Flooring

WAILUKU, Hawaii // Creators - This is what I strive to be. Someone, who at the end of the day, can physically touch a finished product and see what their hard work has accomplished. After years of only excel files and powerpoint decks to show for my hard work, the idea of creating with my hands sounds appealing.

This weekend we had the pleasure of learning about flooring. We helped my cousin, a 5th generation carpet installer, lay laminate and carpet in a condo in Wailuku. He also happens to own the business with my Uncle, which is appealing in itself as I have always admired entrepreneurs and small business owners. Most people we meet say they want to be their own boss one day, but very few people I meet actually live it. 

Tips we learned about laminate // 

• Even though it looks like a wood floor it may be laminate. Only the top layer is water proof and the other layers look like stacked cardboard.
• Technically the kit we put together is a "do it yourself" kit, but after watching my cousin, I know I would have made many mistakes. It would have probably taken me 1,000 times longer to complete on my own.
• A jigsaw cutter is required, as is a large paper cutter machine to cut straight lines in the laminate. 
• First remove the baseboards // Don’t ruin them, they go back up when you are finished.
• Sweep and vacuum the floor before you lay down flooring. 
• Put a protective tarp material down to protect the cement floor before the laminate goes down.
• Don’t make the first row along the wall first. You actually make rows 2-4 first and then you line up the edge of a new board ontop of row 2 and trace along the wall and then cut that line with the jigsaw cutter. Why don’t you start with the first row? The wall isn’t straight.
• Cut the first 3 rows at staggered lengths. Then use the tail end of the last row to begin the next row. My cousin likes to alternate between a short piece and then a long piece to start each row. If you cut the first boards of all your start pieces it is wasteful and it makes all your board seems line up perfectly which actually makes it feel more unnatural. 
• You must leave 3/8 of an inch gap along the edge by the wall so that when the temperature changes it can expand and contract. If you dont leave this gap your floor will buckle. The gap is hidden by the baseboard when you put it back up. 
• Laminate only comes in about 6 different wood designs so make sure you don’t put similar boards touching each other. Look for specific markings like notch holes to determine if they are the same. 
• To install angle in the board, wiggle it side to side and then slowly wiggle down until they snap in place. You may need a good pound with the hand to get it in place.

Tips we learned about carpet //

Carpet was much easier. You start with the tack board in the doorway that has teeth pointing away from the room.  Then you tack two sides and stretch the rest into the last corner. You stretch the carpet so it doesn’t get bunchy when you walk on it. Carpet is easier when it is dropped (one piece of carpet fits the entire space). When you have to seem pieces together it takes longer because you have to heat the two carpets together.

Overall // I liked it and felt very accomplished when I looked at the finished project. I learned a lot and appreciate floors more than ever. I take extra time to inspect the floor now when I walk into homes, restaurants, and hotels. I also have a new respect for carpet layers as it is tough on the knees and back. The grass is always greener on the other side.

Tips to Flooring // 

• Kitchen & Bathrooms // places that typically get wet // tile is good
• Bedrooms // carpet works well
• Living room and high traffic areas // laminate or wood is best

Jaws

PAIA, Hawaii // A huge storm was off the coast of Hawaii and causing massive waves on the north shores of all the islands. Every year there is a popular surf competition sponsored by Quicksilver put on standby on Oahu called "The Eddie". Waves must be so massive to run the contest or else the event is cancelled, as it has been the last 7 years. 

The contest window lasts from the first of January to the last day of February. The final week of February, every time you turned on the news in Hawaii they were talking about the tournament. On the morning of February 25th, the contest organizers determined that waves were big enough and the conditions perfect to give it a green light. We ended up watching it online all morning and checking the surfline.com website to see how big waves were on Maui.

It turns out, not only did Oahu have huge waves that morning, but the waves on Maui were equally as big. We drove out to the most well known place for big waves: Peahi aka Jaws. When we arrived, there were people with pickup trucks shuttling others down the half mile dirt road to the beach where the waves break. 

Never in my life have I seen waves like this before and it was pretty cool to see all the crazy surfers in action. After attempting to surf waves 2 to 4 feet at the beginner area of Kalama Beach Park, I was really able to appreciate the difficulty and skill of the surfers out there on waves 10 times as large. 

First Video

WAILUKU, Hawaii // It has been about 4 months since we left New York City and we finally compiled and edited our first video!

We plan on creating a new 5 to 10 minute short video every other week, and added to the Where We Video section of the webpage.

The Where We Video section can be viewed here or on top of the Home page.

Maui REALLY Revealed

WAILUKU, Hawaii // There is a book called Maui Revealed that locals will tell you was written by a haole, Hawaiian for foreigner. Its kind of a running joke among the locals. So we put together a list of the top 3 Maui Really Revealed. What do locals do when they are not working hard at their jobs.

Land Fill & Recycling center // I don't think you truly know a city and it's people until you find out where it puts its garbage. The landfill on Maui is near Pu'unene and is extremely organized. In Hawaii everyone recycles too. You find huge bins at everyones houses for recycling. Even in public areas there are recycle bins that are actually used for that purpose. The grocery stores don't provide plastic bags and they encourage you to bring your own. The centers in Hawaii to recycle are everywhere and the people are friendly and they pay you for your recyclables ($.05 per bottle). We have been to the landfill and recycle center no less than 3 times in the last two weeks.

Garage Sales // Its a tough island to find things on which makes people resourceful. Furniture, stereo equipment, clothes, scrap carpet, books, kitchen gadgets, and baby clothes are all saved in case relatives need them or resold the old fashioned Ebay way // garage sales. Every weekend you will find signs littering the road way and hundreds of people scouring for treasures. There will be no less than 3 garage sales per neighborhood on Saturday. Tip to the tourist, start early. All the good stuff is gone by 9 am and most of the sales are over by noon. Garage sale scores so far // disc frisbee ($2), size 13 tevas ($1 - you're welcome Dad), tanks, pants, sunscreen (thanks Geraldine), 3 books (Zillow Talk, Waterfalls Ponds & Streams, and a Hawaiian Dictionary (thanks Aunt Connie).

Costco // This is not only a resourceful place for cheap bulk food items but also a social outing. My Apo and Nanny go and get the $1.50 hot dog and soda and watch the car rage unfold almost weekly. It is by far the craziest parking lot in all the island even when compared to a parking lot next to a white sand and waterfall filled beach. The food area is outside so you don't even need a Costco card to enjoy this outing.

Once you have hit these three hot spots you can consider yourself on the path to becoming a Kama'aina // local. Then you can go check out the beaches and sunsets. 

Kanaio

MAALAEA, Hawaii // We were all in land cruisers and headed along the Hana Highway past Kula. To the right was the ocean and to the left was Haleakala. All at once we made a random stop and turned down a steep dirt path towards the water where huge rocks bulged out of the road at every turn. They call this "overlanding"

Two hours later we were at the secluded Kanaio coast, south of Wailea and Kihei, and driving trucks along the rocky beach. We set up camp, fished, and collected Opihi off the rocks as the sun went down. Cooking the Opihi reminded me of escargot and had a really unique clam like taste. There was no phone service and no internet. There is something so peaceful and enchanting to take a break from civilization and the world for awhile.

I ended up falling asleep in a large chair looking out into the ocean looking at star constellations. The constellations are always the great equalizer to me in life. No matter who you are, where you are, or any situation you are dealing with in life, you still look into the same night sky and see the same stars.

Big Island Road Trip

WAIKOLOA, Hawaii // We rented a car for 4 days and spent the time taking a road trip around the Big Island. Some of the stops were multiple coffee farms, the southern most tip of the United States, Volcanoes National Park, Hilo, Pahoa, Rainbow Falls, & Akaka Falls. Along with these places, we met several interesting people, stayed in unique accommodation, and had a chance to drive around the entire island on our own choosing where we stop and explore. 

We spent 2 nights on a coffee farm in a rustic cabin, 1 night in a popular hostel in Hilo, and another night in a tiny house off the grid in Pahoa. A few times we questioned our choices to stay in some of these places because they were not exactly the most comfortable or cleanest of options. The coffee farm shack seemed run down and was like indoor camping. The hostel was nice but extremely old, and the tiny house was something we were skeptical with from the start. It would have been a lot easier or nicer staying in a moderate hotel or going to the beach every day.

On this trip there are things that we end up doing or places where we have stayed, that at times are not the most relaxing or enjoyable. It sometimes feels weird because we know the alternative is easier and more "vacation like", but looking back, I find myself enjoying the uncomfortable and mixed emotions just as much as the other memories. These places and experiences we can learn from; what I want in my future and what I do not. Getting out of our comfort zone is one of our priorities this year, and the best way to do this is trying new things and embracing the unknown, even if it might not be as much fun or unenjoyable at first. 

Manta Heaven

KONA, Hawaii // Last night I died and went to Manta Heaven. I did my first ever night dive with reef manta rays // one of the largest rays in the world. They weigh up to 2 tons each and have wingspans of up to 16 feet. These manta ray have no barbs on their tail which make them harmless peaceful creatures. This dive, Manta Heaven, is said to be the best night dive in the world and I believe it. They dance backflips through spotlights and swim over your head with only inches to spare. It reminded me of watching a beautiful show like Cirque du Soleil. 

We dove with Kona Diving Company. Typically they average 4-10 manta rays a night, and we saw over 20, plus a dolphin. The dive master said this was one of the best nights he has ever seen. The dive is only 40 feet deep and just off the Kona airport coast. The manta rays come here to eat plankton which is attracted to the lights the scuba divers set up. They use large pectoral fins on either side of their mouth for feeding. The plankton enter the large mouth area and the water filters out through 5 gill slits on either side of the mouth. If you have ever thought about getting scuba certified you should do so just so you can do this dive. It was a truly priceless experience. 

GoPro video footage of the dive coming soon!

Misconceptions

PAHOA, Hawaii // There were hippies and hitchhikers everywhere. 

Once we turned off the main highway before Hilo towards Pahoa, Jenny noticed a distinct change in scenery and vibe, and at one point looked at me with a strange skeptical look on her face. Every 100 meters there was a person or group with their thumbs out trying to get a ride, and once we got into Pahoa town there were people just laying on the sidewalk sleeping or smoking. This place was very different from Volcanoes National Park where we had just been. Tour buses and selfie sticks were now replaced with dreadlocks and tie dyed t-shirts. We booked an Airbnb for the night and based on what we saw in town, debated if we should even stay here. 

We had time to kill before checking in, so we took a joy ride along the coast in the rental car and it turned out to be one of the most scenic drives I have ever been on. There was hardly another car even on the road. It was called the Kalpana-Kapoho Road, and was literally like driving on gravel through a rainforest. We took this road all the way to the coordinates the GPS gave us and met our hosts. This couple turned out to be totally free spirited and amazing, nothing like we thought based on the nearest town. They traveled for 6 months out of the year and worked the other 6. Now settled, they run a bed and breakfast and survive off the grid on rain water and solar power. They live on 7 acres, make tiny houses, work hard on the farm, and live a minimalist life with recycled odds and ends used for their distinct architecture style. Chatting with this couple about their unconventional life, and staying on their property was an experience.

After this trip through the strange town of Pahoa, the lesson we both learned from this is: “It’s ok to have a gut feeling, but never judge a book by its cover.” If we would have just called it quits after seeing the people in town we would have missed out. This was a chance to meet unique people, learn about their different lives, and stay in an environment that few people have had the opportunity or even desire to do. 

Wave after wave

KONA, Hawaii // As I try to conquer surfing I have been dedicating more time on the beach to deciphering the waves. Where do they first crest? What angle do they approach the shoreline? Why do they break where they do? There seems to be an unlimited supply of them but where do they come from? 

So I did some research and learned that waves are not actually water being transported across the ocean but rather energy passing through water in a circular motion. I like the sound of this // waves are energy. This is probably why I am drawn to the ocean and learning how to surf. There is an energy that recharges my body when I’m out on the water. Even meditating while listening to the waves crash on the shore enlivens me. If you think that the human body is made up of over 60% water I think it makes sense that the waves have the power to affect us all. 

Plus Jennifer translated to Hawaiian is Kinipela which means Wave. It always comes full circle. 
 

Kona Coffee

KONA, Hawaii // We are currently on a road trip around the Big Island. First stop, Kona coffee farms. Though I don’t drink coffee, I enjoy learning about it considering what feels like 99% of the world drinks it daily and it’s a common water cooler conversation like the weather. Having a few coffee talking points couldn’t hurt.

Adam is what I would call a coffee snob // lovingly engaged in everything coffee. 
He enjoys learning about the plant, elevation labels, and the roasting process. We have even taken a “seed to cup” class. He drinks his coffee black // no cream // no sugar // a true purist. To say Adam has been enjoying our Kona visit would be a drastic understatement. We have visited 4 farms and tried all the coffees each has to offer // Kona Blue Sky // Holualoa Kona Coffee // Bebo's Kona // Heavenly Hawaiian. You could call it a highly caffenaited coffee crawl. Kona coffee is different as it is typically dark roasted. The coffee itself tends to have a natural sweetness and earthy flavor to it as well as having low acidity.

The Kona region is only about 20 miles by 2 miles and is extremely strict about the coffee bean quality that comes from the area. They must be a certain size and weight to be considered Kona coffee. The high elevation and natural afternoon showers make it the perfect location for coffee trees. The harvest season is primarily August thruogh January and since all the cherries don’t ripen at the same time each tree must be visited about 6-7 times per harvest. Coffee is hand picked in the region and pickers make around 50 cents a pound. Our tour guide said she was a slightly below average picker and could probably pick around 120 pounds in a day to give you an idea of what they make. Less than 20% of the beans picked make it through the entire process from picking to bagging of the roasted coffee. The coffee trees are only around 5-6 feet tall due to pruning that typically cuts the tree down to its main trunk about 1-2 feet off the ground. The tree only takes a year to recover and they typically prune a tree in three year cycles. The peaberry bean is the most elite bean grown in the region and also the most expensive. Peaberry is an oval bean that comes from having only one bean per cherry instead of the typical two. 

Coffee grades

• Peaberry
• Extra Fancy
• Fancy
• Number One
• Prime
• Triple X
• Rubbish // all the rest // as my Apo would say “Junk"

The rubbish beans are sold to other farms that make blends and put the misleading label “Kona” coffee on their bag. Be sure to look for only 100% Kona coffee labels or make sure you check to see how much “Kona” actually makes up the blend you are buying. Kona coffee makes up just over 2% of total global coffee production which is why it is so desirable as well as pricey.