nineextrafloors

...the crab shuffle!

...you’ve had to convince the staff that you have already seen the 10 minute production. This involved singing the “don’t step on the reef, don’t feed the fish” song in front of the tourists on their way to and from the beach. But it was worth it.

It was an amazing experience. I only lived there for 7 months (then during a few summers; my parents had a tour on Oahu) but that’s definitely more than a vacation. I went to the University of Hawaii at Manoa for a few classes, worked, etc. so that’s no vacation, believe me! Not to say I didn’t have a good time. I loved how relaxed I felt out there, and how the Hawaiian people are. So family oriented, and generally cheerful. I might have a different opinion if i were a Haole boy, but I’m a Haole girl, so I have no qualms. This experience did change my life – it was the first time I was a minority as a white person, which was evident whenever I took “The Bus”. I changed my views on a few major issues, moving me from a pretty conservative person to more of a moderate.

The only regret I have, and yes I do have one, is that I didn’t let go of the past when I lived in Hawaii. I held on to a part of me that missed home, but really longed for the way things were. I wish I would have let myself completely enjoy my time in Honolulu. Maybe I wouldn’t have returned to the “mainland” so soon. :)