A Bubbly Rainbow…

Good morning 6:10am.

North shore chest high and good.

Ala Moana waist high and good.

Diamond Head chest high and fun.

Trade winds at 20mph.

Clouds, and rain coming later.

Going to the ocean.

Have a wonderful day!

 finally had a day to give my baby some attention.  before i washed her up, i took her out for a ride.  scrubbed the bottom, foiled, and cleaned her up… the best way to keep a boat well maintained is to use it!   i pulled up to Bowls and there were only 2 guys out!  so i grabbed my foil, paddled to the lineup, and was so excited to foil again.  i ended up catching 3 waves and rode 10 waves.  yeah, just in 15 minutes, i paddled into 3 waves and rode 10 waves!  after that, i was totally tired, and totally satisfied!!! ever since Mayuki was born, i haven’t changed her batteries.  that’s 7 years!  my friend told me “hey, boats aren’t like cars.  if you get stuck out at sea, you can’t simply call a tow truck.  it could be a life or death situation.  so change your freaking batteries!!!”   so i checked the batteries and found corrosion!  omg, good thing!!!  it’s scary to think what would happen if my batteries died between islands… this photo was taken just one day before the 2011 Tsunami hit Japan.  it’s crazy how happy you can be one day, and how sad you can be the next.   i was in Palau on a dive trip and our captain told us to get out of the water because a tsunami was coming.  such a sad day.  i even forgot how this lobster tasted… then in the Mentawai with the girls and boys.  i remember teaching the girls how to cut fish.  i was trying to train them to be yamato nadeshiko.  it didn’t work.  haha…  whenever i’m with experienced watermen, i always watch and listen to everything.  this is how i learned, and this is how i still learn.  every little detail is etched into my mind forever.  so this dive trip to Molokai with the Naki Family was a turning point in my life.  it was that trip that made me want to live off the sea, and protect the sea.  ever since then, i only hunt for what i need and the rest, i leave.  it was a priceless experience….

 i met Shunsuke-kun a couple years ago.  he was a very eager young boy that was chasing his dreams.  he would ask me many questions about so many different things.  he had passion, energy, and motivation which was very impressive…  anyway, he booked a few days of my Boot Camp and the rest is history…

 i still remember this day clearly when we were eating lunch.  i asked Shunsuke-kun what his dreams were.  he said his dream is to live in Hawaii and just surf everyday.  i told him “wait, slow down!”  haha…  i explained that there are steps to make every dream come true.  i explained to him how i did it and how he should do it.  he was listening to everything i said and took it very seriously.

 so yesterday i get a text and these photos from Shunsuke-kun.  it went like this:  aloha kirby-san, as you told me, i’ll graduate from college this year.  and next year, i’ll go to Hawaii to study abroad!  i’m saving money now.  my life was influenced by you.  thank you so much.  right now, i’m on my way to my dream!”

 i remember teaching this kid how to keep calm.  how to slow down and enjoy the ride.  his surfing improved 100% and now he’s ripping like a pro!

 then he wrote:  “i’ve been practicing foiling in japan.  it was very difficult but i’m flying recently!  i can’t stop my excitement!  i’m enjoying both surfing and foiling you taught me.”

 OMG!  he’s flying!!!  i’m not an emotional person, but when i see my students achieve their dreams, i get emotional.  i always wanted to be a teacher and mentor to the youth.  there were just a couple people in my life that guided me to where i am today, so if i can do the same for others, my dream has come true too.

hey Shunsuke-kun, thank you for the update in your life.  i knew you could do it!!!  it’s crazy how you achieved your dreams in such a short time.  that means you can do anything in life you strive for.  that’s an amazing thing.  i’m really proud of you, and i’m sure your Dad is really proud of you too.  congratulations for completing college!   remember i told you once you can do that, you can do anything.  my Grandpa told me that, and i believed him.  now believe in yourself, keep working hard, studying hard, and let’s fly on the foil when you come to Hawaii!  i’m so stoked for you!!!