I often dream of taking the path less traveled… you know, going to those places no one really thinks about when it comes to traveling. When I lay down in my bed, my mind starts wandering and I see myself in places I’ve never been before. But for some reason, when it comes the time to book a ticket, I always get one to go Hawai’i. It’s always like « ok, one last time in Hawaii, then off to a place I’ve never been before ». But the problem is, I always have such a great time over there, I can’t help going back. I know I won’t be disappointed. This year was no exception when I decided to take a 2-week break away from home.
I spent the first week on Maui, where, once again I got incredible kiting conditions, and got to kite the secret spots of the Island with only a few guys and the whales out. Beautiful white sand beaches, waves, friendly people in and out of the water, I was in heaven. It’s hard to explain why I love it so much over there. Actually, I just can’t. Maui has always treated so well I guess I couldn’t help falling in love with the Island. I’ve been to this place so many times in the last 3 years, that some of the kiters were like: “We thought you had left! So you live here, now??” –Haha, I wish!! And those who didn’t know me would just stare at me with a puzzled look when I would tell them where I am from: “Tahiti? And you’re coming to Hawai’i on vacation several times a year? What’s the point?” I couldn’t think of any smart answer. Because yes, home is beautiful as well, I can kite every day, just like Maui, so I don’t know, it’s like I’m drawn to this place… and it just feels right to be there. Period.
Only this time I got to stay in a farm located in upcountry Haiku, owned by my friends’ dad: I couldn’t drive all the way to the house because I didn’t have a 4 WD, I would park my car right past the gate, and take the short walk downhill to get there. It was a lovely little house, surrounded by papaya trees, coffee trees, banana tress, flowers, pineapples, herbs, and medicinal plants I had never heard of before, with a river running through the property. That place was so peaceful… all you could hear was nature: birds, wind in the trees, frogs at night, nothing else.
I have to admit that every day looked like the previous one: wake up, eat my protein bar & my banana, chat with hosts Jim & Maile, check the forecast for the day, and drive where I could find some wind even if it meant driving for 3 hours to eventually come back kiting where I was coming from. I would kite for a few hours, hang out at the beach with the local kiters & just enjoy the moment. I would then hop back in my mini van & stop at Mana Foods on the way back home to get my daily piece of vegan carrot cake. This little thing was my treat! After each session I couldn’t wait to bite into this little piece of heaven, and would usually enjoy it at Ho’okipa, while watching the guys go out for their sunset session.
For most, it probably doesn’t sound very exciting, I didn’t do any of the tourist things, even if most people would tell me to do this and that. It’s just not me. What I did was enough to make me one of the happiest persons on Earth. I felt so good over there I didn’t want to fly to Oahu. But I’m glad I did because my second week over there was just as great. See you next week to talk about it.
-Vainui
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