vaSTAYcation to Moloka'i

I think I can stay up as late as I want tonight because I don't have to work tomorrow but then I'm quickly reminded of 5 little reasons why that won't happen. So we'll make this quick and visual-friendly. Think of it as a picture book...with some words.


oh, idk, my elementary school bff Carter? came to visit during her spring break from Alabama. So fun to hang for a week although I will tell you it is hard to balance having to live here and entertain someone who is on vacation. (vacationing and living in Hawai'i are totally different). It was fun showing her the island and relaxing. We celebrated St Patrick's Day in Chinatown which was a crazy but toned-down version of St Pats in 5pts. Naturally we went to a luau as well. Paradise Cove should start having a punch card or something for how many times I've brought people there. At least they have good military rates. We also hiked Koko Head at sunrise during which my stomach was NOT cooperating--I'll spare the details. It was still beautiful and I enjoyed the time with Carter and my ex-future-neighbor Hannah.


oh, idk, my mom's bff Angela? and her hubbybubby spend a few months each year on Moloka'i. We all know momma di'int raise no fool so naturally I took advantage of the free oceanfront condo (don't want to forget the views of Maui and Lana'i and that other small island that starts with a 'K' from their lanai) and tour guides with a seabring convertible. After hearing about it from Buddy and Vincent all of these years it was great to spend a couple of days with them and see the island and soak up the rays. In their resort I was definitely Cameron Diaz a la In Her Shoes and met so many cute elderly couples who have been going there for years as well. I sat there while they smoked and shared their wisdom and advice for me to take full advantage of my youth. We covered the whole island so here are some pictures.
 

Halawa Valley where we enjoyed a little picnic on the black sand beach

Halawa Valley, the view behind us

the road to Halawa

old church where only the cement shell is still standing. There are still some services held here.

A new friend I met on a little morning walk

I could live in an ocean front condo for a few months of the year...

Kalaupapa, the old leper colony where people were exiled until a vaccine was introduced making it noncommunicable

Dixie Maru, named after a Japanese ship which sunk a few miles off the coast. I don't know if I spelled "dixie" correctly as far as the ship is concerned, so I just chose the southern way.

Papohaku beach park

Kaluakoi which used to be a nice little resort until a few years ago when it shut down. That's a story for later.

My new undertaking is hula and I debut this Easter Sunday at both a sunrise service and regular service. We'll see how this goes...

ON THE CALENDAR: oh, idk, my college bffs since freshman year Ginnie, Katie, and Alice? are trying to plan a little trip in August. When I think about it I sometimes come very close to peeing a little bit out of excitement so if it really does happen and all 4 of us are on the island at the same time...I'm packing some depends. 

Meet Stella.

I'll be sure to dress this up with photos once Megan and I aren't on the internet at the same time. For some reason the connection goes iffy when we are both using it.  I keep telling her to date a nerd so he can explain fix these things.

I spent two weeks on the mainland (that's the contiguous 48 states for those of you not familiar with island language/references). In those two weeks I got to hang out with my 2 friends still left in Lynchburg (there were some moments of regret in convincing Megan to move to Hawaii with me seeing as that was one less person to pass time with in Lynchburg). I even agreed to workout at the YMCA with Spike Hamilton twice within 15 hours of each other. Why I even agreed to workout at 8am one morning in the first place is beyond me, but for me to agree to go to a "muscle grip" class the evening before as well?! Something must've been slipped into all of the cheese toast I ate since my mom no longer keeps the kitchen stocked and what we do have in there my dad monitors to make sure there is enough to cook the dogs breakfast. 

I may be the oldest--but no contest that they are the favorites. I also was able to take lots of naps with sweet baby Stella, eat lots of food with extended family on both sides, and cook eat dinner with my family in Columbia. Oh, and I did I mention I got to see my Gamecocks dominate Clemsux's Tigers? So fun. I got my ticket from a Clemsux fan for under face value so I felt like I won twice that day.

As I mentioned earlier, on Friday, November 20th, sweet baby Stella Carter Dean was born around 2:30am! 

A freaking 22in, 9.5-pounder, at that. To put it in perspective I have come up with this simple to type illustration:

I (this represents Maggie...a stick) gave birth to this: O (representing a big baby with the cutest, softest, chubbiest cheeks you've ever seen)

I know your mind is blown. I spent as much quality time with my new niece as I could while in town. We cuddled and took naps together often. She is an incredible sleeper--I know she gets it from me, and I keep telling Maggie "you're welcome" and even though she doesn't really show her appreciation, I know she secretly thanks me often...it was Thanksgiving, after all.

After Thanksgiving happenings (which included killing my cousin Michelle in the game "Aggravation" which is an older version of "Sorry") I traveled down to my old stompin' grounds, South Carolina. It was so good to be back. I was able to see many people I wanted to see, and even a few I didn't. (I wonder how many people who actually read this just got paranoid. Don't worry, I was only mostly joking). Anyway, at a family dinner (minus Pat and Brittany, who were missed) everyone loved their souvenir neon splatter-painted tourist t-shirts (I got a killer deal at the International Market), see?

Even though it was just a few hours, it was still nice just having most of us in the same room again. With people getting married, going on adventures, getting new jobs, etc (basically growing up) definitely presents its new challenges to keeping a group of close friends together.

Coming back to Hawaii, I had to jump right in to the chaos that took off right after I left for VA. Carrie is in Africa adopting the two children I mentioned in my previous post (carrieelliott.blogspot.com to read more about that) and Chris had to go to Texas for a couple of weeks because The Man (Army) said so. So it's me, Megan, and grandma (Pam...I keep thinking "Pammy cakes" from The Office) until the 14th. There are ups and downs, but we're all pulling together and making it through. My first morning back I was working on schoolwork with Colin. I was still exhausted from a full day of flying and not much sleep because of jetlag, so I had dark circles under my eyes and I put my head down for a second. Megan is sitting at the table too:

Colin: Kayleigh's like a dead rat
Kayleigh: do your math
Colin: dead rats don't talk

all I could think was "touche." This kid has so many one-liners, it is hard to keep a straight face. He so serious when he says anything and so you can't laugh at him or he calls you out/gets upset about it. Later that day for science I had to read to him about fish and their mating process. I'm pretty sure the author of the book just took a super awkward birds-and-bees talk one would give to a child and changed it to apply to fish. Whatev. We made it through and I stayed very mature about the entire thing, laughing only on the inside.

this past Monday, Megan and I met up with Heather and Andrew at 4:30am to head to the north shore for some ridiculous 40-50 ft waves. "The Eddie" is a surf contest that only happens when specific conditions are met and it hasn't happened since 2004. Thousands of people were at Waimea Bay waiting for the call, but even though they were set up it didn't happen yesterday. Pro surfers (and others) still went out so we got to watch them for a few hours. You don't realize exactly how big the waves are until you see people on them. The contest actually happened today and since we couldn't physically be there with 30,000 of our closest friends on the island, we watched it pretty much all day live on tv. It is quickly mesmerizing. So cool that I was able to go see the waves, but now I'm pumped to go watch a north shore contest live as Pipeline Masters (the contest Blue Crush is about) is getting started.

Alrighty, so that catches you up in a nutshell. I hear about and see pictures of the snow/ice everyone is getting and I am glad I got out just in time. I saw a few flurries when I was in Blacksburg over Thanksgiving and that was enough of a white christmas for me. I'm all about the "Mele Kalikimaka" now. Speaking of Christmas right quick, FYI: apparently "dressing festively" for a Christmas party is some unwritten Hawaiian lingo for "wear regular street clothes." I got my Christmas Party 2K9 outfit spending a total of $3 at Goodwill and nobody else dressed up. Oh well, I don't regret my sequined skirt, poinsettia vest, and shiny red half-jacket. You never know when those will come in handy. Also for the Dirty Santa, I ended up with the book "What to Do Until Love Finds You: Getting Ready for Mr Right" please tell me you are laughing at that as much as I am. I tried to read it to 5-yr old Kelia but she seemed to have no interest despite my plea that it is never too early to start getting ready for Mr Right.

Until next time, Mahalo for reading and Aloha.

So I had lunch with the cast of LOST

There isn't even an ounce of truth in that title. Except for the part where I've eaten lunch, so I guess there's at least an ounce.

I've almost suffered through my first full week in Hawaii (Hawai'i).  Colorado was fun. It was good to see Julie, Gabe and some other YL friends (or, I guess, friend. Brittany was the only other person I already knew that I saw now that I think about it). The flight from CO to HI wasn't too bad, although the Pheonix airport has joined the Kansas City airport on my list of worst designed airports I've been to. The plan ride seemed to take forever. I was stuck in the middle seat for both legs of the trip, so it was hard for me to actually fall asleep because I didn't want to risk getting cozy with a stranger. Since it was morning, the meal was a breakfast burrito which I should have declined. Note to self: don't fly to/from Hawaii in the morning. Take your chances with lunch and dinner.

When I arrived, Carrie (the mom) came to pick me up with the kids (Colin, 5; Madeline, 3; and Gracen, 1) and a lei! I now felt like my arrival was official. The family is wonderful, the kids are energetic and fun, and the island is beautiful. The Elliotts have an extra minivan for the time being, so I've been fortunate to have an old red toyota pickup truck to drive around and explore the island. I have fallen in love with the truck and his name is Red Rover, but you can call him Rover for short. I've been all around the island: Ewa, Kailua (GORGEOUS), the north shore (Hale'iwa is a really cool old beach/surf town that is popular), the Dole Plantation where I had a delicious pineapple sorbet cone. The water is all so clear, I can be waste deep and still see the bottom of the ocean. Yesterday a few of us went to Ala Moana, a popular spot where a friend and I learned about coral and Vana (sea urchin that shoots poison into you). Lydia feel victim to the Vana, but after some googling we decided it will be a little painful for a few days, but the rest of the spikey thing in her foot should dissolve on its own in due time. Phew, close one. I don't think they make shirts that read "I went to Hawaii and all I got was poisoned by a sea urchin"

Anyway, I love the feeling of community out here. The evenings are beautiful and you can walk down almost any beach I think and see groups of families/friends gathered around on the beaches or the parks next to the beach, barbecuing, playing music, even hula dancing. Last night I was able to a part of one of these gatherings. It was so good. Steak, chicken, and grilled breadfruit and bananas and potato salad. There were two young girls, Maya and Mercedes, who were fun to run around with. Mercedes taught me how to play a card game she made up that can be best described as matching colors meets go fish meets uno where Mercedes made up/changed rules as the game was played. Afterwards I got my first taste of really touristy Hawaii as we walked from Diamond Head down Waikiki.

There are a few pictures on my facebook, so look there.

Side note: The freeways here (I think there are only 3, there might be a 4th but I haven't seen signs for it) are called interstates. Carrie initially pointed out the irony in this since Hawaii is an island.

I think this afternoon I'm going to take my first stab at surfing out here, and this week hopefully I will do some hiking, etc. since my things I shipped come tomorrow! (fingers crossed)

ALOHA!

"All my bags have yet to be packed, but I'm still ready to go..."

I'm doing something exciting and crazy at the same time. Moving across the country in a few short weeks. God has been faithful in easing my nerves and taking care of my needs in this move. I will be living with a family who used to be on Young Life committee in Columbia. They have already been such a blessing to me, and I cannot wait to meet their family and I hope I can give back to them even a portion of what they are giving me.

If you've noticed that this blog is "Kayleigh AND MEGAN" that is because even though I was prepared to start on this adventure alone, I have managed to persuade one of my dear life-long friends to join me in October. Megan and I have grown up on the same block our entire lives and I barely remember a time when I did not know her. I can honestly say she is my longest friend (at least that I keep in touch with). Never would I think that we would be moving across the country together!

I leave South Carolina, the place I've called home for the past 5 years a week from tomorrow. In the grand scheme of things, 5 years doesn't seem like much, but in those 5 years I've grown into a completely different person and have built relationships that I will always hold dear to my heart. As I've seen friends for the "last time" it really sinks in that I'm leaving. Some people it really may be the last time I see them. For others, going months at a time with out face-to-face conversation will seem like eternity. I do intend to make it down to Cool-umbia whenever I'm on the east coast because let's be honest--after being thousands of miles away, a 4.5hr drive will seem like a quick ride down the street wearing Heelys. I've never actually been down the street--or anywhere--in Heelys, but I've seen a kid fall in the mall one time and laughed. (I can't help it--it's instinct. Don't judge me).

One project I have been working on is my Bucket List before leaving SC. It is not a very extensive list, because I would always think of brilliant ideas, but never wrote them down. Once I realized I could use the handy "tasks" feature on my crackberry the creative juices had slowed down a bit and I couldn't remember them all. Anyway, here is what it looks like. Once I figure out how to post pictures, I'll update this with proof of my adventures.

KAYLEIGH'S SOUTH CAROLINA BUCKET LIST
*Eat lots of Miyos (more of a goal/reminder than bucket list item. I'm going to miss General Tso)

*Float down the river.

*Go Fishing (catch a fish)... We even caught a shark where I had the important task of keeping the overambitious dog away from the shark. I'd like to think I saved that dog's life that day...

*Shoot a gun. not sure why me with a gun makes people nervous. I would've expected everyone to feel safer. The guy on the target was definitely dead when I was done with him

*Go to a service at First Nazareth Baptist.

*Go to a Columbia Blowfish baseball game. even got a commemorative koozie to remember the experience. drank half of a cheap beer because it was a dollar. Note to self: you never need a beer badly enough to drink Busch Light, ever.

*Meet Paul. (Courtney's fiance whom I had heard so much about, but never actually met in the flesh...until a few weeks ago)

*Nap on the horseshoe. that's how I spent the majority of my freshman year. The other 3 years were spent just napping in general in no particular place.

So that's it. As I said, not much--but I think I hit some key points. I think I've rambled on enough for awhile.