20 Things

The Big Island is a place all its own. There are so many differences between here and any other place I have ever visited or lived in the world. I have been trying to put this all down in writing since I arrived (nearly 4 1/2 months ago already)(!) and this is what I have come up with so far:

1) The entire northern portion of the island looks like something out of Jurassic Park.

2) Geckos are the daddy longlegs of the islands- new friends have taken to naming them after their friends back home. (ha!)

3) Mangoes are 50c a piece while an apple is about $1.50... backward...

4) Food is expensive. Dairy ($9/gal) and cereal ($6/box) and trail mix...No Trader Joe's for over 2,300 miles!

5) It's windy here. No one ever tells you about the incredible amount of wind on this island- trade winds coming right down past my little village.

6) The water is pushing around 74 degrees F and the clarity is incredible.

7) Hawaiian time exists...everyone seems to be so much more calm here. I have not experienced any road ragers since I have gotten here.

8) Coconut Wireless exists...literally everyone knows everything about everyone else and news travels FAST.

9) The Big Island is a hard place to learn to surf...shallow coral and lava rocks everywhere- I'm not too keen on reteaching myself at this point in time.

10) Everyone goes to sleep early here- rise and fall with the sun.

11) There are many superstitions surrounding the islands like not bringing pork over the saddle road or not whistling or sweeping at night...the list goes on.

12) Everyone kisses each other on the cheek when they meet.

13) You can drive for twenty minutes in any direction and have your car washed by the frequent rainstorms in the hills. (I'm particularly thankful for this one as I live on the desert side of the island).

14) Pidgeon- local Hawaiian dialect- is so difficult to understand, however having been here even for the brief amount of time that I have, I have started to pick up on it a little... with my Cali accent and the subtle influences from living here I often get the question, "Are you from Minnesota? Or Canada?" Special...

15) Mauna Loa is so massive it could fit the entire range of the Sierra Nevada inside of it. Yeah. Soak up that one for a while. And it is not the tallest mountain- Mauna Kea- 13,796'

16) No one wears Hawaiian shirts here unless they work in the resorts (uniforms) or are a tourist...or my dad. ;)

17) Golfing is a thing here...even for folks that are in their twenties...I'm going to be the next Tiger Woods...you know...before all the shenanigans unfolded.

18) Police drive their own cars...literally any car could be a police car (stressful)

19) There are night marchers here on the islands. The spirits of the King's warriors patrol the coastlines and certain trails through the late evenings. Many people have reported hearing hundreds of pairs of feet marching past their homes that live along the King's trail and the major boundaries between districts. The Big Island seems to be filled with all sorts of powers and protections.

20) Fresh fish and rice is cheaper than anything else here on the islands to eat. A full meal of yummy raw fish and rice for about $3.50 Woo!

Spam count still zero (which nearly changed the other day, but I dodged it...like a pro).

Aloha,

M.