Aloha Aina Music Festival

Last night I attended the "Aloha Aina" music festival at Waikiki Shell. It was a great show with Hawaiian music and dance, as well as some reggae artists I really love. The purpose of this show was not just entertainment, but a great cause. To raise money and awareness surrounding the protection of Mauna Kea. At the end of the show, the entire crowd joined hands in a prayer chant. It was one of the most beautiful and powerful things I've ever witnessed. People coming together over what they believe in and stand for. I am so glad I got to experience, participate in and support this.

For those of you on the mainland who may not know, here is what's been going here in Hawaii. On the "big island" of Hawai'i, there is much controversy over construction of a new "thirty meter telescope" aka TMT. That is because it's set to take place on Mauna Kea, said to be the "tallest mountain in the world" and also THE MOST sacred land to native Hawaiians. These people are incredibly passionate and emotional about the whole ordeal, and have been protesting for months, even physically blocking entrance to the summit to prevent the construction project and getting arrested. Their standpoint is that the scientific benefits of this telescope do not outweigh the importance of their beliefs or the protection of their land, and that we should be focused on what's going on here on ground and all the problems we face with the environment, rather than up above in outer space. There are actually already 13 observatories on this dormant volcano, and while you may wonder what's the big deal about one more being built, tonight I saw hundreds of people in tears and praying with all their might... that's how much it means to them. This is a very spiritual place where their ancestors are buried and where the ashes of their recent family members are scattered. This was their land, or "aina", for many years, and it always will be. I never knew this until I lived here, but MANY Hawaiians do not even want to be a state and believe their aina was illegally occupied to begin with, much like the Native Americans on the mainland. Now, the one area they want to preserve is not receiving any respect or consideration. I can't imagine how anyone can brush this off. I'm not Hawaiian, but personally I would be devastated if a place so important to my people and my history was desecrated mostly for economic gain. Again, this is a case where people lack empathy. I believe that when enough people unite and demand to be heard, our elected officials should be listening!

A Historic Day Indeed!

Today, June 26th, 2015, will always be a very important day in history books. That is because it is the day that the Supreme Court ruled in favor of same sex couples having the right to marry in all 50 states. The topic of gay marriage has been a very controversial item for the last several years, sparking much debate and dividing our country. However, for most of us who have evolved into appropriate 21st century mindsets and feel compassion for other fellow human beings, allowing two people who love each other to marry each other was a no brainer. So really, the first thing that came to my mind today when I heard the news was "FINALLY! It's about time!" Even still, this couldn't have come at a better time. In the wake of many police brutality and racism fueled incidents in the news recently, it's been easy to be discouraged in what our country stands for these days. We are all fighting the same war, which is the war for human rights. So when we win one battle in the name of equality, we ALL win. Homosexuals, transsexuals, minorities, immigrants, women, and all other groups facing oppression will benefit from each victory like the one we saw today. So yes, this moment was truly special to me and made me feel a sense of pride that I not only longed to feel, but one I needed to feel, as it gave me hope! We will get there one day, I know it.  But for now, it's just so amazing to know that no matter what, love conquers all in the land of the free.

My Big Move to Hawaii

So it’s officially been a full five months since I made a major life change and moved to a place rightfully known as paradise, Hawaii. It is truly a scary thing to take a leap of faith, leave everyone/everything you love behind, and move 5,000 miles away on your own. But it has been truly liberating and turned out to be the best decision I’ve ever made. Career-wise, this was a very strategic and smart move for my future and will bring me great opportunity. However, on a more personal note, I believe this is mostly a huge stride for me and my spirit. 

In Maryland, the place where I was born and raised, I had an amazing apartment, a busy social life, a great career, just got my Master’s degree, and was taking trips almost every month. I felt pretty comfortable and content with my life. Yet, deep inside, I knew something was missing. Even after just accomplishing so many huge goals, I felt complacency looming around the corner.  My soul was calling me to make a big change. I am a firm believer that 1) listening to your intuition is important and 2) nothing good ever comes from comfort zones. It was time to spread my wings and push myself to truly live life to the fullest. 

I always knew I was destined to live in faraway lands, since my love for travel extended far beyond just visiting places I dream of. Traveling somewhere for days or weeks is a far different experience than actually living there. I have never been the kind of person who wants to live in my hometown for my whole life. And I have definitely never been afraid of taking risks. I do not think everyone is cut out to make such a big move like I did, especially on their own. But I think it’s something everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. Picking up and moving somewhere new really helps you to find yourself. It’s the ultimate test.

It also doesn’t hurt when you’re moving to a place like Hawaii, where it’s kind of hard to see yourself unhappy. Perhaps it’s harder to move to other places that are either less enticing or more extremely drastic than what you're used to, but I figured Hawaii was great for my first move. It’s a U.S. state, yet far enough away and such a different culture that it still feels like a foreign country. I had never even stepped foot on Hawaiian soil, yet had no doubt in my mind that this was somewhere I could really see myself and would be able to do the soul searching I knew was necessary.

So when this opportunity presented itself, I had a big decision to make. I had a good thing going at home and other job prospects to debate over. I talked to everyone I could about Hawaii to gather as much info and as many different perspectives as I could. It seemed like a no-brainer, but there were lots of cons to consider. I had to do diligent research and prepare myself by considering how high the cost of living was, how small and far away Oahu is, and how bad the traffic/bugs/time difference/expense of coming home is. I weighed out every possible aspect, but it didn’t take long for me to figure out that this is what I wanted and needed to do. 

When my mind was set, I used the law of attraction and asked the universe to help me make this happen. I applied, interviewed, and despite very heavy competition for this position, I got offered the job. It all happened so fast. Before I knew it, I was hurled into the very overwhelming Permanent Change of Station (PCS) process, and had only months to get my entire life ready to relocate to a tiny little volcanic rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It was a lot to purge all my belongings and plan what would come with me, what went to storage, what needed to get sold, and what needed to get donated. Especially since I took a 3 week trip to backpack across Europe in the middle of it all. However, everything miraculously worked itself out. The biggest point of stress was probably the House-Hunting Trip (HHT). I had 10 days to find, apply for and sign a lease for a decent, affordable place where I’d be living for probably three years, among a notoriously unfavorable rental market. I researched and examined prospects for months so I’d have an idea of what to expect, and honestly it did not look too good. Some people came back from their HHTs with nada, and ended up having to live in a hotel until they found a place. I did NOT want this to happen, but I was NOT willing to settle. Amazingly, I effortlessly found a place that overexceeded my expectations on just the 2nd day of my trip and got approved the same day. No one could believe my luck! But as cliche as it sounds, the universe works things out for a reason and I could only believe this was a sign to confirm that this was all meant to be! 

Everything else fell into place and was a piece of cake after that. I shipped my car and got a rental for my remaining days in Maryland. I arranged several farewell events to see all the important people in my life before I left. I packed everything up, sent boxes to my HI address, spent 3 days with movers to ship my household goods, and then finally that last day in Maryland came. I will NEVER in my life forget how it felt to arrive at the airport with a one-way ticket for the first time in my life, and kiss my mama goodbye not knowing when I’d be back or when I’d see her again. It was bittersweet, and I was truly overwhelmed with so many emotions. But as soon as I left, I never looked back!

In a place like Hawaii, it’s super easy to fall in love and forget what you left behind rather quickly. I swear that during my first month or two, I would walk around smiling, trying to convince myself that “I LIVE HERE! I REALLY DO!” My days were (and still are) filled with so much fun and adventure exploring this gorgeous island, being immersed in such diverse and foreign cultures, and learning more about the fascinafing Hawaiian people and their history. I actually surprised myself with how well I did adapting to my first relocation ever in such a new setting. I also fit in very easily, since I’m mixed and my whole life people have questioned whether or not I was Hawaiian. Here, everyone assumes I am, even the Hawaiians! So being able to blend in with the local people has also probably enhanced my experience tremendously. While I missed my loved ones back home, I still have yet to actually feel homesick or even slightly question if I made the right decision. It felt right from day one. It feels like home!

Fast-forward to today, after five whole months of living this #hilife. I must say, life is GOOD. I'm still brand spanking new here, but I definitely feel like a local now! I’ve acclimated enough to know the island pretty well, yet still have so much more to see, do, try, and explore. I go to my choice of the best beaches in the world every single weekend, sometimes even on the weekdays or after work... Something it's a dream come true to be able to say. No matter how many times I see my beautiful surroundings, it never ceases to amaze me or make me feel so unbelievably appreciative and grateful. I realize that many people only dream of visiting, let alone living, here and I am extremely fortunate. So I can promise you that I enjoy and cherish every single moment. I also recently realized that I love it so much here that I no longer feel the urge to travel so often. Of course, I still get a wanderlust bug here and there, and plan to travel to other islands and countries in the Pacific. However, there’s so much to look forward to here so I’m extremely fulfilled with my time here and don’t have to look forward to leaving to visit somewhere else just to feel the same fulfillment or get a thrill, like how I felt in Maryland. Even when I took a short trip to neighbor island Maui, I was homesick to come home to my island. I’m pretty sure that’s a telltale sign that you’re genuinely happy!

Honestly, I feel a new sense of joy and excitement about life. I tell everyone that this is truly a magical place, and not a day goes by that I don’t feel such a connection to it with my soul. But aside from how incredible Hawaii is, it’s also so exhilarating to be here and to be totally free to experience everything on my own, at my own pace, at my own leisure. This is about ME, discovering myself, and enjoying the fruits of my labor. All of this was possible because of ME. I overcomed so many obstacles and worked so incredibly hard to be here and live my dreams, so I know I deserve every bit of it. And that alone feels more amazing than anything else.

I proved a lot to myself by moving out here on my own and flourishing. I now have no doubt that I could move anywhere else in the world and do the same. I’m proud of myself for having the courage to do this, something lots of people questioned because they could never imagine doing it themselves. Now there are no limits for me and my future. I can totally see myself as a wanderer, moving from place to place every few years to conquer them one by one. This nomad lifestyle totally fits me and satisfies my soul. But for now while I’m here for the next 3-5 years, I’ll make the most of each day until I’m off to my next destination.