How to begin? Life has continued to happen as we spend our days here in beautiful Hawaii. Its getting late (8:30pm) and tomorrow we head out for another shift. But we are pressing through the night and burning the midnight oil to keep our many followers out there informed on the goings on for Dani and Tommy. So here are some highlights since we last checked in.
We have continued to settle into our home. The key is having different names for the different "rooms" in our home (studio apartment) and only allowing appropriate activities in each. Like it is strictly forbidden to eat in the bedroom; even though the bed and the stove are physically touching. Its the little things, you know? We've made it more our own. With little bits of friend art, wine bottles and calendars of cats wearing several different hats. Dani makes guacamole while I strum blues riffs on the ukulele, its fantastic.
It was an all around fun week, but by far the crescendo was having our first visitors. Friends from the great state of Iowa were out and it solidified our presence, our home. We are officially living here, we've had visitors. That has to be some sort of certified qualifying event for status of where you live. And it was wonderful to have old friends to spend time with. We were able to feel like locals while we went to a secluded beach and hit the good little food spots, all the while in the company of a fantastic couple of people. Thank you so much for making us a part of your vacation Jay and Ella.
Another big style moment of the week was our day trip to Waipi'o Valley. Its about an hour and a half away and was recently voted by a panel of local judges (Dani and I) to be the most beautiful place they've ever been. Towering rock cliffs, jungle waterfalls, and a river running through a field of fern, banana trees, and giant taro leaves into the ocean to be met by back breaking waves crashing onto a mile long black sand beach. Absolutely amazing. We layed on the dark sand, hobbled around on the rocks, hiked streams through the rain forest, and picked avocados from reachable branches. We had a great conversation with one of the few valley residents (shacks and small horse ranches completely off the grid) but the talk had to be cut short due to the only down side of the area; the mosquitoes. But they are only back in the thick, out on the beach its breezy and clear. I hope to be good enough someday to surf there. We watched a few brave wave riders for a while. I felt like I was in a surf video. Another down side of the Valley is that if you don't have a 4x4 (we don't) you have to hike down and back out (we did). The hike in isn't that bad but the hike out is vicious. Granted its on a "road" and not that long, but goodness gracious is it steep. Our calves and glutes were burning something awful when we got back up to the truck at the end of the day. Luckily we were able to find super greazy burritos and enchiladas to revive our worn bodies. I immediately began looking for a 4x4 on Craigslist when I got home. Waipi'o Valley is a place I think we will become frequent visitors of. And I don't think my knees can take it.
Well we should probably head off so we can be well rested for the week of life changing role modeldom coming up. But I can't part without telling you that we went surfing this morning and Dani got up on her knees on at least 2 different waves. Which is exponentially better than the awkward flopping about and flailing that I do on the board out there.
We'll try to get some pictures of our adventures up again soon.
We miss and love you all.
Tommy & Dani
