time there so much.

Here is a little background. We did a work exchange with a beautiful
family: Victoria, Sidney, and their kids Austin (16), Isaiah (5) and
Taira (2 and a half). In exchange for watching the little ones, some
light cooking, and minimal yard work, they gave us room and board, a
car we could use during our off time to explore the island,
inspiration, and friendship. There was another workaway girl staying
there who happened to be from Fort Collins and was also named Jessie.
She did the majority of the cooking, and was an expert at making
healthy food taste amazing. They are the people that most of our
favorite memories are built around. With that in mind, here is Jessi's
list.

Things I Want to Remember (In Loose Reverse Chronological Order)

*Danielle grabbing my arm and skipping across the tarmac with me to our
plane as the sun set at the end of our time in Kailua-Kona.

*Hugs and kisses goodbye from our beautiful Hawaiian ohana, and Vicki's
blessings and good wishes for our trip when she dropped us off at the
airport.

*Surfing on our last afternoon on the Big Island. The exhilaration of
catching a wave, followed by the despair of realizing that my weak
arms now had to paddle back out to sea, followed by relief when Sidney
paddled up next to me and told me to take his leash so he could tow me
the rest of the way.


*The sheer joy of finding mangosteen in an obscure part of the Hilo
Farmer's Market.


*Seeing the first glow of lava after a long and confusing hike, then
wandering up to it and feeling the heat and steam from the molten rock
entering the ocean.



*The easy company of the four Florida tourists that we
hiked/wandered/got lost with to and from the lava flow, over uneven
surfaces, jagged volcanic rock, and along sheer cliffs, for 4 or 5
hours round-trip. Feeling comfortable and safe with them, despite the
fact we were illegally trespassing over treacherous ground to reach
hot, flowing lava.


*Watching Danielle slowly and protectively eat the Punalu'u sweet loaf,
as if she were doing something bad and wanted to avoid eye contact.


*Waking up in the white tent/tarp Danielle made.

*Playing dinosaur in the steam. [Jessi doesn't realize I wasn't playing...]



*The look on Danielle's face when I told her dinosaurs probably never
lived in Hawaii.


*Listening to the "Wild Hawaiian" CD on repeat.


*Standing at the southernmost point in the United States.
                             (Stupidest Sign Ever!!)

*Stumbling upon Pouhonua, an ancient place of refuge for defeated
warriors, civilians during war time, and for those who had broken
kapu.

*Driving the camo truck.

*Realizing that in addition to lending us his truck, Sidney had packed
almost everything we needed for our trip to the Volcanoes National
Park (pineapple, sleeping pads, beach chairs, water, lights, utensils,
bread, etc.) and set it out for us before going to work.


*When Taira was cold at the beach and her big brother Austin sweetly
scooped her up in his dry towel and held her until she was warm. In
general watching Austin pamper Taira and tickle and play with Isaiah
was pretty heart-melting.

*Watching Danielle happily cater to Taira's every irrational whim and
feed Isaiah's already active imagination. She was completely content
to act like mom and watch over the kids while I went surfing with
Sidney. And that night at dinner she patiently added scoop after scoop
of nutritional yeast to the little girl's plate, knowing that Taira
had already added plenty, but unable to say "no" to her adorableness.


*Eating melona bars.

*Watching whales jump at Ke'ei beach.


*Watching the sun set the second night at the kayak landing with Danielle.


*The first and most spectacular sunset of the week, seen from the house
on our first day.



*Listening to Victoria and Sidney discuss how they'd met at Vicki's
martial arts class.
Victoria: It was hard teaching you Kung Fu.
Sidney: I wasn't there to learn Kung Fu.



*Hearing Sidney constantly say to Taira, "Give Daddy a kiss!"

*Watching Danielle and Taira torture/play with the orange cat.

*Building forts with Isaiah and hiding with him in our shadow warrior
meditation blanket bubble.

*Watching Jessie expertly cook amazing, healthy meals, and the feeling
of going to bed satisfied and comfortable.


*Waking up early our first few days on the Island. Watching the
sunlight filter through our window and hearing the first sounds of the
kids' sweet voices.


*Victoria picking us up from the airport and chatting with us about her
own incredible round-the-world trip. Pulling up to our luminous
temporary home for the first time.

*Waking up in the Honolulu airport, pulling off my sleeping mask and
acting like our makeshift refugee camp was completely normal.


Now I have to add just one memory of my own:

*Watching a groggy Taira come up to Isaiah early one morning and put
her arms out in his direction. He responded by grabbing her hands and
holding them in his for a moment before the two spontaneously hugged.
Adorable!