Luana Kai

Sunset, Luana Kai Condos, Kihei, Canon Digital Rebel

More nauseatingly beautiful photos of Maui. It's sick, right?

Does it make you feel any better that there were many grey, rainy days in Hana where we sat inside and played on the computer? (Hence all of the blogging from Hana)

I thought it would.

Something else that will make you feel better about being inside. Book sculptures! {Via Sasha}

obey the signs

bamboo forest, Canon Digital Rebel

This is where we ran for our lives last year. {Read second section of this post}

So when we went to the bamboo forest this year, I made sure to tell the people we hiked with that we HAD to obey the signs. (The ones that said, "Danger falling rocks") As big as that sign is, there is something unconvincing about it. Most of the people who hiked there that day were past the sign. I sent them my silent prayer and stayed in safe terrain with my friends.
....
Cut to: Laughing hysterically in the bar that night at the Hana Maui resort. We are drinking froofy cocktails with a trio of ladies we just met who are telling us some of the funniest stories we have ever heard. They are from Boston, have thick accents and are a mother, aunt and 30-something-year-old daughter team. They are really, really funny.

Matt and I share our story of the lost ring in Virgin Gorda but forget to mention our harrowing falling rock story of right there in Hana, Maui. Even as we kiss them goodbye at the bar and they tell us they are going to hike the bamboo forest the next morning, we still forget to tell them. We only say, "See you at the beach in the afternoon!"

That next night, when we hadn't seen them at the beach or heard from them we got a little nervous. Then the phone rang and we heard the news. They had been hit by falling rocks at the waterfall. They were beaten up, but okay and had spent the afternoon in the ER. They were also shaken up and invited us over for strong cocktails at their cottage.

We thought about its appropriateness for only a few seconds and then came up with a plan for what we would bring over. We arrived with this photo framed up and gift-wrapped.

falling rocks, Canon Digital Rebel

They laughed so hard when they saw it, we thought they would topple over. They were all bandaged and bruised and black-eyed and still they thought it was the funniest thing ever. They taught me something about using laughter to heal...

We met up with them at the end of our trip for more adventures-A cheesy luau in Lahaina and a 4am voyage up to the summit of the volcano Haleakala to see the sun rise. We were higher than the clouds and it was majestic and beautiful...

Sunrise at Haleakala, Canon Digital Rebel

The photo above is of the folks in the observation room watching the sunrise (which you can see in the reflection of the window) It was about 20 degrees with the windchill up there, and it was truly painful to be outside taking photos. I wore socks on my hands in addition to all of my other layers and could barely operate my camera. Hardly the Maui we imagined!

coconut

Andrea with coconut, photo by Chris, Canon Digital Rebel

Coconut trees and magical beaches.
It's like being on the show Lost without the pesky plane crash.

Animal friends

Ua is the best dog in the world, Canon Digital Rebel

This is our dog friend Ua (means rain in Hawaiian) who has been our almost constant companion this trip. Below is a little cat we met at a roadside coconut candy stand on the Hana highway.

cat friend, Canon Digital Rebel

2 things (of many) I love about Hana:
1. The sun rises over the ocean. This totally freaked me out. I thought the whole world had turned upside down.
2. The cows come with their very own pet egret. Really. They do. Everywhere you look are cows grazing with their little pet egrets by their side. It is totally adorable.

photo by karwhit

boat at Mama's Fish House

boat at Mama's Fish House, Canon Digital Rebel

Okay.
So tell me to stop if the pretty pictures get too out of control.

Hamoa beach, Canon Digital Rebel

This is the beach where we've been playing each day. It is called Hamoa Beach and is right down the street from our friend's property called Malanai. If you are planning to come to Hana, you should stay here! It is truly beautiful. And comes with the most wonderful hosts you will ever meet.

Back to my new career of lounging around doing nothing.

Wai'anapanapa

black sand beach at Wai'anapanapa, Canon Digital Rebel

Damn.
It's pretty here.

The Road to Hana

rear view, Canon Digital Rebel

We arrived in Hana thursday and marveled at the beauty of this place once again. Our dear friend Chris picked us up at the airport, leid us in bright tropical purples and immediately took us to Costco! (which seems like a total buzzkill except that I was fascinated to see boogie boards, hawaiian shirts, surf boards, macadamia nuts and board shorts in lieu of winter jackets.) I've always had a thing for grocery stores in other countries and Hawaii really should be considered another country.

Chris and Jacques live in beautiful Hana, one of the most exquisite jewels on planet Earth. It is also remote and takes at least 2 hours to get there by car on a windy magical road. People who live there have to shop for their food and other supplies in town (hence the trip to Costco) If you haven't been on the the road to Hana, imagine Big Sur, (that wild, unmanicured beauty, dramatic cliffs overlooking the ocean) gone technicolor. Lush, green bamboo forests, red ginger and rocks and waterfalls on every curve. Rainbows sit in the clouds over turquoise water.

It's ridiculous really. A totally ridiculous kind of beauty. And one that I feel so blessed to enjoy this week.

I always say that I love Chris and Jacques so much that they could live anywhere in the world and I would think it was the best place that ever existed... but I totally approve of their move to paradise.

Andrea, photo by Matt Passmore Canon Digital Rebel

...
Reading:
I am reading a fantastic book called Moloka'i while I'm here and a book about business that is blowing my mind called The E-Myth.

So honored to see the post about me and my work on Danny Gregory's site. I must say I love the drawing... Thank you Danny!

pony nose

pony nose, Canon Digital Rebel

This is a horse.
This is a tiny horse.
It is real.
It is a horse.

On our way to Christine's place in Solvang, I screamed when I saw what I thought was a horse statue/stuffed animal/lawn ornament come to life. Then I saw more. Tiny ponies everywhere! I couldn't believe my eyes... Jen turned to me surprised, "You've never seen these before? This is what rich people buy!"

Do you remember the delight of seeing something for the first time? Something you didn't know existed? Something you didn't even know was possible?

That's how I felt when I saw those tiny ponies.
It might as well have been a field of white unicorns.
Or a wardrobe that was a portal to another land.

For some of us, it is seeing a double rainbow for the first time that brings us this sense of wonder. For others it is a shooting star. For this Californian, it was seeing fireflies for the first time (once again with Jen) when I went to Chicago.

It makes me think of something my dear friend Sara said when we asked her to be the officiant for our wedding. She said, "Wow! There are so many things I've looked forward to in my life. I didn't know life included this!"

I didn't know life included tiny ponies.
...
Tom Chambers
will blow your little head wide open.

re-TREAT

Christine Swirly Miller at Sunstone Winery, Canon Digital Rebel

So much to say about this magical weekend. So much that goes beyond words. There was a lot of laughter, a lot of deep sharing, a lot of appreciating each other's journey, and a whole lot of dancing (on the ceiling) to Lionel Richie.

If there was a part of me that came alive this weekend, it was my inner 13-year-old, giggling at everything, dancing crazy, singing at the top of my lungs , and just generally being silly.

There was also a lot of getting to know these incredible women and appreciating their talent & beauty and magic. They are so talented and funny!

I felt lucky.
I felt young.
I felt giddy and alive.

And I fell in love with these amazing people I had mostly known online. What a treat to hold their hands, see their pretty eyes and hear their laughter. A big thank you to Christine Miller who organized the whole raucous event. It was truly a gift.

tubers

tubers, Canon Digital Rebel

My friends Grant and Viola are in Anarctica studying penguins for the 10th year! You can follow their journey here.

The yummiest site to see in winter is by the San Francisco Exploratorium. {via Sarah Ward} Be sure to click on "Hello Dahlia."

And this so delighted me today I had to share it!

retreat

water, Canon Digital Rebel

More water from the camera obscura at Ocean Beach.

I'm going away this weekend for a creative retreat with a group of women I have known for years via email. Some I have also met in person, and others I have only corresponded with. What we all have in common is that we are all creative business owners of some kind. We are writers, painters, designers, photographers, etc. and have used this circle of women for support, cheerleading and guidance.

We are kindred spirits and friends.

I am very excited to laugh, make art, eat, and dream with them.

Karli

Karli, Canon Digital Rebel

More of the fabulous Karli in all her full-bellied glory...

Karli, Canon Digital Rebel

The 2006 Bloggies

pregnant Karli twirl, Canon Digital Rebel

Voting began for the 2006 Bloggies! I encourage you to vote for your favorite sites, and at the risk of being presumptuous... if my site finds its way onto your voting card, I am deeply honored! {Voting ends January 10th}