Month: June 2013

Dreams of Mokuʻāweoweo

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“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” -Ernest Hemingway Two weeks ago, alongside a few hula family, I hiked up to Mokuʻāweoweo and back. The opportunity came through an invitation to fulfill a 20-year dream, so I was honored. I agreed because I wanted to support my dear friend as she manifested what she had waited so long to do, but what started out as a mission to provide moral support, quickly transformed into my own personal quest. I don’t know a lot of people who have hiked to Mokuʻāweoweo, so I thought, why not? I’ve done some pretty unbelievable things in my life, like signing up with my best friends to do the Honolulu Marathon on a whim and then actually training and running the 26.2 miles because I didn’t want to waste $26.20 by not going through with it. I’ll cherish that experience because it’s a feat few people can boast they’ve done and it challenged me physically and mentally. …

I Stay Hungry!

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Sniff. Sniff. Is that huli huli chicken? Mmmhh…smells like curry. Oh, no, down wind I think I smell pesto pasta. I thought I was supposed to have an over enhanced sense of smell and be craving everything and anything out of the ordinary while pregnant, not after! It so happens that during my pregnancy I hardly craved anything. Um, I take that back, I wanted to eat everything I could not eat – opihi, sashimi, deli sandwiches, and sprouts! I think I was paranoid of what I could not eat, that I was cautious of what I ate. I was careful how much weight I put on, too. I heard if I put on too much weight I would have a difficult labor and have an on set of gestational diabetes and/or preeclampsia (high blood pressure). I was so scared about having any complications, I was very strict with my diet, and only ate what I needed for a healthy pregnancy. I was lucky that I was satisfied with the meals I ate, and didn’t …

Happy Summer Solstice!

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It’s the first day of summer, the longest day of the year, and an Aloha Friday. Mark the occasion, by hitting up the local fro-yo or ice shave establishment with your closest friends. The combination of excellent company, ice cold yumminess, and the start of long, hot days is always worth celebrating, no matter how old you are. Here’s to a beautiful, holoholo summer!

Juicing Junkie

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Early this year I decided to jump on the juicing bandwagon for three reasons: 1) reboot my immune system and kick those nagging health woes to the curb 2) maintain healthy lifestyle through proper nutrition 3) dump the excess baggage under the hood and boot (trunk) that have been weighing me down. Like any good student, I did my research, spoke with a few people who had done the program and checked with my GP (General Practitioner) for the all-clear. I was psyched and ready for the ultimate body redux. Step 1: Make a commitment, devise a plan and stick to it!  It wasn’t easy, especially the first few days. To be truthful, I enjoy carbs, love my sweets and loathe the treadmill so I felt a seven-day juicing cleanse (aka fast) would be a good place to start. Step 2: Stock refrigerator with fruits and veggies. Waimea (Kamuela) farmers market is the mecca for locally grown and organic produce on the island, and shopping farm to table was the best option in my opinion. …

$12 Mullet

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My first real life lesson was balancing meager finances and spending priorities, which happened at the tender age of 13. It was my first year boarding at Kamehameha and I was ecstatic to be off Kauaʻi, away from the prying eyes and attention of family. If you grew up on a neighbor island back in the day, you may be able to relate when I say that being on Oʻahu made you think you could pretty much do anything. Kinda like Vegas, but whatever you did would eventually find its way back home by the end of the week via the coconut wireless. It might’ve been the anonymity of living in a sea of unknowns or the fact that anything I ever wanted, or didn’t know I wanted, was conveniently available, but that along with my newfound freedom was exhilarating. I began to think that because I could wash my own clothes, I was probably capable of making decisions for myself too. Despite my developing confidence from living “on my own”, I felt there was very …

Happy Father’s Day, Daddy!

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Father’s Day is only a week away and it will mark my husband’s biggest milestone as a father.  He has joined the ranks of fatherhood, reminding him to continuously love, care and protect our daughter.  This special day also reminds me of the relationship I have with my dad, and the one my daughter will have with my husband and my dad. As a child, my dad had to work long hours and did not have the opportunity to spend time raising me.  Now retired, he is able to take his time navigating through all the intricacies of caring for a baby.  Seeing him change my daughter’s diaper, bottle feed followed by burping her, and of course comforting her when she cries, brings tears to my eyes.  My mom points out that he never did those things with me when I was an infant, primarily because he was exhausted from working and when he was up and ready to start his day, it was time for me to bed down. I am fortunate that my …

Letter to My Younger Self

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A few years back, celebrities began writing letters to their younger selves. Now that I’ve hit a major milestone, I thought it’d be an interesting exercise to take stock in the things I’ve done, to let go of some of the things I should’ve done differently, and to revisit some of the things that I still have time to do. Dear Younger Kainoa, Despite those feelings of insecurity, trust that you’ve been raised right, that you’re intelligent and creative, and that you’re beautiful. Here are a few pearls of wisdom to guide you on your way: Rebel every once in awhile – Considering your lineup in the family, you’re always expected to do the right thing, the safe thing, all the time. Take risks and do things that challenge your obedience. Do it now before it floats up when you’re 40 and it’s no longer seen as cute, but as a desperate last-ditch attempt to hold on to your youth, pre-midlife crisis. Feed your need for adventure – When an opportunity arises, get out there and explore! …

Mauka to Makai

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“Life is not measured by the breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away.” – Hilary Cooper Enjoying my morning walk on Mana Road as the sun rises in the east revealing the majesty of Mauna Kea. In silence I reflected on the days beautiful lessons and allowed the warmth of the setting sun to embrace the soul. ~ Old Kona Airport I often think that the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day. ~ Kings’ Lake, Waikoloa Beach Resort