What Am I Doing Here?

 So, here I am, age 49, about to embark on a journey that I am definitely not familiar with. I never really put thought into starting a blog, but I felt inspired (compelled) to share the many ramblings that go on in my mind...

About me...well, I was born & raised in Lahaina, on the island of Maui. Yes, that Lahaina...the Lahaina that everyone talks about since 8/8/2023. (But I'm not going to dive into that just yet...it's been 17 months, and I still get overcome with emotion). I grew up in a plantation camp in the middle of one of Lahaina's many sugar cane fields. I had a pretty enjoyable childhood. I was adopted & raised by my maternal grandparents, who always made sure I had what I needed and showered me with love. I come from a uniquely blended family, my biological father has 5 daughters (I haven't met the eldest), my biological mother has 3 daughters & a son, and then my 3 uncles were my "older" brothers. So I am my dad's middle child, my mom's eldest child, and my grandparents youngest child...I guess it's safe to say that I do exhibit all of the "child" complexes. I was always seeking attention and favor from the adults in my family, I always felt the need to be "accepted" and I guess it stems from my dad not being in my life, as well as my mom starting another family. And even though I knew I was loved by my grandparents, and my biological parents, I never felt like I truly "fit in".

Moving on...I have an amazing husband who is my biggest fan and most solid supporter. He brings truth to the saying "no one will ever love you more than God, your mama & me". He's definitely stood by my side in all of our struggles and triumphs. We have two awesome kids who have grown into some pretty great adults, 1 dog & 3 cats. We did have a hen and her 5 chicks, but they've since "flown the coop"...I mean, she laid her eggs in our garage, the chicks hatched and a week later they were gone. I guess she just needed temporary shelter.

So what inspired me to start this journey? In early 2024, I was able to bring myself to start purchasing plants again. My favorite purchase was a pakalana vine, an extremely rare plant to come across. As I began to research ways to care for pakalana, and how to make starters, I became frustrated at the lack of information that was available online. I had to piece together little tidbits of knowledge to get a somewhat complete guide in caring for this vine. As the months progressed from May to present day, I found myself even reaching out to fellow pakalana growers, and was finally able to begin a conversation with a kind uncle from Hilo. My hope is that with his knowledge, what little information I gathered, and my experiences, I will be able to use this blog to help others nurture their pakalana, and other flowering plants that we love in Hawai'i.

Of course I will always go off subject and also share posts about my travels and tips. You will also read about my love for Star Wars & sports, and even my memories of growing up as a Lahaina girl. Like I said, there are many ramblings that go on in my mind. Why not share those ramblings for others to enjoy, and maybe also be inspired to share their knowledge too?

Until my next blog....aloha aku, aloha mai (give love, receive love). A hui hou