Sailing, takes me a way…

Feb 4, 2010
Today is the day I have been waiting for. Right after Alyssa was born, I had to most vivid dream of my life. In the dream I was windsurfing and I was amazing at it. Cutting across the surf with grace and ease.

As we prepared for this trip we extensively read Maui Revealed. In one of the sections we learned about windsurfing lessons offered for beginners at a beach nearby where we were staying. The book suggested taking the lessons as long as you don’t mind falling in the water 70 + times per hour. No problem for me, I am good a falling. I do it all the time on my bike.

With that in mind I eagerly awaited the day of my lesson. Unfortunately I woke up with a pretty horrendous sore throat. I could tell that I had a little fever too. I was afraid this would happen as I felt it coming on the day earlier on the road to Hana. Not optimal for my highly anticipated adventure, but you have to make these kinds of things happen when you have the opportunity. I knew today was my only opportunity, so I did it anyway.

My mom and dad were kind enough to babysit for us taking the kids shopping and sight seeing while Steve and I were gone. Seriously...look at these cute little girls.
Don't you just want to eat them up?

After saying goodbye, we set out for High-Tec Sports to register and sign the waivers that said if I died or drown it wasn’t their fault.


Sure, no problem. If I drown, it’s my own fault, check.

We followed the map they gave us down to the windsurfing beach at Kahana Beach Park where they had beginner winds.
There were two others in my class. A lady from Sweden named Moa, and John who was from Oregon.

We first got some beach instruction about how to stand on the board and use the sail and how to maneuver around on the board from our instructor named Neil who was from Dublin.

Easy. I can totally do this...

Then we headed into the water for a little bit more instruction before we tryed it our selves.
He makes it look so easy.

Then, it was my turn. It was a little more awkward on the water, but the board was surprisingly steady.
I can do this, yes. I can do this.

According to the lady in the surf shop, girls who are short and stocky (me) are the ones who generally excel at windsurfing.


I started very slowly, very very slowly sailing our and then back.
I did fall in the water when I lost my balance, but certainly no 70 times an hour.

The lesson lasted 2.5 hours. After about and hour and a half, the sail got really heavy to hold onto.
My arms and legs got really tired and I started falling in the water more often, but I also got better at sailing out and back faster.

Once I got comfortable on the board and sailed out, I got really nervous that I would get so far out that I wouldn’t be able to get back. I was also nervous about seeing a shark. I like both my arms and feel pretty desperate to keep them both. I kept trying to block out all that and just enjoy what I was doing.

I did sail all the way out and back to shore 2 times during my lesson without falling, so I felt pretty good about that.
I actually got pretty good at riding the board, but didn’t have enough time to master steering with the sail. I basically steered by falling off and moving it to the direction I wasted into go in when I was in the water. Not ideal, but it worked.

All-in-all I’d say anyone should do this if given the opportunity. You should wear a rash guard though, because my underarms were rubbed raw from the life vest I wore. Very unfortunate.

After the lesson we went back to the sports store to talk to Patty, the Shacka lady who worked there, She was nice and wanted me to come back and tell her how it went.

We then headed to K-Mart to find some first-aid for my arms. We ended up buying a pink fitted t-shirt (which I still wear today) which kept my rashed up arms covered so they wouldn’t rub against anything.

Then off to Costco where we got pizza and took it out to watch the real windsurfers make a go of it in the real waves in Ho’okipa.
Isn’t it beautiful? Next time, this will be me.


Steve and I had a really great time alone together.
Its really different with no kids around. We can do so much more so much faster (not saying we regret taking the kids, it was really fun to be there as a family).

I just love Steve for insisting I do this to fulfill the dream I had years earlier. Without his nudging, I know I would have chickened out.
He did a great and very thorough job documenting my adventure. He also spent time with Moa’s not husband on the beach. He was an excellent windsurfer himself, but didn’t want to give lessons to his non-wife. Sometimes it’s hard to teach someone you love something that can be difficult and stressful without someone getting your head bitten off by the person you love. Smart.

After we got home, we showed my mom the pics, she was anxious to see if I had really done it. I was so proud to show her what I had done. I felt like a kindergartener showing off my finger paint.

Then, it hit. Then adrenaline the adventure wore off and I remembered I was sick when I started the day. Sore throat to the point I could hardly breath, extreme fatigue, body aches and fever. I laid down and slept for an hour while Sunny was still taking her nap. When I woke up I felt so much worse. I took some Ibuprofen and a shower, which did help.

I was so determined to enjoy every moment we were in Hawaii that I decided to ignore the fact that I was sick and just keep going. We took the girls to a nearby park to see the giant whale statue or sculpture.
They really liked seeing it. Sunny still talks about it.


Loook at this cute girl!

We let them play on the playground there with the local Hawaiian kids who were all bundled up and wearing sweatshirts. It was winter after all. There weren’t really any other vacationers here for some reason.
I wish our parks had trees and landscapes like this one.

After the park we went with Karen and Charlie to Café Ole.
It was a very nice restaurant. I was so nervous about taking kids into it, but they were SOOOOO good. I was so impressed with them considering the fanciness of the place.

I had one of the best meals of my life there.
Macadamia crusted Chicken with mashed potatoes. Steve had mahi-mahi which he said was surprisingly spicy, but delicious. My meal was so good that I insisted my parents go there next night...and they loved it too, and that's saying something. My dad usually only likes food he makes himself. Even he thought this place was sensational. Its a Kihei don't miss.

Here is Alyssa with her new Grandma (that's what she calls Steve's mom).
Don't you just love her dress. I wish we could just dress like this all the time.

I didn't know this until the next day, but Karen was not feeling well either. She had a horrible headache, but was a good sport and we never even knew she didn't feel good.

It was a great day despite the sore throat and general sickness. We made the most of the day and have no regrets.