Hawaii

Scott and I are on a much needed second honeymoon. We are here in Hawaii to get away alone, talk through some difficult things, get on track, rekindle, reconnect. We are in a season of questioning, regrouping, deciding what’s important, what we each want and need, and how to move forward stronger. It’s terrifying and necessary.

In the morning, went for a hike up the road and checked out some nearby beaches. Then we got ready and headed out for our beach adventure which included a rough off road experience over the lava fields.

Drove across the island to our air bnb stay. It is super impressive, paradise. It is an octagon shaped cedar building that used to be an art studio. The hosts have thought of everything from decorations, tons of lamps, a foot washing station, lotions, essential oils, incense and candles. There are extra swim towels and snorkeling gear, yoga mats, even a massage table. It is cozy, open air, screened in and the bathroom is outside but private. There is a lanai surrounding the outside with comfy chairs and candles and party lights. There are little geckos out there to keep the mosquitos away. The hostess said we may encounter wild pigs but we haven’t.

We got up and had breakfast at the airbnb then packed up for the beach. When we were getting out of the car for our hike to the beach, we met up with Kat, a Chinese American student from Berkeley who was traveling alone taking advantage of suspended classes. She is an adventurous soul but also happy to have found us to be with for safety. She walked along on her slippery shoes jibber jabbering about her DJ experiences and plans to be a lawyer. She didn’t have her swimsuit so borrowed the bra I brought and went in the water in that and her undies. We were happy to watch the sea turtles from afar but she climbed the precarious rocks in her slippery shoes to touch the turtles. She said they didn’t even wake up. Then she found a vine to swing on.

The hike through the rain forest was exhausting and sweaty but worth it. There were rocks and mud holes to navigate so it was hard to look around at the plush green and the tall trees. The birds and frogs were loud.

We are about a ten minute drive into the town of Hilo. It is not quaint or beautiful but it is cool. It is near the ocean and amidst the lush greenery of the rain forest and water falls and inlets. There were homeless people on the sidewalks. The houses are small and run down and the yards are cluttered.

After hiking and swimming, we drove in the rain to the Akaka falls. We stopped at Shark’s coffee shop for coffee and ice cream (owned by the airbnb hosts who grow coffee, vanilla and chocolate right here on their farm.) We walked on the cement walkway and stairs amidst the plush greenery, loud birds and frogs, and tall trees. There were gulches and drops on both sides in places. There were only two other people there. The falls were amazing, like nothing I’ve seen before.

It is very weird to be here with all the virus stuff going on. We feel removed from it and very blessed to be able to fly here. We are using wipes and washing our hands and not touching our faces but the grocery stores seem perfectly stocked. We are keeping up with the news but it seems far away.

We returned to our paradise and took naps and glorious showers then went back into town to the Hilo Bay Cafe. This was a nicer restaurant but we couldn’t see the bay outside. We ate yummy ahi and a chocolate lava cake and coffee ice cream for dessert.

The next morning we got up earlier than usual. Keep in mind we are five hours ahead of Kansas. We got ready and headed to the other side of the island, this time through the mountains. We grabbed some subway then went whale watching. And watching. We watched the impressive swells of the ocean for three hours. No whales appeared. The crew saw them earlier today and for the last three days. We were in the 10 percent that the whales don’t appear for. Oh well. (We met a couple on the plane home who went for a speed boat ride and saw dozens of whales).

We then grabbed some coffee, myself a vanilla frappe and Scott a chai tea, and drove through a beautiful neighborhood and golf resort to a black sand beach. There we met an orthodontist from Arizona and his family and talked to him quite a while.

After, we took the top off the Jeep and drove back to our side of the island and had a burger at the Hilo Burger Joint.

The last morning we spent relaxing at the airbnb. During my quiet time out in the lanaii, Scott brought me a sweet note asking me to remarry him. I tearfully and happily said yes.

I went to the house and met up with our host Sharkey who was so happy to show me the last steps in the vanilla process and the chocolate process. He gave me juice from the cacao pods to drink (yum) and a spoon to dip into the chocolate which i did repeatedly. I bought coffee and Sharkey threw in chocolate and vanilla and two coffee mugs.

Hostess Ana then took me on a mini tour of the orchard showing me the coffee trees, cacao trees and vanilla vines. Did you know that vanilla is hand pollinated all over the world except in one place in Mexico where the bees do it? Ana showed me the process for each, vanilla, chocolate and coffee from plant to drying to food. The coffee gets roasted, the cacao made into nibs then put into stirrers for days, and the vanilla put into jars for weeks then soaked in bourbon.

This trip has been amazing, restoring and healing for each of us and for our marriage even during a world health crisis. Even though we’ve kept up with the news, we probably have no idea what we will face in the mainland at home. We will need to social distance for several weeks after being in such large crowds in small areas. But we go back rested and stronger, together.