good morning. happy sunday!! the waves in town came down but it’s looking super clean and fun. bowls is chest high and not too crowded for a sunday. once again, it’s an endless summer!!!

if your in hawaii and haven’t been to the HAWAII FISHING SEAFOOD FESTIVAL before, today’s your chance. it’s going on from 9-4am down at pier 38. i went to last years and it was pretty cool. so much things about fishing, food, and fun!! have a nice day and see you down there!!!
when i was in japan this past time, i watched the 30th anniversary Southern All Stars concert. after all these years of listening to their music, i finally saw their faces. i watched the concert on a big screen tv and i got so into it that i thought i was there too. their music is so amazing and i couldn’t believe how many people were at the concert standing and singing in the rain. it’s amazing how music reaches out to people and creates such a positive vibe.
when i first arrived in japan, a popular drama called “Zutto Anata ga Suki Datta” was playing every thursday night and most of japan would be glued to a tv watching it. even though i didn’t understand what the heck was going on, i got hooked too. all i remember was the crazy fuihiko-san and butterflies. anyway, the dramas theme song was a song called “Namida no Kiss” by the Southern All Stars. that song turned out to be one of my all time favorite songs and i even memorized the words, even though i didn’t know what it meant. a great song and a great drama…. here is Namida no Kiss….

i went out for a few drinks last night. i heard Don Julio was in town. had a blast and wanted to thank yoshi-san for bringing him along. great times!!!

this is Don Julio. i met don 5 years ago in mexico. i was in puerto escondido sipping on corona’s when i asked the locals there what’s the best tequila. they all told me Don-san. so i grabbed a bottle and took it back to my room. i had tequila flashbacks from high school when i use to take shots and wake up the next day in the bushes. and get the craziest hangovers. but those were the cheap tequila, which i refuse to drink. Don Julio is a premium tequila that will give you a good buzz and wake up fine the next morning. this bottle ain’t cheap but i’ll pay anything to prevent a hangover. 3 corona’s and 4 don-san shots. i was feeling good, i had a great time, i had a great sleep, and i woke up at 5am for a dawn patrol session. thanks again yoshi-san for our yearly Don Julio meetings. can’t wait till next year…

this was diamond head this morning. the waves came down and the trade winds are back. fun surf for everyone…

as a surfer, nothing beats waking up early, driving down to the beach, jumping in the water, catching a few waves as the sun rises, and coming back before the rest of the island wakes up. these are the mornings that make my day super bright!!! and these are the days that make me appreciate this beautiful island of hawaii!!!

good mid morning. gosh, i scored again!!! woke up early and surfed as the sun rose. another beautiful day with beautiful waves. i looked at diamond head and didn’t feel like surfing with 100 people so i went to a secret spot and had it to myself all morning!!! i’m so happy and now i’m going to have a peaceful day!!! hope you have one too!!!

last night was crab festival for me. there is this place in town where i love to go once in a while. the ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT alaskan king crab legs are the best. i ate 4 big plates of crab, along with sushi, teriyaki chicken, tempura, and a whole lot more…. i was dipping my crab in butter, then vinegar, then butter, then vinegar…. totemo oishikatta!!!

for all you girls out there. if you ever come to hawaii and a guy walks up to you on the beach offering free surfing lessons, this is how it’s going to be. i saw this guy walk up to a japanese girl sitting on the beach. he offered to teach her how to surf. then he only had one surfboard. i knew what was coming…. so unless you want somebody smelling your ass, you better be careful… haha..

did you see the movie Departures or Okuribito yet? oh my gosh!! it won an academy award for “best foreign language film”. i finally got to see it and it was a lot more heavy than i expected. i don’t want to blow the plot for the people that didn’t see it but it’s a must see movie. death is a touchy subject and when that time comes, the cultural difference between america and japan are totally different. after all these years, i finally understand the japanese culture when it comes to death, and i think it’s the most beautiful thing in the world. yeah, believe it or not, this movie touched me and totally changed my view on paying respects to loved ones that passed away…. go and check it out!!!