Hawai’i, I’m coming home!
Not for good, but just for a visit.
After being in Madagascar for over two years in the Peace Corps, I will finally be heading home to see my family, friends, and beloved Islands. Buraaahhhh I cannot wait!
Since I will be going home soon, I should brush up on my local kine talk ah? I not talking full on pidgin, but small manini kine Hawaiian style lingo here and there yeah.
So if you are reading this and aren’t from Hawai’i then I apologize in advance for some of the references and words that I may use.
They say you should never write how you talk, but dis mah blog and I can do whateva I like!
You might understand what I’m saying, but it will probably just be a little weird to read. But seriously, people in Hawai’i actually speak like this. So if you are really curious and have no idea what I am talking about then just ask—I’d be happy to educate you.
So kala mai my haole braddahs and sistahs. Cheeeehuuuu!
Fo those who no know, I was born and raised on the Big Island of Hawai’i. I basically lived there my whole life. Da longest I been away from da islands was when I studied abroad in Spain fo three months; I tink living in Madagascar fo two years without leaving small kine beats dat. Eva since den, it was hard fo me to stay in one place foa too long after catchin’ some mean cracks by one incurable case of da travel bug. Dat buggah!
I tried lots a tingz to get rid of it, like being busy with school and work, not looking at plane tickets, and even being broke—nothin’ wen work! I just kept getting on that plane and flying away somehow. To Argentina fo one nahda study abroad, Washington to visit one friend, Colorado twice, one fo snowboard and once fo da X Games, den finally Utah to camp in Moab before leaving to Madagascar with da Peace Corps. I swear it wen feel like my feet was off the ground every ahda month after my diagnosis.
So staying in one place and not even boarding one plane fo over two years is small kine weird fo me ah. Honestly, I small kine nervous fo board one plane overseas again aftah so long. But nerves and excitement stay one in the same so I get choken excitement more than anything. How can I not be yeah?
How many Peace Corps Volunteers get to take their home leave in Hawai’i? Saying I am lucky would be one undastatement.
No matter where I go in this world, Hawai’i is just always the most beautiful place in my eyes.
I have been to a few places around da world and it is hard fo compare to Hawai’i. There’s just something special about coming home, like feeling dat cherreh warm ocean breeze as soon as you ha’alele the sliding doors of da airport. Nothin’ is sweetah than home, I’m pretty sure there might be one popular saying about sweet homes but who actually knows.
It’s gonna be nuts to see all these people I never seen in person for over two years, but what will be even mo nuts is them seeing me with long hair and facial hair for da first time! I neva had long hair or facial hair in my life, and even tho dey seen picthas of me online and thru Facetime calling, it’s still gonna be pretty trippy fo dem to see me like dis. I don’t think people will recognize me at first. Ho dis gon’ be fun.
Clean cut, short-haired Kamaka in 2016
Hairy, long-haired Kamaka in 2018
Still throwing up the Shaka cheeheee!
I’m so curious to see what wen change. What’s new in Hilo? Kids still go to Tilt at Prince Kuhio Plaza or wat? Hawai’i get Chipotle yet? Guy Hagi memes still a ting? I like watch the Hawaiian language version of Moana, where dat stay? Get one hurricane or volcano erupting again dat I should know about? SO many things I like know yeah…
I guess I will find out soon enough tho.
Yah so I not one those sentimentol losahs dat like to count down the days to a big event in their life, so I not gon’ do dat.
Brah I’d neva do dat, shut up!
So anyway if you survived thru dis blog post tanks ah! Also, if you stay in Hawai’i in December, let’s cruise, catch up, talk stories, grind some poke bowls/acai bowls then kanak attack on the beach!
I neva taught I’d be away fo dis long, but I knew I would be back eventually cuz no matter where I go and what I do, I am always coming back home to you, Hawai’i.
I no can help it. See u soon den!
Always Coming Back Home To You Alohaaaaaaaaa \m/ Guess what? Hawai'i, I'm coming home! Not for good, but just for a visit.