Warning: This is a long one!

So, it’s been awhile since the last post…sorry everyone! But thanks for keeping track and checking back here to see what’s new! Well, I guess quite a lot has gone on since the last time. Last Saturday (March 8th) we decided to drive around and see the other parts of the Big Island, so we made reservations to stay at a hotel in Kona, and headed North on Hwy 19. Amazing beautiful views off the coast…pretty soon we came to a sign declaring “Akaka Falls” at the next exit, so we took it! Drove a bit through the town of Honomu, and made our way to the falls. Wow! It was so beautiful, and a great detour decision, if I do say so myself. We drove through some other towns and stopped for some food and butt relief at Waimea. This is paniolo (cowboy) country! Kept on Hwy 19 and made it to Kona around 4. Our hotel was right in the downtown area, on the Bay. Really beautiful, but wow, what a difference from Hilo! It felt a bit like Vegas, without the bright lights and gambling; just very touristy. We ate at a nice restaurant with great ocean views, and had our first “island drinks!” Michael’s was definitely the best; it even came in a coconut-looking cup! We had breakfast the next morning at a great place I read about in our tour book called Aloha Angel Café, just a bit South of Kona, and then headed back to a beach we read was supposed to be great for snorkeling…and wow, was it ever! We didn’t rent any snorkel gear, but still waded out into the reef, and the fish were swimming all around us! The water was so clear, it felt a bit like bath water…crazy! You didn’t even need a snorkel to see them. So…we decided to stay another night and go back to the beach the next morning. We DID rent gear then, and I received my first coral injuries during my very first time snorkeling! Hurt like a mama, but healing nicely now. We also both got sunburned for the first time! Wow, the sun is hot and intense. We weren’t in the sun for a super long time, and we had put sunscreen on before going into the water the first time, but apparently didn’t let it soak in long enough… :( It was worth it though; so much fun, and Michael was especially enthralled with it all. He even swam with a sea turtle at the end! By the way, the beach is called Kahalu’u.

While riding (and Michael drove) I had fun reading up in our tour book about Hawaiian culture and history. The Hawaiian alphabet contains only 12 letters: H, K, L, M, N, P, W, A, E, I, O, U; and it was a missionary who first attempted to write their language down. It’s pretty simple, every vowel basically is the same every time (with a few exceptions) and anytime there’s a double vowel with an apostrophe between them, you use a glottal stop.

So…Monday afternoon we continued South (Hwy 19 turns into Hwy 11 in Kona) towards South Point, which is the Southernmost tip of the United States. The whole Southern part of the Big Island is very different-looking from the other parts. Very barren with tons of lava rocks everywhere! We made one stop in Na’alehu and tasted the goods at the Punalu’u Bakeshop (famous for their Hawaiian sweet breads-I’ve seen them in stores on the Mainland).

We also called and made reservations to stay for a week at a place in Hilo that rents daily, weekly, or monthly, called Reeds Bay Resort and Hotel. We arrived here at about 6pm, and got settled in. We had a kitchenette, which is great because it’s a bit pricey to have to eat out EVERY meal, so we went to the grocery store and stocked up for a few meals. We spent Tuesday not doing much; drove around a bit and went downtown. Shopped at the Farmer’s Market (we got a ton of produce for $10!) and Michael went to talk to a guy he had met on our first day downtown. He owns one of the local surf shops, and he was a super nice guy. Michael wanted to ask him about going surfing and ended up buying a “beginner’s” board and made plans to go out with him the next morning. Boy, was he excited! Grinning from ear to ear :). So…we used the alarm for the first time and made it down to the beach by about 6:45 the next morning. Stan was there waiting for us, and they just jumped right in! Michael had a blast! He rested two different times, and his third time back out he actually caught a wave and jumped up on the board! Stan said that is pretty lucky for a first-timer, but we know our Michael ;).

We both had interviews that afternoon at the hotel we stayed at our first few nights here, so that was encouraging, although we should have heard by Friday if either of us was hired, and Friday has come and gone. I forgot how much I HATE looking for a job! Having to walk up to the cashier or whoever and say “are you hiring right now?”…poo! And then the interview…so nerve-wracking! Having to prove yourself to a perfect stranger and hope they get a glimpse of your true self…it’s been six years since the last time I had to find a new job! That is pretty much what is dominating my thoughts right now. We were looking for an apartment and jobs at the same time, and it’s hard because an employer wants to see on the application that you have a place to live, and an apartment manager or landlord wants to see that you have a steady job! Aahhh!! So we decided to rent here for a month (actually it’ll be 25 days total, because that’s what they had available) and focus on finding jobs. Then if for some reason we can’t find anything, we’re not stuck in a 6-month or more lease, and we can reevaluate things.

We were in a studio-type apartment, but we moved into a 1-bedroom for the month, and it is really nice. They usually charge quite a bit more for it, but because they didn’t have any studios available for a month, they’re letting us stay here for the same price as a studio would have been. We have been feeling so blessed so far for all of the people we’ve met and breaks we’ve caught! So after moving down here Thursday (it’s a couple floors below the other room) we drove to a shopping center to get some more job applications. When we returned to the car to drive to another area of the shopping center, it wouldn’t start! Not even a sound of trying. By the time Michael was done trying to figure out what was wrong, it was just before five-o-clock, and the Ford shop was about to close. So, we had it towed there, and walked home. I was feeling pretty discouraged at first, because I had actually been fired up about getting job applications and trying to get a job, and honestly feeling a little scared about not getting a job, and then boom, we can’t even get anywhere! After talking out loud a bit about all of this, while walking, I came to the realization that God was taking the little bit of control we had (our car) away, in order to remind us that He is in control and we need to trust Him. He has a plan for our jobs and place to live and just our whole time here, and we need to have faith and believe and RELAX! I felt so much better after that, and was able to enjoy the bit of exercise I was getting and the beautiful surroundings we were walking through. After all, we are in Hawaii, and I am with my best friend and love! Can it get much better?! So…we found out that we need a new starter in the car, and since they didn’t find out until Friday, and they’re closed all weekend, it should be done sometime Monday, March 17th (they have a free shuttle that will come pick us up and take us there :)), and then we will be able to continue our search. We walked downtown again Friday and Saturday to see about jobs there and to just hang out a bit. It will be much easier once we have a car again. Michael was feeling a little bummed about it all because he was planning on going surfing again Friday morning, but no car to get there! That might be the first thing we do when we get the car back :). So, we’ve decided to just enjoy ourselves and have fun while we have all of this time together. Well, I guess that pretty much catches you all up! We’re going to the beach! Love to you all!

Ps. I tried uploading a bunch of pictures, but couldn’t get to do anything. I’ll try again soon!