When you arrive, the land belows looks so mysterious.
My second day after an adventurous swim the day before (see the previous post), I headed for more mellow waters. My brother kindly loaned me his pick-up truck because several beaches are only accessible on unpaved “roads”–meaning the bigger lava chunks are cleared away. Bumping up and down in the truck cab for fifteen minutes or so I finally reach a secluded beach. I perch myself on a fallen tree that makes and excellent bench. A man and woman walk by me and I absent-mindedly watch them saunter by.
He stops and points eagerly way out in the ocean. His girlfriend turns her head to scan the horizon. She’s still looking but I don’t see anything, so I return my gaze to the couple. The guy is on one knee. No, I think. Truly? This one I must see. She turns around busy to chatter and stops in her trackes. I’m waiting–clandestinely spying on the moment best I can without gawking. She’s floored.
“Oh, Dave,” she shouts and wraps herself around him. “Yes!” They hug and kiss for a few minutes. Then he places the ring on her finger. She shows it off to herself by stretching out her hand. They retreat to the picnic bench behind them and bundle together–she elongated in his lap and he wrapping his long arms around her. They sound and look super happy. Now they have New Year’s Day on a Hawaii beach as an engagement memory.
Ever since I first started traveling to Hawaii, I always thought this small cobalt blue church right on Ali’i Drive–the road that parallels the ocean in Kona–would make an awesome place to partner up. If I’m blessed lucky enough to experience that moment in my life, I hope the future wife might agree to a small ceremony here. Inside are maybe ten pews that seat a dozen folks across. Dreams, dreams, and more dreams–Hawai’i is made of them all over.
Up this high, you can nearly reach out and touch the clouds.
By my third day, the work I brought with me to prep for teaching full-time again in a few days, became a distant memory. Now I simply woke up, drank buttery smooth Kona coffee, equipped the day bag with essentials and stumbled outside to discover. That’s my lesson this trip. Next time I go back, I won’t pretend and bring work. Why bother? Checking e-mail felt like an intrusion on my free-fall into leisure time. The island in her charm grabbed me and I gave in–with a wide smile on my face. One day was snorkeling to witness fish that seem artistically drawn so vibrant are their colors. But no. They are not imaginary because you can see them a feet from your hand.
Another day I walked the coastline absorbing energy in the air as local surfers paddled out to storm warning size waves. Sure, my brother taught me some surfing basics and I had a blast. I’m not good and was happy to simply stay on the board and paddle. Sweet jesus, though, to watch some of these surfers is stunning. Acrobats in the water, male and female, surfers truly lean into nature in sync with the ocean’s swift power. Because make no mistake–the water can turn on you in an instant. I learned that my first day. The locals, too, fearfully measured the waves before stepping one foot off the lava stones on the shore. But once in the water, surfers seem to accept, or perhaps free-fall into the moment–alert, light, joyful and full, a little like being in love I suppose.
Precisely just that whole sensory-experience is the source of Hawaii magic. On a ritzy resort grounds, I read a sign that advised those who wished to fish to “take what you need and leave the rest for another day.” Please kokua (help) keep the balance. Yes, Hawai’i is a land of extremes but at heart its magic is to remind you how little you need for a happy moment–sun, water, friends, beverage–and good to go, yeah? We need so little to discover joy in a single day; all the rest is for, well, another day.
Ocean water on the Kohala Coast line travels in every direction.
A playful ocean and its tide pool for keiki to splash in.
The ocean likes to play and splash around too.
Just another day at the beach admiring this wave that looks so pure in its geometry.
