also known as “The Gathering Place” or the Heart of Hawaii. It is the third-largest of the Hawaiian Islands and home to roughly one million people [source]. The town of Kailua has been our home base since we arrived after boarding our first flight out of the state of California in more than 15 months. My partner Danté is here for work and he kindly invited me to accompany him.

Since we arrived I have been talking to Hawaiian friends online, frequenting small businesses here in Kailua while talking to the owners and other customers, walking or biking around instead of driving, wearing my mask and respecting other requirements for health/safety, visiting the ocean, swimming in the pool at the house we’re staying at and reading about Hawaiian culture and language through such books as ‘Ōlelo No‘eau by Mary Abigail Kawena­ʻula­o­ka­lani­a­hiʻiaka­i­ka­poli­o­pele­ka­wahine­ʻai­honua­i­nā­lei­lehua­a­pele Wiggin Pukui, (April 20, 1895 – May 21, 1986) known affectionately as Tūtū Pukui [source].

One of the things the people of Hawaii really want us visitors to know, is that there is a better way to visit these islands than the way in which most of us historically have; and this is a great article that goes more into detail on that issue as does this article on what not to do.

This morning when I woke up there were cotton candy-tinted clouds filling the blue sky outside our window. I rushed out the door half running, half struggling to strap on my sandals, as I did so, without even brushing my teeth or grabbing a coffee - still in my pajamas - to the beach! All to catch a lovely sunrise. Because like I wrote about a few weeks ago, I think really appreciating things like a stunning sunrise is just one of the many, many ways to use our dash well and I didn’t want to miss this one.

These are some of the residents or local businesses that have made this trip special for us. Bookmark this so that if you’re ever on O'ahu, you can support some of these as well.

And because Mary Kawena Pukui’s book, which celebrates Hawaiian proverbs and poetical sayings, has meant so much to me this week, here’s a passage from the section beginning with the letter K:

Baby animal videos are always cute, right? But this one…

If you have plans to travel again, snag one of my 5 Summer Guest Passes for CLEAR that get you 3 Months for free. Includes up to 3 family members! Simply use code 4OJULY7EBCF2 to take advantage at their site. This is not sponsored, I’m just a longtime happy customer and I believe anyone who is, received a code to share with those they know.

Mahalo for reading! A hui hou [until we meet, or I write, again]. I hope to see you in two weeks for the thirteenth edition of An Eye for Life. 💛 ✨

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