celebrating my Hau`oli Lā Hānau

On my birthday eve, Lexi, Danny and I headed to the north shore to start the birthday celebration off right.  Lexi and I were not sure where we were going but knew it was going to be an adventure.
After arriving to our destination, we took all the gear and headed down the trail.  There we were on a twilight deserted beach.  Danny started a fire as Lexi and I spun around in circles, ultimately falling over, while looking up at the luminous stars.
Setting up the camp was done with quickness, after we settled around the fire.  While sitting there we could hear the tide getting higher, running over the rocks to the left.  As a precaution we decided to move the tent to higher ground.  Good thing we did because in a matter of minutes the tide crept up as it washed away our fire, so much for having to worry about putting it out.  Even though it was the rainy climate north shore we decided to leave the rain guard off taking our chances.  Seeing the stars through the the netting was a relaxing way to fall asleep.  The picture above was the view we woke up to at 6:30 in the morning, an amazing way to start your birthday if you ask me.  Technically Lumaha'i Beach does not permit camping so as the early morning beach runners arrived we packed up camp more quick than what we put it up.
We grabbed all the gear and headed up the trail, we still had to drive more north for our next destination.

Ke'e Beach is the furthest north you can get by car.  The start of Kalalau Trail, which runs along the Na Pali Coast, begins at this beach.  The earlier you go to this beach the better, the parking lot and trail fills up with people quick.  Two miles into the trail we come upon Hanakapi'ai Beach, but we continued on to our first goal which was to go to Hanakapi'ai Falls.  This trail went more inland into a valley instead of following the Kalalau Trail along the Na Pali Coast.  Before I leave I hope to do the full trail which is 11 miles along the coast to a beach and to camp overnight.



While heading to the falls there came a section which we passed through a bamboo forest.  I found this really exciting since I am here working for a company that sells bamboo clothing, sheets, towels, etc.  To think that you can make clothing out of this stuff, put bamboo flooring in your house and eat bamboo shoots in your stir fry shows how versatile this grass is.  Who knew...bamboo!
The trail passed back and forth between a river as the water path led us to our desired destination.  As we rounded the final corner we could feel the mist from the falls slightly moistening our faces. And there it was the most beautiful falls I have seen.  To put it in perspective Hanakapi'ai Falls is 300 feet tall, you definitely do not want to be caught here during a flash flood.  The next thing we did only made sense, jump into the falls.
The surrounding valley was shaded and jumping into chilly water was something I had to second guess, I figured when in Rome.  We swam behind the falls and it was quite an experience.  After getting out of the water goosebumps settled in my skin.  We hung out at the falls for little bit, breathing in the misty algae aroma.
We headed back down stopping at Hanakapi'ai Beach for a break.  This is a dangerous beach and it is not advised to swim here, locals do it but they know the waves.  While we were there Danny knew of a cave at the north end of the beach, only it was covered up with sand.  But of course we dug it out as I grew weary of the ocean tides getting higher while in the cave, we made it out alive to my despair.
Finishing the round trip eight mile hike we were ready to get into some water.  We got in the car and a two minute drive later we arrived to the blue room.
This is a cave that has fresh water and is very refreshing to swim in.  Taking a waterproof headlamp is a good thing to have while in this dark cave.  It was very eerie swimming in this cave as you could see shadows of dark objects underneath you while a crazy man, Danny, is screaming in the low cave ceilings.
Ending the day adventure we stopped at Bubba Burgers where I had myself a Kauai grass fed beef teriyaki pineapple burger, delish.

January Kauai Adventures

Kuilau Trail  is one that I have done three times now and hope to do many more.   The trail can get a little muddy but so can most of the trails here in Kauai since there is a few rain showers here and there.  The first time I went on this trail I ran it and my new Asics got a bit muddy, I had to get over the mud if I was going to move on.  This island is so green, hence the name the Garden Isle, I love it.

Had a few casts into the ocean when I was at a gathering on the beach but caught no fish, good thing there was other food.  I wish that fish was more accessible here and not at tourists prices.  I have found a few fish shacks that sell local fish and not at a crazy price.

 Polihale Beach is one of the best beaches here on Kauai.  The beach is on the west side of the island, which is the driest section of the island.  The white sand on this beach goes on for a bit longer than other beaches on the island.   At the north side of the beach you can view one of the ends of the Na Pali coast (picture to the left).

The sunset on the west side of the island is the best since it is where the sun sets, go figure.  I love sunsets and have been able to see a decent handful here but the view from this beach is the best.

As the sunlight in the sky disappears the stars come out to play.  The moonlight takes a little longer to reach this beach.  Since it is darker the star gazing is amazing at Polihale.  I have never seen so many luminous stars, it was breathtaking.  I would like to have the ceiling in my bedroom be designed to resemble to the night sky that can be seen from Polihale.

Wailua Falls is about a 15 min drive from me but still I have only swam here once.  My friend Danny took me and as many times as he is going to say trust me, one day I will.  Hiking down to the waterfalls you pass by postings that advise you to not go it's "dangerous".  I think what those signs mean is if you are a tourists who does not know what they are doing and are not somewhat physically fit then do not pass.  Once down there we went behind the waterfall, which felt like a hurricane and jumped in.  My adventure side is definitely getting tested out here in Kauai.  Once I do an adventure to make sure I don't die then I will do it again once I know what it's like.  Unfortunately there are some things out here I will not get to try since they have been blocked off to the public because of the deaths that have happened, such as some certain waterfalls.  Tourists that come here see others do these risky things and think they can do them too.  What they don't realize is that the one's doing these things are locals, someone with a local or a physical person who has done their research on the areas.  Kauai has been listed as one of the best adventure vacations to go on so there has recently been more adventurous types flocking to the island, it is no longer a secret.  

Na Pali Coastified

 As seen in Jurassic Park when the helicopter flies over the island, I give you the Na Pali Coast.  My rafting adventure on one of the most scenic coastlines in the world was one I will never forget.

The whole time I felt as if I was in some type of other world.  It's the type of beauty that you see and it looks as if it's just a painting, that it doesn't even exist.  The pictures do not even justify this amazing creation.

The beaches are sacred along the coast in which you are not allowed to land on them, except for those Hollywood types that pay to film at different spots along the coast.

There are a few sea caves that we backed into on the raft.  This was a very exhilarating part of the trip.  As the waves came into the cave it would raise the raft higher up on the sea cave walls, it took a very skilled raft driver to pull on these moves.

Jumping into the ocean and swimming by the coastline was unforgettable.  I still struggle with the idea of sharks so that was a little nerve racking but what are the chances of that happening.  

Toward the middle of the trip when we were about to turn around and head back I started feeling the sea sickness coming on.  As the boat was staying in place the waves making the boat move up and down made me a little wheezy.  We took a break for lunch but I could not eat mine, let alone could I watch other's each their own lunch.  I lost it and as some would say I "tossed my cookies".  I was excited to head back, I was not as sea sick when the boat actually started moving, and moving it did as sped through the ocean.  At the end of the trip we did some whale watching as I was able to view for the second time a breaching whale.  At the end of the trip I was sure glad to be back on stable land as I stuffed my face with my lunch since I was not able to eat on the boat.

I will possibly do this trip again before I leave but will take some precautions so that I do not get sea sick again if I do go.

Kauai, the Garden Isle

I arrived in Kauai November 28th, I have been here almost a month.  Time sure has flown by quickly.  I have been able to get familiar a little with the area.  I have not gone to all the beaches yet, been hiking and a some trail runs.  Now that I am getting familiar with the island and meeting some peeps here and there I hope to go on many more adventures.  I still have yet to go to Waimea Canyon but I have seen the Na Pali Coast via raft and got a little sea sick.  The beach I have been to the most is Shipwreck Beach , the view here is amazing.  I have seen sea turtles, two which I swam next to, as well as a Hawaiian Monk Seal on a few occasions and a few breaching whales.

I was able to go with a friend to an area that is slightly underdeveloped with lots of character.  The grounds are of an old plantation in which the different lots in this property has been passed down from generations to generations.  The houses themselves are rugged and simple, a upgrade from a shack.  Hawaiians are some of the most kind-hearted people I have met.  The picture below is the view from the slightly upgraded shack we went to.  People pay a lot of money to have a few like this but to the residents here it is what they have known and is priceless to them.

It's fun to find little hidden gems here and there but this one is one not many get to see and I will never forget. There is not much of a night life here which is nice at times and not so much at others, especially the nights when I just want to dress up and go dance. The advantage of being here definitely outweighs having a place to go dance.  I like to watch the surfers as they wipe out and fly in the air, I hope to be able to learn to surf in the baby waves soon.  

I am so glad I came out here to Hawaii but with such a strong urge to be back in a busy city when I left NY it has been a little hard to turn life down a notch.  I often think to myself while I am sitting on a beach that I have too much relaxation in my life but is this even a possible thing?  I will stock up on relaxation right now and then if I end up living in a busy city I will reminisce to my days of Kauai.  

Christmas in Kauai 

Last year was my first Christmas away from home when I was living in Key West.  It still is weird to me to not have snow on Christmas but I was a little more immune to it since I had no snow last year.

There is one thing I do not miss about Christmas and that is the craziness that's involved around it. Shopping for material things that the other person probably a) doesn't like b) doesn't need and c) possibly will return it.  If there is a great present that fits someone then get it but getting something just to get something is not fun. 

Anahola Beach 

The holidays are a great time for family and I do miss mine but I also am loving being out on my own experiencing life.

My holiday consisted of going to a beach, watching another amazing Hawaiian sunset and having a good dinner.  Not a typical Christmas but one that I liked. 

Laying out on the beach I know I am very fortunate to be here.  I still need to work on my short tan and I am sure lathering on the sunblock doesn't help but the skin needs protection.  

Hopefully more exploring to come, getting lost in the abyss that is Kauai.  

leaves are turning

It was nice to be back in Salt Lake, to take in the city I just experienced.  I was able to turn life down a notch and breathe in the pre-fall smell.
Fall had yet to settle into the city but it was in full bloom on higher grounds.  After the first few days of being back home I was ready to get out into the beautiful Utah mountains as I was not sure if I would be leaving soon.  I at least wanted to experience fall in the mountains.

Big Cottonwood Canyon

My brothers, sisters and I did just that, an incredible evening in nature.  I was very happy to be able to spend this quality time with them as it was much needed.

Dog Lake with Rockstar

For the next two weeks my primary focus was spent going hiking about five days out of the week as the warmer hiking weather would be coming to a halt. Ingrid and I experienced many of these hikes together and it was nice to take her out to areas she had not yet been able to see.  Just as I suspected Ingrid was delighted to see such glorious scenery and to be able to connect with nearby surroundings.  I did more hiking with my sister Angelina and took the dogs out with us.  At first I just did hiking with our dog Rocky, an Australian Shepherd, but I felt so bad leaving Zoey, a minature Poodle, as she gave me that sad face as I headed out.  My sister told me that I needed to give Zoey a chance out on a hike or run, I didn't think she could handle it.  We took her and she proved me wrong, that little Zoey did just as well as Rocky on the trails.  I did not get a picture of Zoey out hiking but one with Rocky.  I was told various times on the trail how good looking of a dog he was.
Millcreek Canyon had an amazing fall as did the surrounding mountains but this canyon had the best canopy trees with radiant colored leaves.
As the beginning of October came around, my sister and I moved from our Liberty Park home.  We were there for a little over four months, in some ways it felt like longer.  In our short time there we had grown in more ways than one and acquired everlasting friendship.  My sister and I relocated back to the parentals, as I tried to figure out where I was to go next.  I looked into many different things the first week that I was there.  After looking at a few different options I decided to contact my past employer, who sent me to Key West and San Francisco, to see if they had any openings in an exciting destination.  They came back and asked me if I would like to move to Hawaii to help open a new store, I hesitantly obliged.

Is that a rat?

Taking the red eye flight into the JFK airport I was a little tired getting off the plane as I was not able to sleep much from either the uncomfortable seat or anticipation.  At 5:30am I was standing outside of the airport waiting in the cab line unsure of what to expect for the next 20 days.  I was given directions and was told to look for a Dunkin Donuts, which was a landmark for quite a few other things around the city.  Dunkin Donuts is like a church house in Utah, one on every corner.  My cousin Todiana had arrived a few days before me, we stayed with my friend Kavon who is attending PA school in Brooklyn.

After sleeping for a few hours, trying to rest up a bit, it was time to head into Manhattan for the day. Todiana was out in New York for fall fashion week so I went with her to different castings my first day.  Mixing humid subways, including rats roaming the tracks, with busy congested areas on top of being sleep deprived, it was quite an exhausting day.  I was overwhelmed with the city but excited to get a grasp on it.

The next couple of days I continued to go around with Todi to casting calls, it was interesting to see this side of fashion.  Not only were all the girls tall but they also had heels on too, I felt so short.  Most of the casting were just in and out.  On the occasions that we talked to some of the girls most were really nice.  There was this one casting where one of the Russian models confronted another model for cutting in line when no one else would, that was an exciting scene.

The first week I was still recovering from fatigue not only from the flight but the few times that we had gone out until the early hours of the morning.  Staying in Brooklyn itself was a great experience, definitely an eye opener.  We were this lightest people in the neighborhood it was the first experience I had feeling a little out of place.  Growing up in the Utah bubble I didn't have much experience with too many other races.  In fact the first week of being there a West Indies parade took place in the street in front of Kavon's apartment.  It was nice to be able to view the parade from on top the building as it was very crowded on the street down below.  After sitting out there for a bit I was ready for a nap, when I came back out there was a story to be told.  A shooting had taken place in the crowd and people were running about.  That night there were helicopters circling the area with the light beams searching the streets.  That weekend there was about 50 shootings that took place mostly in Brooklyn I believe with 15 or so of those resulting in death of young boys.


We went to Times Square a few times so I was over that area before too long.  The MOMA, Guggenheim, St. Patrick's Cathedral and so on were all tourist sites that I experienced but my ultimate favorite location is Central Park.  Being a fan of nature I was ecstatic when we went to the park and I finally saw green and could breathe fresh open air.  I hope to be able to live in the city some day and go for runs around the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir as if it was just another day, only time will tell.

Now that my first week in NY was done, it was time to really explore what this city was about.  No more fashion week events were going on so this gave us a bit more down time to explore as it was much needed.  We were able to go to the lower east side more which is an area I really like a lot.  Happy hour is a main event that happens in this area and it was fun to go to some different bars.  My favorite happy hour drink would have to be sangria, it was delicious with small chunks of apple that left a nice treat at the end.

We met Kavon's friends the first week and they were all great people, very welcoming, I felt like I had known them for a bit.  Another friend of mine, Tom, had just moved back to NY and he was able to show us around some other parts of the city.  One of the days we went on a long walking tour with water views and the infamous bridges. The walk led us to Battery Park where we were able to see a nice sunset over Lady Liberty.  I loved going on rooftops for viewing the city at night, I cannot wait to go back there to see it again.


There were a few nights that we were able to go to different clubs with promoters with a reserved table, drinks and other amenities it was great.  We went to a club called Greenhouse a few times with Jose, a promoter Todiana was friends with, and T Pain was scratching the vinyl.  Below is a picture from a rooftop party that took place one twinkling Manhattan night.

There is so much that happened in my 20 days in New York and I cannot believe how fast it came to an end, the time flew by.  This trip was amazing and it is my goal to go back to live in this city.  I am not sure when but sometime here in the near future, there is so much there that I want to discover.  I did not want to leave, fall was on it's way and I knew that it would be a glorious season to be in the city.  After coming home I desperately wanted to go back right away, if it's meant for me to be out there it will happen.

I love my cousin Todiana so much and I am glad I got to go out and experience the city with her and other friends.  Much thanks to Kavon for letting us stay with him at his bachelor pad.

summer came and went

My time in San Francisco came to an end the middle of May.  I headed back home to Salt Lake to regroup and go through all of my unnecessary objects that I had stuffed away in a closet.

As my donating stack piled up while going through all my stuff, I was overwhelmed by the money I had wasted buying such things.  There is probably a point in most everybody's life where they also get to experience the same feeling.  We must go through this though to realize what not to do.  Finally after a week or so I was able to take my pile to the Salvation Army and what a nice relief it was.  I took my nice dressier items to a place in the downtown area where they help dress women, who do not have money to buy nice clothes, for job interviews.  It helped knowing that hopefully these clothes would help change another's life.  

While in SF my sister and I decided to find a place together for the summer and to go from there as I was not sure what I would be doing after.  We were fortunate enough to find an awesome location in the Liberty Park area.  I got a job with Rowland Hall for the summer camp program again which is located by the University of Utah, so it was nice to be close.  

My sister and I made a really good decision to move out to south Salt Lake not only for the area but for the great relationships that we acquired while there.  Our landlord, Ingrid, is such an awesome lady and has been a really good friend since we met her.  We often got together for potlucks and all the surrounding neighbors would bring a dish, it was always amazing food.  Ingrid being Dutch would make stews in her dutch oven over a fire and it was one of the most divine meals I have yet had.  I am not too much of a fan of eating meat for the fact of the harmful steroids, antibiotics, etc. used in the process but Ingrid's meat that she used for the stew was a different story.  Her meat came from a farm that she used to have where the animals were raised natural and as organic as possible without the harmful additives.  The lamb stew was my favorite.  

downtown Salt Lake farmer's market

My sister, Angelina, and I became very close this past summer.  We did everything together: walks in Liberty Park, breakfast at The Park Cafe, hiking, sitting on our porch in the rain, going to the farmer's market and much more.  We did not go camping once this last summer unfortunately but went in nature often.  I went out here and there but was very content with being around my house and the nearby environment with the positive energy.  The house we lived in was over 100 years old and has a eclectic vibe to it.  We invited family members over to our house and know that they enjoyed their visits as we enjoyed theirs.  

One of the highlights of my summer was taking a trip with some friends to Lee's Ferry which is a recreation area near Page, Arizona.  John, Emily and I met up with couple, Abe and Mehri, from Florida that we met on our venture to Escalante the previous year.  It was a great weekend and we were able to stop at the Grand Canyon on the way back, which would be my first time seeing it. 

I had another great summer working for Rowland Hall but the summer was coming to an end.  I wasn't sure what I was going to do next.  I wanted to stay in Salt Lake as I was liking our living situation but also had an urge for something else.  In the beginning of August I helped Jenny, one of my best friends, move out to San Diego as she decided to attend law school there.  While in California I booked a plane ticket to New York.  My cousin Todiana was going to be going out there for fall fashion week and I decided to go.  This would be my first trip to the east coast and what a better time to go as I was currently jobless.

After being in San Diego for two weeks I came back to Salt Lake to unpack my Cali clothes and repack for the big city.  During that week my friend Dre was in town and we were able to spend some quality time together.  Dre, my sister and I went and saw Thievery Corporation on the hill behind the Red Butte Garden Amphitheater and what a epic experience that was.  We danced up on that hill with all the other free spirited people as we gazed upon the cosmic light show happening on the stage below us, causing us to be in some sort of trance.  My week with Dre came to an end as I headed off to New York for 20 days.