Paradise

Aloha gang!
Well, I made it! After about 24hours of flying I landed safe and sound in Maui! The flight was relatively uneventful. The worst drag was from LAX to Maui because I just wanted to get there so badly and it was a lonnnnnng flight. Unfortunately it was already night so I didn't get to see the colors and mountains coming towards me on the horizon. I sat next to an older southern woman who seemed to be a little on the wealthy side and a surfer dude/ guy my age who was just getting back from a weekend bender at his buddy's in texas. It was an interesting combo.
Upon arrival Jon and Laura picked me up and we drove back to her place where we were crashing until we could find some beds for our apartment. I woke up to a light misty morning and some pretty strong winds but the colors is what really made me get right up and walk around outside. A balmy 80 degrees greeted me while I walked down the road to explore a little. Found breakfast growing on a tree (starfruit) and then got back and joined Laura and her friend for breakfast while Jon was at an interview. We ate at Duke's Restaurant overlooking the bluest shades of every blue an ocean can be. Palm trees were dancing in the wind and everyone was in t-shirts and shorts or just a bathing suit! Can't beat it. That night we met the roommates Rob and Levi. Rob is from England and Levi is from California. Both are chill dudes and we're all excited about how cool our place is/will be once we find furniture.
The last few days have all been blurring together because I've been trying to find a job/bed/get to see the island a little. So far I got the bed, and now I have 2 jobs in restaurants here bussing/hosting/hopefully will get to train behind the bar! Both of which are at the bottom of the hill I live on! Perfect! At the first job, the manager (creol guy from New Orleans) said... be back in 30mins after talking to be for about 2mins. Hey... that works for me! The second I just picked up yesterday and will find out when I work soon.
I also picked up a board from a kid I met through mutual friends who is a local surfer and he spends the winter in Colorado. He said he had a beater board I could have and if it were to break on the rocks no one would care! Perfect! But it was just the deck and I needed to find fins and a leash... but that story will come in a bit.
So once I got my bed I left the couch surfing lifestyle but have yet to go get sheets... luckily jon gave me a sleeping bag so I'm not completely living on a crack bed.
As for the fins and leash, I hitch-hiked down to Lahaina yesterday and the guy that picked me up was this 56 year old Hawaiian surf instructor. He asked what I needed in town and when I told him he said "Shoots, I've got both those! Shit's expensive... I'll call you when you can come get them." Boo yah.

Running is going well... not used to the hills though. I climbed for about 2miles up into the Pineapple fields two days ago and boy oh boy was I hurting. Turned around and did some flat loops down in town. Then today Jon and I met with a different Levi and we ran the Exterra World Championship course... Oh. My. GOD! SOOOOO hilly. I can't imagine trying to compete in that! Wooo! Lance raced it this year and Levi said even he looked tired. Other than that... just grindin out some runs!

I've heard from numerous people that I've been talking to waiting for the bus or on the beach or at work that life here is either so simple and The Island wants you here, or it's strenuous and you pack up and leave. As for now, I'm going to keep riding this wave of good fortune and say Mahalo to The Island for treating me well.

Aloha!