On to Kaua'i

The morning I left Oahu, everything was soaking wet. It had poured all night, so loud that it woke me up multiple times. I layed in bed watching lightening flash out the window, which is rare here, Denise tells me. On the way to the airport, the freeway was flooded just enough so that the car hydroplaned and swerved now and then. When I was finally in the airport waiting for my flight, the power went out! They delayed all flights indefinitely because the ramps to the planes were inoperable. I was happy to wait, just watching the rain on the tarmac and the kids playing across the hall and the old lady feeding her tiny black dog pretzels. We started to board 10 minutes after we were supposed to leave and our flight to Kauai was only 20 minutes long. We flew out of the storm quickly and the ride wasn't as bumpy as our pilot initially warned us it would be. Watching out the window, I noticed a gorgeous, shimmering rainbow effect on the surface of the water at one point. The pictures I took barely do it justice.

Ana and her dad, Peter, picked me up at the airport in Lihue. We stopped by a Starbucks within a Borders and I searched again in vain for the books that have been recommended to me. We went directly to the beach at the Sheraton in Poipu. The surf was unusually strong that day so the water was crowded with surfers. I enjoyed hanging out with the rest of Ana's family in the sunshine and I went swimming in the big waves. I met my new roommate, Darren and his son, Aaron (or Blue) at the beach. Soon, Ana drove me up to the orchard (where she and Chad live) so I could see the cabin and pick some fruit to take home. I found even bigger avocados! Also, jabong, atemoya, and oranges. Next, we went to my new home and I finally got to unpack. I spent the evening hanging out with Darren and Blue. Also, I discovered that I had run out of minutes on my cellphone until Nov 21. It wasn't until then that homesickness actually hit. Falling asleep alone in my white, barren room, I felt so incredibly far away from everything familiar and comforting. I'm glad to be able to say loneliness is foreign to me, but suddenly I met it face to face. What is this force that directs me to choose such dramatic, terrifying adventures?

Monday, I set out early to explore Hanapepe. I went directly to the library and managed to get there even before it opened! I found a book I'd been looking for in all the other bookstores, called To Steal a Kingdom. I signed up for a library card and took off for the nearest cafe to start reading. After a luxurious breakfast of quiche, potatoes, croissants and coffee, I wandered around old downtown Hanapepe, peeking in galleries and introducing myself here and there. I met Cynthia and Ed, who own the Talk Story bookstore. Cynthia pointed me to a gallery that had a job opening and told me a little about the locals. I stopped by the gallery and met the artist, Arius, and Amy. They said they'd call me... It's a weekday job, 10:30 – 2:30, leaving me no time really to volunteer at a school, so I won't mind if they don't. I met another artist, Anna, in a gallery called Storybook Theatre. It turns out that a kids television show is filmed there and when I mentioned my interest in elementary education and my appreciation of the value of storytelling, she said I should meet the executive producer, Matt. Anna is working on images from the tarot and I loved hearing about how she explores symbols to paint the cards just right. Across the street, Bryan, who runs a gift shop with his girlfriend, Gail, pointed out the Ele'ele elementary school on top of the ridge overlooking Hanapepe. I walked up the hill to the Ele'ele shopping center and found the grocery store and laundromat. Everything I need is within walking distance, even a school. I love it! On the way home, I met Sam, who owns the tattoo parlor and Jacqueline, who sews children's clothes. Later in the afternoon, I walked down to the beach to catch the sunset, but didn't make it all the way. I turned back and watched the entire sky light up all the way home.

Today, I mailed off some postcards, traded a few books in Talk Story and picked up a lamp for my room at the thrift store. I talked to Anna again and she told me when she mentioned me to Mark, he asked, “Was she wearing purple?” which, of course, I was. I guess he had seen me walk by later in the day and told Anna, “I could tell she was new in town, but she also looked like she fit in here.” I laughed and replied, “It's all because of the purple. That color does wonders for me.” She nodded in agreement and went on to say that he wanted her to invite me to a meeting of the board members on Saturday, so I could explain to all of them what I'm interested in and explore how I could work with them. Later in our conversation, when Evergreen came up, she remembered that someone came in to the store from Olympia once and recommended that they look into connecting with Evergreen to offer internships or something like it. I said I'd think about that and bring it up at the board meeting.

This evening, Darren drove me down to the Salt Pond Beach, so I wouldn't miss the sunset again. It was even more spectacular than last night and regret that my pictures only convey half of its magnificence. Every day I feel little shocks of, “I really am in Hawaii, aren't I? This is so incredible!” Tonight, looking over my book at the silhouettes of palm trees and the orange sunset colors reflecting off the surf, I felt reality vibrate a little with another rumble of realization. I feel so overcome with gratitude for the divine guidance that leads me so far out of my comfort zone and paves the way with smiling faces and genuine friendship and goodwill. Everyone I've met has reflected sincerity, kindness, generosity and encouragement. I pray that every day I can express the radiance that I see in the sunset, touching lives only to heal and bless and enlighten.