January 19, 2008
Aloha! We are here!
I finally have a little bit of time to post! I've been procrastinating a bit, because the days go by since we arrived in Hawaii I have so much more to say that the idea of trying to summarize it for my blog becomes more and more daunting. I'll just try to give some highlights, and post more regularly, k?
We've settled into a cute little rental house in a suburban-y neighborhood right next to a little town called Kapa'au, on the big island of Hawaii. See Kapa'au on the map to the right.
We spent the first week or so dealing with logistics -- setting up utilities, figuring out where things are, and going south to Kona to shop at Kmart and Costco for furnishings. This house was entirely unfurnished, so we had to buy everything from dishtowels to chairs! It's pretty minimal, but we're all set up here, the priority of course being big tables and with comfortable chairs to sit at for our computing, art and jewelry-makin', and mad scientist needs. In between our excursions we made sure to fit in some beach and snorkeling trips, because it's just too beautiful here!
The area we're living, part of the North Kohala district, contains two little towns, Hawi and Kapa'au. Filled with art galleries, coffee shops, and almost everything else we could ask for nearby, we can walk to the public pool, library, post office, and grocery store, as well as a burrito joint! Here's an article written in the New York Times about this area (from 2000, but still pretty accurate.) Doesn't it sound AWESOME? Shhhh, keep it on the DL, YO! It is really undeveloped here!
So I got back to work on illustration and jewelry a few days ago, once we got everything all set up. I've got a couple illustration jobs that came in as soon as I arrived, and I'm working on a new set of Hawaiian wildlife jewelry that I aim to take to some fancy resort gift shops to see if they're interested. I am so inspired by the local wildlife I can't think of anything I'd rather be drawing, so it works out well.
Being here so far is just as amazing as I dreamed it would be. I've always known I was suited for a tropical climate, and this is the first time I can really test it out. I can't believe how much more relaxed and full of joy I am here. I miss the bay area, and I especially miss you all, but besides that I feel like I am living in a dream world. There are thousands of birds outside my studio window, and I can hear crickets at night when I go to sleep. There are banana trees in our backyard, and I wear shorts and flip-flops every day. I can't wait to get outside every day to swim/bike/run (we are actually planning to participate in two local triathlons while we're here) and when I run down the road I pass by jungle trees, mountains, and the ocean instead of being surrounded by cars and a cold wind.
About 4 1/2 miles from here, where the road ends, is this place. In the other direction, we can ride our bikes 9 miles and arrive at an abandoned dock, where the water is usually calm and clear and the snorkeling is INCREDIBLE. NINE MILES!
So, aloha to all of you... I miss you but I'm right here on the TV with y'all :)
Posted by tammy at January 19, 2008 1:45 PM