It Takes an Island

DAY 2

Yet another 5:00 am wakeup call, this time with a bright eyed and bushytailed start due to Starbucks and the wonderfully amazing 21st century invention of VIA instant Starbucks packets, not to mention the fact of getting some extra hours of sleep due to the 2 hour behind time difference from Phoenix and Orlando.

However, upon waking up to retrieve my bathing suit left out over night in the arid, 90 degree desert heat outside of our hotel room, I was greeted with the morning sun illuminating the infinite terrain of the Arizona morning. Looking at the alarm clock, I was baffled as to how I could be two hours behind Orlando, clock showing 5:00 am, and the sun being up before it would be up in Orlando...hmmmm I say. But I must say, due to the wonderful world of Facebook, with my query posted, I received an almost instant response and answer: "A) you're farther north, which means the run rises earlier on a relative basis in summer, B) Arizona doesn't go on daylight savings, so you're really on Pacific time. If they had any sense it would really be 6AM, but they don't, as it's Arizona." I must give credit to where credit is due..thank you Mr. Rob Heath!



With a 35 minute delay from Phoenix due to the First Captain deciding to oversleep and waiting for his arrival, we loaded up and took off for our 6 hour and 18 minute flight....ah yeah, you read it right....translated by hour 5 of my 6'6'' tall self stuffed in coach against a window with my knees tucked up to my chin, I was ready to make a go for the exit doors and go all LOST in attempt to get to the island faster. I must say though, to pass the time, I must credit an audio book by my favorite author Paolo Coelho entitled the Pilgrimage. Truly a captivating story (that is up to the part before slightly drifting in and out of sleep) of one man's journey and pursuit of that he desires, and the tests he along with the rest of us must face in order to achieve our goals and success. I had always credited The Alchemist by the same author for changing my life and setting me onto the path of my Personal Legend, but I must now also credit The Pilgrimage for focusing my thoughts and dedication to my success and happiness. Before I begin to create my own Cliff's Notes version for you all, I will refrain and just strongly encourage you to pick it up and engross yourself in the lessons, exercises and morals of this amazing tale.

Landing in Honolulu and being greeted by a terrain like none other, with clambering peaked mountains, with lush cascading green vegetation and surrounding ocean breeze...the magnitude of my destination finally sunk in. Good timing as well, for from Honolulu it was time to board a 26 minute flight to our final destination of Kauai, the "garden island," a true adventurer's island, not like Hawaii's other resort and leisure counterparts. Due to Kauai still maintaining its natural splendor, a large percentage is still un-navigable by car, and thus opens up more opportunity for hiking, kayaking, and other non traditional means of getting from point A to point B. Before arriving, with some research and Guide Book, we realized that if you can't see the island by car, see it by helicopter, and thus booked an hour 4 passenger helicopter tour with Jack Harter Helicopters, allowing aerial access to the multitude of waterfalls, especially Manawaiopuna Fall, probably more familiar to you all as the Jurassic Park waterfalls. Speaking of, many other movies chose to use the natural beauty of Kauai as their set; movies such as 7Days and 7Nights, 50 First Dates, Raiders of the Lost Ark, South Pacific, Blue Hawaii, Lord of the Flies, Fantasy Island and on and on... There are tours on the island specifically for traveling to the various sites, but I thought it more fun, to print a list of the sites, and go find them ourselves with the help of GPS!

Arriving to the resort, The Point at Poipu, the south side of the island, enough time was had to unpack, and head just outside the front door to Shipwreck beach and take in the amazing view that was to be home for the next week.

With daylight quickly slipping away as the sun set on the western side of the island, the remnants of the vivacious colors were awe inspiring as if mere watercolor pigment was lightly touched and gracefully danced over a wet canvas, leaving the hues to dissipate and vanish off into the horizon, bringing an end to a VERY long day, and further giving me the motivation to go to bed early to wake up to see the sunrise with coffee in hand, to start the first full day on the island I now call home, for it took this island to awaken in me a passion for life and all the beauties of it, and with the learned lessons and exercise taught with The Pilgrimage discussing intentionally walking at half pace of your usual speed for at least 30 minutes every day for 7 days...and in doing so, shakes you from your daily grind and routine, and awakens you to new smells, sights, and experiences that have been there all along, but have never taken time to slow down and truly, deeply inhale life, and digest the power it offers us in the simplicity of its beauty.

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