3X's in Hawaii

My life started out in a Pink Hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii. Since I was born a Military kid, I had to move from Hawaii, when I was a toddler. Well you've heard the saying, you can't miss something you've never had. Since I cannot recall that time, it's exactly like that. I never knew I missed Hawaii. Probably the reason I didn't bug my parents to take me there , or let me see my family that lived there.
I do remember spending summers with my paternal Grandparents. And I did ask to see them often. I can recall missing them. But that's a whole different blog for another day.
In 2007 my teenage daughter and I had a chance to visit Hawaii. Keep in mind that it was a little more than 45 years since I had left Hawaii the first time. Oahu to be exact. Perris and I were adventurers. Staying in an unknown place in a town called Makaha. Her only request, was that she could buy a coconut bra. All I wanted to do, was swim with Turtles. We were able to accomplish both those wishes and so much more. I was not able to call any family members, because the numbers I had for them were not valid anymore. And did I think to e-mail or get their e-mails before I left? Well, that was a rhetorical question. If you know anything about me, you know the answer.
The bond I felt with the land and my daughter was overwhelming. I left that Hawaiian trip a changed person. Many things about how I was living was going to change. How I dealt with life's little curveballs, definitely changed. When you connect with the land you come from, you know nothing else really matters like you think it does.
Perris and I were able to visit ancient historical sites. That trip had a powerful connection to our roots. My mother tried so hard to keep that life from me. By the time she decided to share Hawaii with me, she was dying. The trip she had planned for us would have ended on the day she died. Don't feel bad about my mom dying, feel bad about us not sharing the love of her land together to be bonded. My daughter and I shared something powerful that time. If I ever get her laptop back, I'll post pictures from that visit. We took about 300 of them.
Magical transformation...
Trip number three was with my BFF of 30 years, June 2009. When we were buying our tickets, she had decided she couldn't be gone longer than a week. I wanted to go for two weeks or at least ten days. Really, did it matter? No it didn't. I just wanted to get back there. This trip I was armed with family info. See, I've been e-mailing certain members of the family regulary since that 2007 trip. Yes, I did spend time with Auntie, Uncle, and 4 cuz'. That was awesome. And now I have found new family members on FB through that meeting. More to come.......