Mahalo, Hawaii

Letter #12: Visiting my old roommate in Hawaii AKA heaven on earth. And only 6 days before leaving the county for...well...a while.

Feb 21, 2023

A quick welcome to the 9 new subscribers that joined me in the last week! It’s so exciting to be able to share the journey with all of you, so thank you for being here. 🌈

When I booked a flight to Hawaii ($124 one way Delta from LAX thankyouverymuch) I had no idea this would be the perfect place to kick off my international trip.

Sasha and I have a long history together in our beloved NYC. We lived together with our dogs for a while and have been friends through some tough times in life. In the past few years, our maturing lives have only become more fun when we’re together, and I know we both cherish our ability to sit around the house in silence or talk nonstop for hours on end.

I’d wanted to see where she grew up for a long time, so it was the perfect opportunity to stop in Honolulu on my way to Bali. I stayed in a guest room of her step dad’s house in Manoa. Sasha worked early in the mornings and in the afternoons we’d take off to explore the island. Hawaii is no joke. This place is pure paradise. You can feel its warm energy mixed with a troubled history oozing out of the land. Yet another island with rich indigenous culture colonized by the Europeans and Americans.

Sasha took care to make sure I got everything I wanted out of the trip. What did I want most? The poké bar at Foodland. Ok also to sunbathe and hike. We lounged near the crystal clear waters at Kaimana’s beach, hiked the Lanikai Pillbox Trail, Manoa Falls Trail, had some of the best banh mi of my life at Saigon Noodle House, and enjoyed her step dad’s home-cooked meals for dinner.

What a truly rewarding way to experience this place that hardly feels like it’s one of the 50 states.

Sasha/HK beach time, Manoa Falls, The Lei Stand, Saigon Noodle House, Jurassic Parkish land, Sasha/HK hike time

On Thursday I met up with Hil’s younger sister, Hannah, for a homemade iced coffee on the beach. I could hardly believe this is how a person might start their work day—with a relaxing coffee on the beach. Maybe we should all move to Hawaii. (JK the cost of living has skyrocketed because of the über popular quality of life.) Hannah has been in Hawaii for years and it suits her well. She’s ultra outdoorsy and has that stunning island vibe every girl wants. Hannah and I went deep real quick, talking about what we want and don’t want in life, boys, where to live, and aging. She gave me excellent tips on traveling solo in SE Asia, as she’d spent 5 months backpacking through SE Asia and WWOOFing in New Zealand. Now WWOOFing is on my radar for Europe. I gave her a hug when she left for work, and then immediately went back for another hug because it made me feel closer to Hilary, one of my very best friends who is back home in Philadelphia.

I lounged on Kaimana’s beach from 9am-2pm, then I walked over to Waikiki beach to meet up with

Jen Vermet

for an afternoon surf session. 🌊 She’s been in Hawaii for a bit now, a Michigan native, and I gotta say the island looks good on her. I rented a surf board ($10 for 2 hours), and we paddled out, talking about life and careers, and yes—dating. She coached me along to catch my first wave. I’d only been surfing twice before in life—once in Waikiki when I was 17, and again at Cloud 9 in the Philippines when I was 33. I didn’t catch many waves this round, but I did catch one for at least 30 seconds and I was PUMPED! Idk if it’s a sport I’d dedicate a ton of time to, but gliding on top of the water like that is not a feeling you can emulate easily in normal life.

When Sasha took me to the airport, AGAIN, I was sad to leave. We had had such a nice time bonding over her family and her hometown, and now I was going off to be alone in a foreign country.

I told her I wasn’t so much emotional because I was scared or worried about the trip, but that I’ve dreamt about this experience for over half my life. And now that it was here, I was overwhelmed like it didn’t feel real or maybe I wasn’t ready. She encouraged me and hugged me like the amazing friend she is, reminding me I’ll learn so much about myself, have such an amazing time, and it’s ok if I need to take a break or come back early. As she gave me a final squeeze and I lightly sobbed on her shoulder, she reminded me that “I belong in every room I walk into.” (I know I’m repeating from the last newsletter but it’s a mantra for me so that’s what you’re supposed to do—repeat over and over until you believe it.)

What I’m thinking about: Last week,

Cécile Marion

posted a story called Permission to spend my savings on a sabbatical. I’ve never opened a newsletter so quickly, eager to gain any nugget of knowledge that will help me feel ok with also spending my savings on a sabbatical. And, boy oh boy, her post does not disappoint. For anyone who is in the heart of the grind and curious what it’s like to say yes to your inner most desire to throw your hands up, book a flight, and learn how to be yourself outside of a career—this is an inspiring read. It was exactly what I needed to pump me up for the journey ahead, and it sent me down a rabbit hole of Tim Ferriss’ guru-esque advice where I flagged this quote about Jean-Marc Hachey’s volunteer experience in Ghana in the early 1980’s:

“Don’t save it all for the end. There is perfect reason not to.”

Hey! Would you like to connect over creativity, self-growth, and problem-solving? Or just to have a virtual glass of wine or mocktail? Please book a time on my Calendly for us to chat! I can’t wait to see you. XOXO.

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