Aloha from Kona!
In just three short days I will hop on my American Airlines "commuter" flight 246 and head to the mainland to begin an Aquatic Edge clinic tour. My travels will take me from San Francisco, through Sacramento, South Lake Tahoe, Fallon, Salt Lake City and on up through the Tetons and Yellowstone with a final destination of Bozeman, Montana. It is a one-way, month long road trip with 14 clinics scheduled and a lot of driving. Interspersed with my "work" I do plan to spend plenty of time sightseeing, running, hiking, swimming and exploring as well as to spend time with good friends like Maggie Schwindt Roepke, Merry Finch, Lo Knapp and my little sister Kerri Pipes Evans.
While I love to travel and am super excited for the experience that lies ahead, there is also some sadness. I love this island. I love the people here. I love the diversity of the land. I love the ENERGY I feel. I love this life that I am blessed to live. I love HAWAII.
I know...who could NOT love Hawaii? Well, over the years there have been plenty of people that have moved here only to leave. Maybe it was too expensive...and sure, it can be. Just take a look at my $300 electric bill! (BTW we have no AC, use propane to cook and to dry clothes, and have solar water).
However, if you can do without the rat race, shopping malls, congested freeways, and inexpensive milk (can be $8 a gallon here) and you like to experience mother nature and a real sense of community, then THIS is what the Big Island of Hawaii is all about...and it is absolutely FREE.
How about a hike in the rain forest or across a lava field? Or, perhaps a swim in our crystal clear ocean with tropical fish and a good friend sounds like your idea of a good time (mine, too!). What about a free hula lesson on the grounds of a royal palace, hanging out at the pier meeting up with your like-minded friends, or just simply sitting at the beach at the end of the day watching the sun set into the ocean? I am in for ALL of that...and more!
If you are a swimmer/runner/triathlete/whatever and like to race, we are blessed that Sean "PEAMAN" Pagett volunteers his time and energy and to date has hosted over 300+ no-cost biathlons (swim/run) geared for everyone regardless of age or fitness level. The only rule? Just show up and have fun. Keep in mind that these events can also be pretty competitive as you just never know when an Ironman world champion will show up. The point is that every single one of these activities is FREE and costs NOTHING, yet for people like me, these are priceless.
I think that one of the reasons that people leave Hawaii is that they don't feel IT. What is this IT I refer to? Hard to explain, but our island is ALIVE and growing everyday. The volcano is erupting and has been since 1983 making it the longest continuous eruption ever recorded. So what does that mean? That the goddess of volcano's, Madame Pele, is giving birth. Yup...we live on a pregnant island! As Madame Pele expands our land mass she also creates palatable healing, maternal and nurturing energy that if you tune in into it, you REALLY can feel it. IT is in your heart, in your breath, in your soul and reaches way deep down inside of you from the top of your head to the tip of your toes. IT speaks the truth and whispers encouragingly for you to follow your dreams...where ever they may lead.
In Hawaii, IT is everywhere... in the land, in the water, in the air...but mostly IT is in the hearts of the people that love it here...like I do. Locals or visitors...if you get IT, you feel it and you know it. What a gift!
Some call it aloha, some call it love, I just call it home. And no matter where I travel in the world this AMAZING feeling resides in my heart as big as life itself. I am grateful and blessed to know that both my heart and my home are in the very same place. Hawaii...I love you.
