Mele Kalikimaka!

Mele Kalikimaka!

This is my favourite Christmas song and has been since I was little, now I am finally in Hawaii and I get to say it. It's a little dream come true, might be lame but it makes me happy.

Merry Christmas, hope your day is filled happiness and love!

Pirates of the Pacific

After a day of heavy weeding at a neighbouring organic farm, helping them prepare for market, we took a little trip to the ocean. Michelle posted some images in the last entry, but let me tell you about the magic of the place. The feel was something out of a Hollywood shlocky pirate movie. We found ourselves standing atop 50 foot cliffs with giant waves crashing in on the rocks below...it was truly a jaw dropping experience! The smell of the salt water mist is something I will never tire of…neither did I seem to tire of exclaiming ‘wow!’ or ‘awesome!’ every time a massive wave crashed on the shore.

There was a rock grouping that jutted out into the water that was climbable to take one out to a lava tower sitting on the ocean. Standing atop that rocky peak was like standing on the bow of a giant ship sailing freely over the powerful and awe-inspiring ocean, invoking feelings of respect and humility for the energies at hand, but stirring that need in the human soul to pursue the exhilaration of adventuring freely into the unknown...my crappy words can't convey the sense of liberation held in that moment on the rocks...the energy of the crashing waves exploding against the cliffs, and the gleam of the near-setting sun reflecting off the water is something that every human should experience once before leaving this fascinating realm.

I’ll never tire of sitting along a coast and watching massive rolling waves crest in...generated from untold energies somewhere on a massive globe of endless wonder and possibility….awesome!!!

And on a site note, we found a wild papaya tree in that same area...Michelle got up on my shoulders, and was just able to reach the ripe bottom fruits. It was an unpollinated tree...the papaya had no seeds! But sweet and yummy nonetheless. Further down the way, my we found several wild noni trees.

Noni is a pungent white fruit that has been used medicinally here for ages. Mainstream health stores carry the juice. I've been collecting noni and fermenting it in the traditional Hawaiian way - stuff em in a jar, and leave em in the sun...works like a charm! The juice seeps out rather quickly once a ripe noni has been plucked from the tree. They become translucent within hours of being in the sun, and begin giving off a smell much like ‘ripe’ blue cheese! Definitely not the fruit for marketing to the holiday crowd...but I love it! Morning ritual has become drinking a couple ounces before going running and watching the sun rise (although it's cloudy most mornings due to being on the rainy side of the island). I will get a picture of the sun rising over the ocean at some point...

My morning runs have also become my morning fruit collecting adventure. Each day I pass heavy fruiting lilikoi vines (yellow passion fruit) and collect whatever has fallen onto the road during the night...the juice from these babies will make you wonder why you ever spent a lifetime shovelling snow and eating food that's been picked unripe and shipped a thousand miles on a truck...lilikoi rocks!
Came home with a coconut 2 days ago, and a wild avocado yesterday...
Gotta go now, time for a morning run...
Will tell you all about the discovery of breadfruit and the joys of macheteing coconuts tomorrow...
Live big!!!
Mike

New Help Exchangers...

One week ago four Chinese girls arrived at the farm and will be staying here for 2 weeks. They came to try to learn to speak English more fluently and to experience Hawaii...

Needless to say, there is always the sound of giggling and excitment...and a lot of repeating words, you don't realize how silly squash sounds until you've said it about 30 times. I've been doing a lot of spelling out words and repeating syllables, at least I know where my vocabulary has gotten lazy. Another issue is using slang and teaching them incorrect English...gotta be careful.
Here's a picture of three of the girls sitting on the rock...

They are really nice girls and I've connected with them a bit, I enjoy hanging out with them. They think Mike is funny because he always hunts for fruit and carries his travel spoon and fruit knife for whenever he find some free tropical fruit...he is always prepared! Today I stood on his shoulders to pick a papaya in a park, it was very fun. Here's a pic of the park with the ocean cliff that we went to...didn't think to get a pic of the papaya harvesting but I'm sure this will do...

We're getting ready for Christmas here, they have a huge celebration on Christmas Day and about 200 people show up for it...should be crazy! It's also weird not to have snow...or cold weather to make it seem like winter. Feels like summer but it is getting a wee bit chilly here...got down to 72 degrees the other day and I had to wear long pants!

Tootles

Michelle

PEACOCKS!!!

The other morning we walked outside to discover 2 very beautiful peacocks roaming freely around the property...our hosts said that someone in the neibourhood owns them but let's them go where they desire. It was quite a sight to see, I have never seen one outside a zoo. It made me happy to see them out enjoying themselves.

They are beautiful creatures and we were informed that when they are in heat they make a cooing noise incessantly...hope they come back with their plumes open!

Hawaii life is not too shabby...lots of fruit and amazing animals to admire.

More later,

Michelle

Fruit Farm Work Exchange...

We have been staying at a small fruit farm in Pahoa on the Big Island for 2 weeks now. They are nice people with a lot of tasks, haven't written for awhile because we've been so busy.

We have been learning how to harvest different fruits like bananas, avocado, tangerine (gotta pick em just right or they tear), star fruit and how to do tree grafting. The banana process is quite satisfying, it requires chopping down the tree with a machete! The tree is going to die anyway because it is at the end of its lifecycle, so we aren't unnecessarily hurting it...little baby tree shoots come off the main tree to continue living and producing. The tree is very soft and the machete just slices through it. The way to tell if it's ready to harvest is if the flower at the end of the banana bunch is dead, if there's any life left it is not ready. We got a huge hauled of bananas, which will not be wasted with Mike around...

On Sunday we went to a yoga and surf day, at Honoli'i Beach Park, that was provided by one guys that lives at the farm...it was so nice to sit in the sun and relax. The waves were very big and I decided to give surfing a try. I went out into the smaller waves which were still extremely powerful, I have absolutely no training with a surf board so I was just going with it. After a few attempts I caught a wave and went zooming, it was exhilarating to go that fast...felt like I was flying. Later in the day I tried again but got carried out a little too far and got machine washed by a big wave...I'll stick to the small waves for a while and get some instruction...
Mike caught a wave too and got to feel the exhilaration, he was so excited that he forgot to try to stand up...at the last second he was like "oh yeah, gotta stand up" but it was too late the wave had started to wane and the shore was too close. Unfortunately we don't have any surfing pictures as we were both in the water.

The highlight of yesterday was going swimming at Carlsmith Beach Park and seeing a sea turtle!! I
noticed him first and called everybody over. He was so big, probably 3 and a half feet and came right up to us!! He was very friendly and stayed with us for about 15-20 minutes but a lady came over, got in the water and started touching him and pulling at him, he swatted at her and left. It's actually illegal to touch the sea turtles because their skin is so sensitive to oils and bacteria. It was so beautiful to get to see that gentle creature in his natural habitat and not in a zoo...I loved it and I think I connected with him telepathically...but I could also just be crazy...

If you like following our blog hit the google plus button by our Mike & Michelle profile to get the new posts sent to your G+ home page! Thanks for reading about our adventures!

We're a Getting Warmer...

We have been staying at a farm in Pahoa for a meditation retreat, it's a free event that goes from Thanksgiving to Sunday. The yoga has been amazing and the free vegetarian meals and fruit trees have been excellent...more about the people here at a later time, Mike has some interesting comments about them.

Anyway, we all hopped in a van and participated in a yoga class at the local community center. The yoga was intense and an excellent workout! I thoroughly enjoyed it. When I took a momentary break to look around at the beautiful surroundings I saw something that I have been eager to find...Rainbow Eucalyptus trees!! I found them and they were exquisite! So much better then I could have ever imagined and of course I didn't have a camera...I hugged it and felt its energy, I'm in love! ....just got some new picture so here they are...

When I was coming out of the rainbow haze one of the guys said he was heading to the hot ponds for some swimming and if we would like to come along....ahh, yeah! It was a very long short cut that the guy took but I didn't mind, the scenery is interesting. In a matter of minutes we had driven past an old lava field, then a thick overgrown mango grove and past a house that had a small fruit stand, Mike got a hunch of plantains for free!!! He was super excited about that. Hawaii is so amazing. The hot ponds is a man made structure with natural hot water vents that they said was warmed by lava tubes. With a little searching you can find hot spots along the wall and enjoy some extra heat. The ponds felt so good and there were little tiger striped fish swimming with us.

We swam for about 45 minutes and then decided that we wanted to go to the boat launch for some
snorkeling, I got in the water and tried snorkeling but the waves were pushing me around too much
and I got kind of nervous so I got out and took some pictures and videos of the people and waves. Mike stayed in, enjoying the water and the fishies. It was such a great experience, I want every day to be like this!

Maholo!

Michelle

Dave's Kava Bar

We had some new additions to our share co-ed room last night, a couple and a lady from Pahoa. She has a house here in Hilo but has rented it out...she was headed to the Kava bar down the road and asked if we wanted to come with.

As we were walking down the street we got to know each other a bit and discovered that we were all vegans! There's a moment when vegans meet and it's like you've found family and someone who understands you, we were instantly connected.

Kava is a traditional herbal drink made from the root of the tropical shrub, Piper methysticum. This soothing beverage has proven medicinal effects, including alleviating stress and anxiety and combating fatigue. Kava is also used to treat migraine headaches and cramps. Best of all, the drink keeps the mind alert even as the body relaxes.

The bar was a unique outdoors setting and the man behind the bar didn't disappoint with his long beard and hippy persona, he was very knowledgable about the effects of the kava root and suggested we take the Kava Flight which involved 3 varieties of kava tea. The first was the traditional, the second a more potent brew and the last (my favourite) was mixed with fresh coconut water for added sweetness. Before starting the flight we did a little ceremony that involved clapping in unison to create the circle, dipping our finger in our drink and giving the first drop to the land, dipping again and throwing over your shoulder for the past and a third dip for all our new friends. It is suggested that the kava be drunk like a shot for rapid intake and then you clap again to close the circle. 

The kava had a very distinct flavour, it was very rooty and pungent. The middle, most pungent one tasted a little dirty...but still interesting. 

Dave also makes kava tinctures and we were offered a free sample...it was like he was feeding us little birds with an eye dropper. All I could taste was the roots and the alcohol.

When we started do the second drink of our flight the singer on stage started singing the Neil Young song Helpless....the first line in the song is, There is a town in North Ontario...I said, that's where we're from!!! It was slightly trippy, and kind of cool.

Overall, I felt relaxed from the Kava but didn't feel anything too drastic...I did sleep really good last night, which is a bonus. It was a fun experience. 

Toodle ooo!

Michelle

Hilo Hostel Heaven?

On Saturday November 21st we landed in Hilo, we proceeded to walk to the downtown core from the airport...Mike told me it was only 3 miles but I have a sneaking suspicion that was a bit of a fib, seemed like it took forever especially with a 40 lbs pack strapped to my back. Felt like I was carrying my whole life in that pack...well at least all my possessions.
It took us about 2.5hrs to get to our destination, the Hilo Bay Hostel. I was beyond exhausted and this was the last leg of my journey, scaling steep stairs that tested my resolve.

I was so exhausted that it's taken me this long to put up a post about it...might also be the jetlag.

The guy at the front desk when we first arrived was very nice and helpful, we didn't actually see the lady that owns the place until we were here for a couple nights...she seems nice but also seems a little grumpy and annoyed all the time.

The people we've met have been very nice and helpful with giving suggestions on what we should see and do. When we first got here there was an American that asked us if we get polar bears just 2hrs north of Toronto...he said a Canadian told him that, he got tricked on that one. We've also encountered a really nice lady from England that is taking a year to see and explore the world, I think tomorrow she is headed to Maui. We had a very interesting discussion about nutrition and getting over addictions to food.

The hostel is a nice place, it's tidy...the only thing I have to get used to is the cockroaches. I've never seen one before and they kind of give me the heeby geebies.

When we first came here we had a private room but yesterday it had been booked so we had to move to a co-ed room...not really my cup of tea but you gotta go with the flow. Everyone is really respectful and kind here.

Looking forward to seeing what's next on the journey,

It's been a slice Hilo Bay Hostel!

Later!

Michelle

Somewhere Over the Rainbow....

It's is a beautiful day in Hilo town and after hearing about the spectacular Rainbow Falls from all the other hostel residents...we decided to make the half hour trek to the falls. It was hot and I was sweating more then I'm used to, my legs hurt from all the hiking we've been doing but when we finally saw the falls it was all worth it.

The trees and foliage were incredible and we even found more wild fruit such as bananas, papayas, tangerines and coconuts...we couldn't reach any of it so that was a bummer.

Yesterday we went for a walk and saw the biggest citrus tree, we went to ask the owner if we could pick some...he said we could have a couple. He asked us if we knew what it was and Mike excitedly replied, No! (I think he was secretly hoping it was something exotic), the guy replied, we were waiting..."it's a tangerine..." Mike burst out laughing, we must have seemed like stupid tourists, doesn't matter it was a kickass tangerine!

Anyway, back to the falls...after looking at the falls and observing the tourists we decided to explore and found some pathways that were secluded and mystical. The banyan trees are gigantic and have a canopy the size of half a football field. It felt like I was in the middle of wild jungle, there were wild koi fish swimming in a cove above the falls and we came across some locals taking a much needed dip...even though signs said no swimming...an American in the hostel told us earlier that a tourist went over the falls just earlier in the week sometime, who knows...

The only thing was I didn't actually see a rainbow because the sun was hidden by a slightly overcast sky, still great non the less...

Tomorrow we are headed out for Pahoa to see what we can find there...

Ta at for now

Michelle

Feeling a little nuts!

Our first wild food experience!
We found an old coconut laying on the beach and used it as a projectile to knock down a young Green coconut from the cluster above us...success!!

A couple quick bashes on the rocks, and Michelle and I were sucking on the sweet nectar of the first wild coconuts we've found...perhaps a bit too young still, as the inner flesh had yet to form, but overall it was yet another awesome first.

Can't wait to see what else is in store...we're nuts for coconuts!

Mike

HOME AT LAST

Ah, that feeling of stepping into a world you know you've always belonged to...it feels comfortable, it feels familiar, it feels right...the feeling of coming home. That's how it felt stepping off that last airplane and into a land that seems to perpetually smell of fresh blossoms...a fragrance I will never tire of. Even under the dingy underpass leaving the airport, there was no stink of diesel or urine or Kentucky fried chicken...just flowers...HOME!

Still much to learn and much to organise, but life is about taking one step at a time and learning not to stress future events that we ultimately will never have control over.

The prices at the supermarket were somewhat disheartening until we finally discovered a small Farmer's market in Hilo.
Bananas for a buck, a bag a papayas for a buck, a trio of jumbo avocados for a deuce...HOME!

The market open daily is just a skeleton version of the main show, which we have yet to see, open Wednesdays and Saturdays. Hundreds of vendors from all over the area. Even the small market version we visited today had a half dozen varieties of bananas...not one of them the north american standard Cavendish. HOME!

Fruits we've never seen or heard of just ready for the munching after the exchange of a few measly paper dollars. Golden pineapples and soft juicy papayas the likes of which a Canadian supermarket will never see.

The sun is out and this morning we wet our feet for the first time in the ocean - Michelle's first time ever seeing or feeling the ocean...a magical moment! Coconut trees dropping ripe nuts down on black volcanic sandy beaches a hundred yards from where we slept last night.

Much more to talk about and share, but that can wait for later as it's time to go back out and explore...

It's good to be home!!

Mike

Just when you think....

The plane left Chicago a bit late because of a tardy flight attendant. We're pretty sure Eduardo wasn't the culprit because he was far too in love with his job...although somewhat detached and mechanical when demonstrating the flight safety routine...but who wouldn't be after performing the seatbelt unbuckling ritual after the billionth time...

The highlight of the first flight from Toledo to Chicago was the free cup of water. Sweet! The flight took less than a half hour in a zippy little jet that looked like a toy compared to the next machine we were to get on. The walk to the connecting flight was an adventure unto itself. O'Hare is massive! It's freaky to walk past 3 McDonald's in under 10 minutes.

Before we knew it we were on the next leg of the adventure. A 4 hour stint to LA, this time with a free movie and cup of apple juice. Sweet!! The movie Paper Town was a mediocre affair, but enjoyable nonetheless. Though it was dark outside, there was enough moonlight to catch glimpses of the Rockies and snow-covered peaks as we passed them. The endless glow of small town lights that covered the land was a rare sight for us to see. People are everywhere! The entire nation seems to be a Borg hive of human activity. Not too many places to run and hide to get away from it all.

Arriving over LA was a sight to behold. Talk about a massive city! A shame we don't have more of a chance to get out and explore. Perhaps in the next life. Or perhaps we've done it to death in a previous one. Either way, a 9 hour layover awaited us, so we prepared to make ourselves cozy.

An attendant mentioned we may be able to get hold of a couple cots for the night, as we rolled in about 2 am by our time, now 11 pm local time. We needed to go to customer service to get more info, which also serves as the flight rebooking and customer complaint venue. If you're ever in the airport looking for some angry drama or entertainment, this is the place to be, bar none! We waited until the line dwindled to just a few disgruntled couples before joining the fray. I was listening to the angry rant of the pair in front of me before I decided to ask what happened to them. Apparently a woman in front of them started a fight with the boarding attendant over luggage size and things became physical. Security came and they refused to admit the remaining stand by fliers in line which included them, being the next to board. They were somewhat irate to say the least. Eventually he asked me where I was from and why I was so laid back and chill, so I began telling him a story involving a deer, sleeping in fields, cancelled flights, and before I could finish, having received the attention of the remaining people in the room, the guy behind us said 'okay, you win', and I think everyone's level of general animosity towards their respective predicaments came down just a notch. But only a notch, and not for very long.  Seems a lot of humanity defines itself by its suffering and rage. These people seemed happier to be pissed off at circumstances that really weren't so bad. Perhaps another reminder from the universe to us to accept what is and roll with it instead of poisoning our bodies with the emotions of frustration and anger.

After a brief nap on the floor, a kindly attendant came by with some complimentary blankets. And before we knew it, another kindly soul came by with a dolly of Coleman military style cots. Sweet!!
Catching some Z's while a muscly-armed airport employee pushes an industrial sized vacuum repeatedly by your head is bizarrely soothing. And just when I think things can't get any better (sleeping in my hand-knitted wooly lama hat, on my crappy kiddie-sized airport made pillow, wrapped in a free American Airlines blankey), I reach down by the cot for my phone to check the time and, lo and behold, two free bottles of water!! Woohoo!!

It's the little things in life that count!

Plane from LA leaves here in 2 hours. Next post from under the Hawaiian sun!
Rock on peeps!

Mike

FREE WATER!!

But no bloody peanuts!