good morning. every day and every night is like a never ending party! i remember about 10 years i stayed in okinawa for 1 month and when i got back to hawaii, my body totally shut down. the surfing, the chasing typhoons, the partying, and the never ending nights. this time i’ve had 3 nights here and i’m finally feeling it. the okinawan way of life is surfing, friends, and having fun. that’s my life too so i’ll do my best for the next few days i’ll be here. haha. there were 15 of us eating an okinawan style dinner last night. friends from all different walks of life getting together as we have one thing in common, surfing. if i added the years i’ve known the people in this photo, it would be over 100 years of wonderful memories.

the orions, the bitter mellon, and all the photos we took last night. i wish i took more but my hand was too busy holding my cold orion beer.

hayato maki, rikio higa, tokura-san and i just having fun like we’ve been doing for the past 20 years. these are my japanese friends, and these guys are like my family.

rikio dropped me off at my hotel at midnight. then a cat came out and kept on coming by my feet. i tried to walk into the hotel but he would just follow me all over, even into the elevator. so i took him back outside and tried to run away but he was faster than i. i was running away from a cat at midnight in the empty streets of okinawa all alone. if somebody saw me, the would be laughing. 15 minutes later, i tricked the cat and finally made it into the elevator by myself. the good thing is i had great exercise.
have a wonderful day.

We are in Chatan!

wow, last nights party was super fun. it was the best of okinawa in one room. the coolest people, the great entertainment, and the great food couldn’t be beat. i took a few hundred photos but don’t have time to upload it because today we woke up and went to Go-Naminori Official Blogger Rikio Guide!

Rikio is the coolest guy. he’s always been my okinawan brother and ever time i come here, he takes care of me day and night. today, he took our crew to a secret surf spot where we all enjoyed waves together. the white sand loaded with shells, the clean clear warm water, and the blue skies. what a wonderful world!

it’s amazing on the cool people you meet along the way. last night Kimura-san said in his speech “the ocean brought us all together.” i truly believe that and if it wasn’t for this huge ocean, i’d be a lonely guy. the people i’ve met through surfing is priceless. today, we had this whole nice beach to ourselves. surfed and smiled!

the culture here is amazing. just the simple life with all the aloha. what more can you ask for?

Rikio’s secret okinawan soba house. everybody loved it.

well, been here for only a few days and kind of sad to think i have to leave. i spent so much time here throughout the years and met so many special okinawan people. okinawa always has a place in my heart and always will. as i was watching all the entertainment, culture, and happiness last night, i was thinking of my best friend Holli back in hawaii. i really wish she could have experienced okinawa at its best. every time i come to okinawa, i think about her and someday, i hope to bring here to meet all the wonderful people i’ve met along the way. but until then, i just have to keep the dream alive.
hopefully i get enough time to upload the photos and video from last night. it will be a night to remember. and when i turn 60 years old, i hope to have my kanriki party right here! mensore!