Aloha and thank you for dropping by!
Oʻahu has been my home from day one. I’m island born and raised, but am not Hawaiian; I'm of Japanese descent. So, you can call me an "islander" or "resident"—or better yet—"kama‘aina." That's Hawaiian for "child of the land" that describes someone who was born in the islands regardless of ethnicity. (Note: Only people with Hawaiian blood can be referred to as “Hawaiian.”)
I’m a writer and editor by trade and was until recently employed at a visitor publication for nearly 30 years. I started off in the production department then moved in to editorial. It was my second home where I learned much about our special 808 state, our mixed plate of cultures and traditions, and connected with people from all walks of life. Being an introvert, it was a challenge, but step by step, it became a deeply rewarding experience that’s helped me to grow as a writer. I’ll always be grateful for that and the support of my second family.
This site was born in 2013 with my first trip to New Zealand. I was nervous going solo, but this country had been a dream destination for so long that I jumped at the opportunity to go.
After about a week there, I had driven to Tongariro National Park and was sitting on the bed with my laptop, writing my first blog for this site. It was cold and drizzly outside, but the setting sun cast orange hues through the picture window. At that moment, I experienced an overwhelming feeling of joy and satisfaction deep in my core … pure, utter contentment. I had had an epiphany. That moment and what I was doing just felt right.
Since then, I’ve been trying to blog at least semi-regularly, but regardless of how many places I’ve traveled to since, I just couldn’t find it in me to put fingers to keyboard. But I do have lots of images and stories to share, so I will get to them.
Travel being out of the picture for now, I’ve been focusing on my photography and writing, and as a matter of fact, a former colleague and I recently launched our website, beinghawaii.com. We share the stories of Hawai’i residents, issues playing out in the islands, as well as personal thoughts and experiences. You’ll find my most recent writings there.
However, travel is in my blood and my preferred mode of travel is road tripping. I will one day be driving a camper van along an unfamiliar road with a snow-covered mountain range in the distance. All I’ll need is a road map (okay, maybe GPS) and country music playing from my iPod along with my camera, laptop and journal ready to capture the adventures to come. You can bet on it.