i had such a great time with the Iwata-san family for the past 3 days. it’s amazing how surfing can create a bond between people from opposite sides of the world. it’s hard to believe they were strangers to me 3 days ago, and now it feels like i’ve known them for years. we had so much fun exploring the different side of hawaii they’re not use to.

we went to bubbies to eat mochi ice cream but it was closed. so next plan was to go to Taste Tea. it just opened a few months ago and is the best taiwan tea here in hawaii. it’s so good that it reminds me of drinking it in taiwan on my first trip there.

if you see a bunch of tourists waiting in a line to order tea, i’m not too sure if it’s good or not. but if you see a bunch of locals waiting in a line to order tea, it has to be good. this place is not only good, it’s excellent!

my favorite is the honeydew milk tea with big tapioca and regular sweetness. this large size cost $4 and is worth every sip and every ball!

the system is so good there. i wish every business in hawaii could be this efficient.

it was sad to say our goodbye’s this afternoon. the nicest people in the world. we surfed, we ate, we smiled, and we laughed so much. i will miss the Iwata-san family but i know we will meet again somewhere so i’m looking forward to that. keep on surfing Papa, Mama, and Noriko-san! i’m so happy you all got to see another side of this beautiful part of hawaii!

then went back to bowls this afternoon with Team Ina. OMG! the waves were huge!!! solid 4′ and very very powerful. every wave was doubling up on each other so making the power 3x strong. even i had a hard time getting back out to the lineup. i was getting pounded like i’ve never did before. the energy for this swell is strong so please be careful when surfing because it’s still growing and growing. going to be some nice barrels tomorrow!

Getting big and very strong!
Strongest swell of the year!

three years ago when our WE ARE ONE team and i went to Onagawa, i thought it was the end of the world. it looked like there was a war. i was very depressed at this time wondering why mother nature did this to such a beautiful place.

there was no life anywhere to be found. a totally flattened fishing village in rubble.

they just started to clean up the place, 6 months after the tsunami.

i remember seeing debris piled like mountains all over.

but right around the corner, there was life. we went to this temporary housing and found a whole bunch of happy kids. seeing that made our team very very happy.

then, Kiku-chan guided us to this apartment building. i remember it being very dark with no electricity. most people left but there was the Sato-san family that refused to leave. we unloaded donated things from our vans and took it up. i remember them being a very kind and appreciative family.

we heard the stories. it was a time in my life where i tried to block out things so i wouldn’t break down. it was really a dark time in my life. but to see their smiles brought back the light.

then a few nights ago while i was eating sushi in hawaii, something crazy happened.

i posted this on my blog after i finished dinner. then Kiku-chan texted Matsu, then Matsu texed me. “hey kirby, we went to visit the Sato-san family in Onagawa after the tsunami! do you remember? Sato-san’s uni was the best in japan before the tsunami! it’s really hard to get because everything goes straight to tsukiji market in tokyo.”
OMG! now i totally remember the Sato-san family! i didn’t know they were a fisherman family. but now i do!!! and to have eaten the best uni in the world right here in hawaii from them was unbelievable! just another amazing story coming out of tohoku that gave me chicken skin. i learned so much from our missions to tohoku. i learned never to give up. i learned to be positive. i learned to give. and most importantly, i learned how to love.
To the Sato-san family, I am the happiest person in the world right now! It is like a dream come true to eat your delicious uni right here in hawaii! Keep on sending the world your precious uni, and keep on teaching the world never to give up!
We Are One!!!!