So we’re actually doing this: packing up our belongings and moving 2,400+ miles across the Pacific. Away from the foggy Bay Area mornings and into the balmy Hawaiian days. No more scraping the ice off of windshields; tsunami warnings replace the threat of an earthquake. Where we’re going the weather is consistent year round. Highs in the 80’s, lows in the 70’s. A little rain some days, a little more on others. One of the things I love about Hawaii is that the seasons are so apparent in the ocean. With calm waters to the north in the summer, shifting to the south in the winter.
but let’s rewind the beat…
It seems like not so long ago the thought of moving to Hawaii felt like a pipe dream. I have been saying ‘I want to move to Hawaii’ for over 10 years. I went on a solo trip to Maui back in late August of 2015 to do some due diligence on a small accounting practice that was for sale. I went thinking, okay, this could be it. This could be my ticket to the life I have been dreaming of. When I got there I met with the business owners – a nice older couple from California. They ran the businesses like a well-oiled machine. The books and processes were clean, the clients loyal. I could have taken over and easily had a life in Kihei. A dear friend met me there and we spent the weekend talking it over. For how turnkey the business was, something in my gut was saying this wasn’t the right time, and Maui? I wasn’t convinced. I also couldn’t stop thinking about how, if I bought this business and moved to Hawaii, I’d really really miss my personal trainer. Weird, right?
Turns out a few weeks later said personal trainer confesses that if I left he’d really miss me too. The rest on that is kind of history. 🙂
fast forward…
David and I first stepped foot in Honolulu together in May of 2016. We both knew that this trip stood for something more than just a tropical getaway. Hawaii makes me feel at home, and gives me a greater sense of connection to people, the ocean, and myself. My hope was that David would see this in me, and maybe even feel it in himself too. I can’t recall when, but I remember David saying, “babe, we gotta move to Hawaii.” The slower pace, the reggae music streaming from car windows, the letting you in rather than cutting you off, the food!, the beauty and adventure, the aloha spirit won him over.
There’s been many details worked out between then and now, and I will be sure to dedicate future posts to our research and experiences, but for now here we are…27 days away from take off. What’s left? Getting rid of lots of clothes, sorting out the shipment of our smaller boxes (all of our furniture is there waiting for us), prepping and shipping our cars, and saying goodbye to our amazing and supportive family, friends, mentors, and colleagues.
We are so excited to be moving in together! We’re anxious to make our house a welcoming home and we’re blessed to have enough space to have our loved ones come stay with us and experience the island! We just signed a 15 month lease and will be living in Kapolei. Our home has 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and a nice fenced yard for BBQing, and for the pups to run around. We are less than 4 miles from the beach!! We encourage you to come visit!
Our schedule for the first few weeks looks something like this:
Feb 14-21: Staying in Kahuku in a vacation rental – taking this time off of work to vibe out and enjoy the island
Feb 21 – March 7: Moving into a temporary house in Kapolei and going back to work
March 8: Moving day! Our furniture will be delivered and we will officially be home
Mahalo for hanging with me on the long post!
Bay to Kapolei 