Trippin in The Frog Ship Voyager

I recently purchased a van, perfect for island adventuring. Plenty of room for bikes, boards, and sleeping. It has a few quirks which make it all the more lovable and adds personality. I decided to name it "The Frog Ship", with several variations. Frog Ship Odyssey, H.M.S Frog Ship, Purple Frogger.......



For the maiden voyage I decided to take a trip up the Hamakua Coast and run from Waipio to Waimanu Valley. I camped in Kalopa State Park the night before, a mere 15 minutes from the Waipio overlook. Kalopa is at 2,000ft. elevation making the temperatures cool and moist. I went for a little run through the lush old growth forest, through giant ferns and towering eucalyptus trees. I made it back just after the darkness settled and bunkered down in The Frog Ship. I removed the two back seats so there would be plenty of room. I sat under the moonlight pickin' at my banjo and thinking about the beautiful trails that awaited.

The next thing I heard was my phone alarm beeping and I leaped up in excitement. I drove the short distance to Waipio and watched the sun rise, with the moon still shining bright. I have made the hike in a few times so I knew how brutal the trail was. It is only 20 miles round trip but there are some killer climbs.

This was the most prepared for a run I have ever been. I carried two hand held water bottles and even brought along a GU. It starts off with a 900ft. descent down a super steep road to the Waipio Valley floor. Once at the bottom I ran about a mile along the black sand beach and listened to the glassy waves roll in. Next comes the infamous Z trail which climbs 1,200ft in a mile. I slowly ran up, enjoying the view while gasping for air. After reaching the plateau the trail undulates for about 7 miles through 12 gulches with some 500ft climbs in the mix before the 1,200ft. descent into Waimanu. I pushed pretty hard on the way and was kind of beat once reaching Waimanu. I went for a swim and did some body surfing in awe of the lush landscape. What a magical trail, lined with mystical ironwood trees and huge Cook Pines. The run back was considerably slower, I was bushed from all of the climbing. I held out on the GU until the bitter end. I don't know what I have against energy gels, for some reason I despise using them when not in races. I took it down after the climb out of Waimanu and continued on. Lost in the beauty of my surrounds I was back at Waipio before I knew it. The final climb out of the valley was brutal. I started to feel loopy about half way up and fought off thoughts of walking. It had been a while since I had a run where I immediately collapsed and curled up. I opened up the back of Frogger and collapsed and just laid on my side for who knows how long. I was on the trails for just over four hours and my legs felt every minute of it. After guzzling some water and eating a PB and honey sandwich I was feeling great and ready to drive back to Volcano.

The rest of the week was epic. After surviving the drive to Waipio it was time to take
H.M.S Frogger across the island. The adventure began like most do on Wednesday evenings before I get off of work. My friend and fellow co-worker Sarah joined me on the trip. Too many awesome things happened to explain!
-Kayaked in Kiholo Bay, swimming with turtles in a turquoise lagoon
-Watching Sarah spin fire
-Were 10ft. from breaching Humpback Whales!
-Paddled to the Captain Cook monument, snorkeling and swimming with dolphins
-Threw a Frisbee around in a misty meadow on Mana Road
-Played Quan(a fun hand game) from a tree in the mist back in Kalopa SP
Epic fun had by all!

Searching.....

Finding waves, trails, and epic fun on the Big Island

Finding Balance

Suspended at the edge of time, was how I felt driving down the highway just south of the Kona airport. I just ended a week working in the field, and just started week number two. Two weeks away from normal reality in a bubble that is often filled with madness! It was 9:30pm on new years eve and I have just dropped a student off at the airport. I had waited to eat dinner, knowing I would be in Kona and was looking forward to splurging on something after a week of quinoa and lentils. God damn, everything was closed: grocery stores, restaurants, even last resort taco bell. Driving through the glowing night tired, burned out, bummed out, I was forced to scavenge at a convenience store. I walk out dejected with an egg sandwich and a feeling of self pity. New Years Eve and I'm alone and working on top of that. My co- workers who I just worked the week with were manic and looking forward to the night, while I stayed behind for another week which added to the feelings of self pity. I began the drive back to Waiohinu egg sandwich in hand, when I felt a warm breeze blow in my mind. About a year earlier I participated in a Vision Fast and it was a profound experience for me. I recently saw the facilitators of the fast Angelo and Petra. They asked me if I have done anything to mark the year by returning to that sacred contemplative frame of mind. I had not had the chance since after I saw them I went back to Virginia to visit then came back and jumped back into work. Driving through the night my thoughts began to collide like diesel and dust on some foreign street.

I found myself sitting at Pu'uhonua o Honaunau, the city of refuge. The moon massaged me and I felt an incredible calm peaceful warmth wash over me. In ancient times the site was a safe haven for anyone safely reaching the grounds: Criminals sentenced to death, the ill, defeated warriors... Once the petitioner arrived the priest would be obligated to offer them sanctuary and absolution, under pain of his own death should he refuse to do so. Often the petitioner would be freed within hours to resume a normal life. These people were given a second chance for life itself. The giant wood carved totems stood over and stared back at me with stone faces, seemingly asking the question "What are you doing here." I sat for hours running my fingers and feet through the sand, putting things into perspective, soaking in the surroundings which were painted in the moonlight adding a surreal ambiance. The salty air fumigated with blooming plumerias, and silhouettes of dancing coconut palms lightly clapping in the mellow breeze. The totems which at first seemed cold and unwelcoming seemingly opened their arms and became friendly.

I began to think how lucky I was to be sitting under a Blue Moon at the start of a new year and a new decade. It is good to every once in a while have a check in with yourself. I felt surrounded by a presence, like something divine was looking from the past, present and future. At midnight I stripped down and waded out into a tide pool, bowed in each direction to give thanks and dove in. I have never felt so renewed and cleansed, taking a swim in the sea of contemplation. Sometimes when your alone is when you feel the strongest connection to people. Its hard to find the right balance of helping others but not forgetting about yourself. I have been at both extremes before. Once thinking only of running, surfing, and exploring and on the other end working with others only able to focus on their problems and not taking time for myself. I'm beginning to find the balance but still looking. My thoughts began to slowly fade out into the darkness like the distant sound of fireworks. It was great to start the new year with feelings of manic bliss and mana flowing through my veins.

The second week of work has been great, I have been able to get long runs in the morning. Exploring a part of the island I am not that familiar with. Running through rolling cow pastures shadow dancing in the sunrise along with the winds of nostalgia. There are some major climbs, steep gravel roads climbing 2,000 plus feet. One such road is marked Whaling's Hideaway and climbs up up up into the lush hillside. I am greeted each morning with an in your face climb leading up to eucalyptus and bamboo groves. At the top the gravel road continues up to the ridge where there are sweeping views of the pacific morning sun. The words: may love rise in your east facing heart comes into my mind and I shout it out to the birds as I run up the cattle fence with feelings of joy. Sometimes the only thing to do is pinch myself and laugh.

Equation of Life

State of mind [desire + expectation] in which 1 believes 1's desires = realized [Darkly romantic drops of Ocean Water + aural power + running wild and untamed + waves of radiance + unadulterated purity]² / [delicate, transcendent breezes - slow burning sincere melancholy for what or who is not here] + vivid poetic devices that = outer reaches of the collective soul within our imagination + expansive, voluminous landscapes bristling with beauty/intensity = mind boggling epiphanies and realizations = innovative thought = sonic defiance of law and nature = My Life

Ode to Seashore

Seashore State Park in Virginia Beach is a special place to me. I started running when I was a senior in high school because of those trails. Since my first magical day of wandering back there I have run thousands of miles through the swamps and dunes and the beauty neaver fades.





The dreamers are dreaming and the singers are singing
I do both dancing through your brilliance
Thinking of the first jaw dropping visit that sent
My imagination running faster than my feet
Through your enchanted forests
You blew the wind that set my ship assail
Yearning for the far side of the earth
This moment I am back full circle and growing wider
To witness all your glory and ghosts
Seashore I have seen many contrasts of you: A lover with a rough kiss
Soft sandy trails, dreamy swamps, dancing light
Misty biting cold, moss hanging so elegant from branches in your grand ballrooms
You have seen me manic, sweating, laughing hysterical, crying, ranting
Raving and howling at the moon in joyous hysterics
I have tripped over your roots, been scared in the dark
Been depleted staggering dragging feet across your pine needles
Each footstep has imprinted a part of you in me, your trails are with me
Wherever I run and your beauty wherever I look
I have left a part of myself with you hanging in your moss and
Echoing through your breeze

Rainy days are here!

The sky is falling
There is nowhere to run
The roosters are crowing
Without even the sun
Winter time in my mind
Thoughts hibernating
Like all these rainy days
In this land of sunshine
Trying to let it all sink in
These days I like when it's cloudy
And I don't mind when it rains
Because baby this candle burns at both ends

Kohala Dreamin'

Most of my adventures are dreamed up the week before while at work. It is hard not to be inspired from the sweeping views of the Pacific below or the majestic slopes of Mauna Loa above.

I feel extremely fortunate to have the job I do, drawing inspiration from the physical landscape, gardening, and the dynamics of the people I am working with. Looking out I imagine myself riding remote waves or running up lush slopes through the fog and mist.



(Arrrrrugula, Yes!)

North Kohala is a part of the island I have not spent much time, it was time for some explorations up in those parts. Non-stop surfing, running, and wandering was the plan. From Volcano we headed out first stopping to check the waves at our favorite spot north of Hilo. Driving over the bridge looking out at Honoli'i(a popular surf break) we were pleasantly surprised to see head high swells rolling through. WOOOO!! we v-lined it to the break and there we stayed for 3+ hours riding head high waves. It was non stop, there was a point where I didn't see Drew for 45 min. because we both we catching wave after wave. I nearly lost it laughing hysterically at how much fun I was having.

We finally hit the road again, now full of mania. We drove up Kohala Mountain road towards Hawi on the north eastern tip of the island. We wanted to check out some surf breaks, one of them the lighthouse. We finally found the dirt road and ran down to the cliffs a few miles away. A beautiful spot but nothing happening wave wise that day. It was cool exploring around the area and walking around the cliff tops. After running back we went to check Upolu Point. There is a gravel road leading down from a road that dead ends next to an airport runway. We parked and took off running down the road towards the wild coast. What a stunning part of the island! I felt like I was in Scotland, with the green cow pastures running down to the edge of the cliffs. Lunar tide pools below, we ran through the pastures along the edge of the cliffs with the swells crashing into the rocks below. Unbelievable! I will be back there soon.

After running back we drove through Hawi to Pololu Valley. I love Hawi it has a really cool charm to it, we stopped and filled up on baked goods at a killer bakery there. The road twists and turns through lush landscapes until ending at the valley lookout. We were greeted with a huge rainbow and the pot of gold awaited below. It started right where we would be surfing 20 minutes later.


We packed up our tents and grabbed our boards and walked the steep trail down to the valley, about 20 minutes.


The ambiance of the valley floor was mystical, painted orange from the falling sun and dreamlike from the mist of the breaking waves. We threw down our packs and paddled out in the twilight blown away at where we were and what we were doing. Unspoiled beauty! From the water we witnessed the sun set behind the valley and the full moon rise from the far horizon in front of us, It was so big I first thought it was the sun. After setting up camp it was time to feast! Burritos have become my favorite camping meal, fresh with cilantro, limes, and avocados!! What a way to end an epic day. Fully satisfied I drifted off to the melodies of the ocean and the dancing ironwood trees that lined the coast. No one else was down there, we had the place to ourselves.






(Monkeying around)



We woke up to morning glass, steep and fast waves but glassy! We stayed in the water for over three hours, getting some fun rides and also taking a beating from the waves. I got slammed quite a few times into the shallow sand the waves broke over. Exhausted we left the water and debated weather to make the trek to the next valley over Honokane Nui. Hell Yes!! We caught second winds and took off running up the steep trail.


The trail was hard to navigate and washed out in spots but up up we went to the top. Sweeping views of Pololu awaited.

The trail opened up and followed a ridge line and offered dramatic views of Honokane Nui. The waves looked good below and there was a stream bed that led to the back of the valley.





That will have to be another day, we decided to head back and continue on up the Kohala coast. The short but steep hike out of Pololu was kind of brutal, once back at the car we shouted with joy, WOOOOHOOO!! Driving back through Hawi, stopping for more cookies!!! we continued on. We stopped at Mahukona for some snorkeling. We pulled up looking at the crystal blue water with Maui shrouded in clouds on the horizon, ridiculous!



Mahukona is an old wharf so there were old props and chains on the bottom. We swam through ruins and gazed at the brightly colored fish around the coral. We drifted farther and farther out. Drew popped up and said he saw a dolphin, I was bummed I missed seeing it. The next thing we knew at least 70 dolphins were swimming all around us! We were in the middle of the pod and they were on every side, below us, and doing flips out of the water a few feet in front of us! All I could do was laugh hysterically and look on with amazement. We swam joyously with them for at least 15 minutes. Not wanting to over stay our welcome we swam in. I came out of the water feeling charged, fucking electric! From the parking lot there is a trail that follows the coast and we went for another little run down the path. What an epic few days! From there we went into Kailua to Kona Bay Books. I can't not stop by there when I'm on that side of the island. I loose myself in there, a huge selection. Walkng out with a few books and my head spinning I went on a group run with some folks at the Big Island Running Company. A short run down the busy Ali'i drive, it was a cool way to wind down the day and meet some new people. After the run it was time for a pint! I felt like I was on vacation, sitting at a table over looking the peaceful ocean and listening to a local ukulele band strum the night away. That was exactly what I wanted to be doing. After soaking it in for a while it was time to make the 2+ hour drive back to Volcano. The drive back is peaceful in the night, I rolled down the road listening to a few Neil Young albums and some Jesus and Mary Chain, singing at the top of my lungs out the window to the gods!




(Moon Frog on the night beach)



Riiiiiiiibbit!!