Tuesday August 15, 2023
My Hawaii Adventure is off to a great start. The only downside is that my body has not adjusted to the four-hour time zone change and I am waking up way too early most mornings. At least I get to see sunrise!
Becka goes to work after her early morning walk to Honolli Beach. I have a quiet morning to myself for journal, tai chi, and enjoying the view of the ocean from the lanai. Her yard is a lovely lawn surrounded by jungle vegetation and trees.
The trade winds blow gently, while rain showers come and go. In the evening, on our way to the Women’s New Moon Circle, we stop at Maku’u Cliffs, a lava rock shore. We walk along the lava to where I can take photos of the waves coming in with a big splash.
Becka describes the Women’s Circle as kind of “hippy-dippy,” but the women are friendly, the hang drum music is really beautiful and the ceremony for breaking unhealthy patterns is quite meaningful. The patterns I choose to release are lack of clarity and trying to be accommodating to everyone. This releasing is done outside at a burning ceremony, which finishes just as another rain shower passes through. The coqui frogs are amazingly loud and their song is just like their name. During the soft rain, they are so loud we can not even hear each other speak.
Wednesday August 16
Becka fixes us a delicious breakfast before she leaves for her massage clinic.
My daughter-in-law Mandy comes for coffee and we share leftovers for brunch, and then I have a quiet early afternoon to myself. When Becka arrives home from work, we go to New Chang Mai’s for a really tasty Thai dinner. Becka buys a mango sticky rice dessert, which is new to me, to take home.
Back at her place, we visit, write in our journals, and eat part of the dessert, which is absolutely delicious! Yummmmm!
Thursday August 17
I wake up too early again. My body thinks I am still in Montana!
Today I go to town with Becka so she can show me the clinic where she works as a massage therapist. While she is working with clients, I walk about exploring this part of Hilo with its interesting variety of little shops and eateries. Mandy and I meet at Nectar Cafe for coffee and a bagel before we visit clothing shops, as I’d like to buy a Hawaiian skirt. It is nice spending some time with her, even though I don’t find a skirt.
When Becka gets off work, we go to Wild HeArtist, a gift boutique where she orders a very special candle for me. These candles are uniquely made with every part of them chosen by the recipient, including the holder, the scent, and the intention. It is indeed a very special gift.
From this shop, we walk to the Farmer’s Market to buy orchids. Becka’s kitchen is light, airy, uncluttered, and orchids add beauty and grace.
Friday August 18
This morning I wake up at 6:00, just in time for a beautiful sunrise. Becka takes me to WSW, a fancy place across the bay, for an amazing steak and egg breakfast. Very fun when eating out is such a satisfying happy adventure.
After the delightful breakfast, our next stop is a pedicure. What a luxury a pedicure is and I leave with pinkish sparkles on my toes.
After our pedicure, we go for a drive on Banyan Park Drive. On the ocean side is a family-oriented beach where it is easy to walk in the ocean, with gravel under our feet and no huge waves crashing in. This area is known as Baby Beach because people can safely take their kids there.
On the jungle side of Banyan Park Drive are the great banyan trees. The trees are so humongous, it is not possible to catch their essence in a photo. I am in awe of them as we walk through the park, admiring the vegetation – so many colors and textures – and gaze upward scarcely able to see the sky due to the dense canopy of the trees.
Such a great fun morning and there is still more to come!