Walkin' the Tracks

It was a week of wacky wanderings around the island. It was nice to set out on a trip not knowing where or what I was going to do and just wander around aimlessly. My only intentions were to stop at every ice cream shop/bakery on the way and find a hidden cinder cone/pyramid energy vortex hidden deep in Ka’u that apparently has a waterfall inside of it and 50ft. tall ti plants surrounding it. A book claims that such a place exists and 99% of me thought it was foolish and waaaay out there. I have spent plenty of time gazing into those misty hills and they definitely have a powerful presence, like many places on the island. I happened to be feeling a little more foolish than usual so I set off on my quest.



After a long bike ride and walk from Pahala, I ended up deep in the valley surrounded by the giant “pyramids.” There was an overwhelming feeling of calm in the air. For some reason I felt like going no further, and just sat in the grass and enjoyed the silent calm that was echoing through the valley. I think some places are better off left unspoiled by human contact and this is one of those places. The feeling is hard to describe, the area didn’t feel threatening or welcoming but alive and raw like it has a mind of its own.





From Hookena my friend Patrick and I set out on a long paddle down the coast.

I was blown away by the deep blue water and at how clear it was. We paddled into a black sand beach that is only accessible by water; I had no idea the beach was even there. There was a fire pit under a cave with a piece of paper that was used for a painting pallet. It is awesome to think that someone paddled into the beach to camp out and paint pictures under the stars. After 4.5 hours of paddling we washed up on the beach at Hookena exhausted and sunburned.





Big Island Marathon:

I had a great time again this year at the run. I had no expectations coming into it other than to have fun and enjoy! Justin Gillette, a fast runner from Indiana was on the island so we got off to a speedy start. I just wanted to run with him for as long as possible. We spent the early miles talking and laughing, every time he would read out a mile split I would laugh because it was way faster than it felt. We went through the half at 1:15 which shocked me because it was a PR for the distance. At that point I was still feeling good but knew my fate was sealed. Like the moments after ingesting a hallucinogen, the outlook is whatever happens happens and hopefully it’s for the best. Sure enough around mile 17 I heard those familiar voices that said “slow down” “who cares, you’re not a competitive person just enjoy” My head was spinning and I actually stopped running for a few moments and stood on the side of the road. Then for the first time in any race I overcame a mental barrier and cursed myself out because I felt fine physically. I told myself, “What the hell, you have been running hard this whole time, there is no reason to slow down stop the BS.”

"You see, I want a lot.
Maybe I want it all
the darkness of each endless fall
the shimmering light of each ascent

You are not dead yet, it’s not too late
to open your depths by plunging into them
and drink in the life
that reveals itself quietly there."
-Rilke

And with that I started running again and finished with a huge PR of 2:39. Props to Justin for breaking the course record and pushing me to run hard.

Late Night SUN Rag

The twilight paints with the fragrance
of your faded visage while
dragonflies swim through the citrus sky.



Whenever I am lost in the thicket
while sitting on the coast
your orange eyes let me see
the way to look and I wonder:
If I saw the sea through your eyes
would I still be able to taste the salty air
or would I be eclipsed by the shadows of
sand falling through the fingers of time?



So I sit in solitude thankful
that the stars don't blink and
you light the crossroads
where your light and mine meet.
We spill over the edge and spark
the night sky setting our passions aglow
as we become embers burning the morning sky
to light the new dawn.

Mornings at the Mill

It had become a ritual of mine to walk out into the early morning glow, making the short walk down to where the ruins of the old mill and lands edge await. I am lucky enough to live a short walking distance away from my favorite surf spot on the island. I can hear the stream that flows down from my room keeping me constantly connected to perpetual flow of what I love. While I sleep the stream takes me out to that place where fresh and salt water meet, then drifting me out to sea. The walk down is a meditation, along the vibrant grassy path that has a life of its own.



(Path to the promise land)




Weather there are waves or not, watching the sun rise is an amazing way to start the day. I take my banjo and strum soft notes to the rhythm of waves breaking and rocks moving like a maraca. Strumming while the sun is rising, the air is warming and whales are jumping fills me with joy. Usually there are little to no people on the beach no matter the time of day, Some days I am out in the early glass with no one else in the water; An old fisherman the only other soul in sight. The ruins of the Onomea Sugar Co. watch over the back sand beach just content to still be standing.



(Angels in the water)


Two cliffs form a small bay that produces waves that break all the way across over the shallow rocky water. I have been salty sunburned and smiling day and night!

Blue Sky

I love the Big Island so much!! There is mystery, beauty, and magic around every turn. Nothing makes me appreciate it more than driving around the island. I like living on the Hilo side because of how raw and rugged the ocean is off of the Hamakua coast. Paddling and surfing off of the windswept coast definitely makes me feel alive and directly connected to the pulse of life. On the other hand(or side of the island) I highly enjoy the calm clear turquoise waters of the leeward coast.







Kealakekua Bay is one of my favorite places for many reasons. Its stunning beauty, tranquil vibes and deep history make it a place that I frequent. Not to mention that on any given day you could find yourself in the middle of a pod of spinner dolphins, or this time of year witness humpback whales breach! There is no better way to celebrate a day in the water of frolicking/paddling than to stop by South Kona's only farm/speakeasy/my former residence for a night of live music and dancing. The Dirty Shack is a funky and unique place that is for sure. Two bands played really fun sets as the crowd steadily grew.





After dancing all night I somehow made it to the start of the Peaman Splish Splash and Super Bowl Shuffle. I am not a swimmer and have not swam since my life guarding days four years ago. I thought it would be fun to partake in the ½ mile swim/3 mile run event. There are different events put on throughout the year by Peaman and I have been curious try something new.

(Photo:Big Island Running Co)



There was a buoy marking the swim and I thought to myself from shore how easy it looked like it was going to be. However after the madness started and I got kicked in the head a few times, swallowed about 2.5 gallons of water and had a near panic attack from seeing only bubbles; the buoy suddenly appeared miles away. The only words that were going through my mind were profane as I tried to get out of the “fucking reptile zoo” and into a section of water that was clear and void of others. By the time I approached shore I could only laugh at the sad state I was in. Both of my calves were cramped up big time and one of my sides was cramping too. I felt like a plane stumbling in for a crash landing. I was so relieved to not be swimming anymore! When I went to put on my shoes my left calf contracted and started to spasm. This had never happened to me before so the only thing to do was laugh at the absurdity of it all. Once I put my shoes on and started running I was instantly rejuvenated and finished feeling great! It was a fun time, I really liked the laid back feel of the event and it was great to mix it up and try something new!


(Topped off a fun weekend by swimming through trails lined with ferns)

Indoor Snorkeling

Heavy rain+ fog+ lazy evenings+ hazy electronic music+ oil pastels= Indoor snorkeling

Peaks and Pastures

I have been doing lots of running and exploring around the land of red roads, rock wall ruins, ancient volcanoes, and waterfalls of clouds spilling from the sky. The grass in the pastures was glowing green as a collective bouquet but each individual blade contained the whole vibrant spectrum of the color.





I think of running as an expression and there are many ways to draw new lines and do old things in new ways. The vast and wide open landscape felt like a giant canvas for me to paint with my strides as I ran. Off of Mana Rd. many hills (Pu’u) dot the landscape rising up to various elevations.





There are no roads or trails to or up them so I decided to go truly cross country and run up various peaks in the area. It was just a matter of choosing a side to run up and a line to run down. I felt like a kid running through huge grassy fields full of wild flowers to the base of the hills. It sure was steeper than it looked from afar. I guess being juxtaposed against Mauna Kea will make anything look small from afar. I was happy because there are not many runable sustained climbs around that are off road. Once I made it to the top I saw the USGS marker that said Pu’u IO. I later learned that it stands at 3,547ft. I was confronted with the kind of view that I dream about and could just lay in the grass and dissolve into it. Echoes of Thomas Merton were ringing: “And a voice in me seemed to be crying “Look! Look!” For these are the discoveries, and it is for this that I am high on the mast of my ship...”





As I looked out the fog converging from separate directions, the summits of Mauna Kea, Hualalai, and the great Pacific; I thought how this is what gives shape and meaning to my life. Smaller hills were all around so I flew down the steep backside of Pu’u IO into and across a pasture and up up up and back down again. I made a triangle from the point where I went off road running up three of the fairly steep hills. The land is wide open clear to the summit of Mauna Kea so the exploring possibilities are endless! This was the first time in a while that I have felt better at the end of a long run compared to when I started.

This is what I felt like after 4.5 hours:



Trails, waves, whatever the medium, sometimes looking back it feels like part dream and part reality. What’s left over is a memory that shines bright and a lingering feeling of inspiration.






Continues to inspire:

Derek Hynd from aramis17 on Vimeo.

Under the Moon

Floating freely flowered and prime
Across the way and to the time
Bloomed and blossomed glowing bright
Pitter patter all throughout the night
Curtains closed and a flickering match
Will light the leaf and lift the latch
Which way will it go
Under the willow or to the toe!