Beach Buff Bodies

I went to the beach this weekend to work on my tan. I figured that I should be slightly tanned for my wedding. I can't believe it's only three weeks away! Ahh! And I still have tons of little things to do. It's never ending.

Saturday was a beautiful day to go to the beach, but apparently, everyone else on the island wanted to go to the beach too. Ala Moana Beach Park was also hosting some kind of carnival event as well as the Dragon Boat Races, so it was really hard to find parking. Luckily, we didn't have too much trouble and parked in a prime location.

The beach was hot and filled with people. The ocean was bright blue and glistening. I could feel the sun beaming down on my skin as Noah and I walked toward the beach. We found a nice spot near the water that wasn't too populated. Unfortunately, there was nothing else around to provide any shade from the hot sun, but I slathered on the sunblock to save my skin. I was really shiny! The heat wasn't as bad as I thought because the sand wasn't burning my toes after I took off my slippers.

The warmth of the sun was nice, but after a couple of minutes, I started thinking whether I should get a tan? I was wearing a halter bikini. My wedding dress is strapless. Oh No! Am I going to have this weird funky tan at the wedding?

This is the one problem with many wedding in Hawaii. People don't realize how strong the sun is here. In most cases, people end up either lobster red from sunburn or with funky bikini shadowed tans on their pictures.

I didn't want to be stuck with a halter tan, so I quickly jumped into the ocean and waded around. At first, the water was cold. Ahh!! Really cold! But, I said, "What the hell!" and jumped in, submerging my whole body. Yikes! The torture only lasted a couple of seconds, and I acclimated to the temperature. I had a blast wading in the water. The ocean was extremely calm, so it was like being in a swimming pool! I floated on my back, pretended to be a fish, and splashed around like a maniac. It was great! I think I was in the water for a good hour or until my fingers were prunes. I jumped out of the water and laid down on the beach mat to warm-up again.

Do you ever go to the beach just to people watch? It's very interesting. Sitting back, I see tourist, locals, and teenagers. The tourist are quiet obvious. They speak another language and are enthralled by the "beach". Locals are the ones who are overly prepared with their chairs, grills, and cornucopia of food. Teenagers on the beach are usually holding their significant others like it's their last time.

Some people who visit the beach have no taste in fashion or embarrassment factor. I saw a elderly man in his 60's wearing a Speedo strutting his stuff along the water. I believe he was trying to attract the "ladies". There was another man in the water who did the weirdest thing. While I was wading and splashing around, I heard this funny noise. I couldn't figure out what it was. So, I turned my head all around me searching for this mysterious sound. Louder and louder, I saw a man swimming towards me. He was moving his arms like a normal freestyle stroke, but when his head came up, instead of breathing he spit. It was an intentional spit. And sure enough, after watching him for at least a minute, he spit every single time. I was disgusted.

Some people do the strangest things in public even at the beach. Overall, I had a lot of fun relaxing at the beach. Living on this island makes you forget that we're surrounded by beaches. Warm and beautiful beaches too! Not like beaches in California where they're cold and rocky. Hopefully in the weekends counting down to the wedding, I can hopefully visit and relax at the beach again.

Now, off to another adventure...

The Beginning of Hawaiian Life

Moving to Hawaii in 2006 was a very difficult decision for me. Everything I knew was in California. My friends. My family. I had just graduated college, so I wanted to start a life for myself. I wanted to find out who I really was without my parents.

I believe that a person should not live in fear or regret. I was given an opportunity of a lifetime to live in Hawaii. It's next to impossible for Mainlanders to move to Hawaii before retirement. People don't move to Hawaii because jobs pay next to nothing and the cost of living is extremely high.

I had to take the chance, and it's been very lonely. I left all my family and friends. I didn't know anyone who lived here. I also grew up in a large family, so there was always someone to hang around or talk to.

I am very grateful that my now fiance, then boyfriend, moved with me. He sacrificed as much as I did. He sold his car. He left his job. He left his mom. He moved away from all the activities and friends that made him happy, just to be with me.


I don't regret moving to Hawaii. Yes, life has been hard but I have made a life here. I found myself and who I am. I enjoy the people of this island and their calm energy. I would just like my California friends and family to realize what I've gone through and how I have changed.

I do miss everyone in California, but I don't want the relationship to be one sided. In the past three years, I have traveled to California six times. I try to visit as often as possible, but I want people to have to desire to visit me as well. Why do I always have to come to California to see anyone? Why can't they come and see me? I have free accommodations available.

Everyone needs to understand that my life is not in California anymore. Yes, it is a part of me and where I grew up, but it is not my future. I love California and it's energy, but I made a home in Hawaii. I'm ready to start a family. I just wish that my friends and family could open their eyes and see me now.

I want people to be happy and supportive of my choices. I don't want to hear, "So, when are you moving back?" all the time. In my mind, I asked "So, why haven't you come to visit me?"

Contrary to what some people think, I do not make a lot of money in Hawaii. I have been in the same job position for the past three years, and Noah teaches elementary school. Life is hard, but we are living life together one step at a time.

"Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end." - Unknown