2-23-08

Mr. Aloha, Da Hui member,wave riding vehicles and good friend Bob Kaleikau. RIP 2/18/07 This day was one of the most INTERESTING days of my life. I can't believe how fast time has passed. I don't think i've had a day with so many mixed emotions. Such a good day turned into something somber slowly. A day I really reflected on my life and gave much thanks to God for what I had.Anyone who was with us that day will not forget this. It was a Saturday in Hawaii. My best friend drew and I woke up to go surf with some friends. We headed down to Haleiwa to surf Ali'i and it was such a clear day. I had just purchased my 5'10 retro fish and was still getting use to it. The waves were so fun that day. I was stoked cause I felt so good about my surfing. We all went out and took turns video taping. I had such a good day surfing and felt so comfortable on my board. There were some bombers coming through that day. I was surfing by this German kid who was about my age who kinda moved here for a couple months and was just starting to surf. We just started talking and getting each other pumped on each wave we charged. As the surf started to get choppy and all our friends got hungry, we all paddled in. This german kid ran up to us in the parking lot and asked if we could go surf again, so we told him just to come cruise and hang out with us for the day. After working up an apetite and being cheap college students, we went to McDonalds to eat off the dollar menu. After we ate, right next door is a surf shop called Wave Riding Vehicles. I had known these guys at the shop really well since we did stuff with our Ocean Appreciation Club. I always stop by and just say hi while I'm down there and get a few good laughs. When we walked in and there were some girls there working that dated the manager. I asked them where everyone was like LG and Bob. Then STRUCK the words... "Didn't you hear the news? Bob passed away two days ago!" I was in shock. It blew my mind. He was 46. Such an amazing happy guy. Always hooked me up with discounts. He was the one that got us going to the Da Hui beach clean up. What do you say. We were so taken back. We cruised on over to our new german friends house overlooking waimea. I was still just soaking it in. UNREAL. We drop our stuff off and head to the beach and play around and watched a beautiful sunset into the ocean. After we went back to that kids place he was renting a room and the guy and wife who lived in the rest of the house were out bbqing and cooked for us and were so hospitable. The guy then tells us of an experience he had. Easter 07 his outside house camera caught this so called phenomenon. He said he went outside and saw this egg-like-portal in the sky and all these spirits that he couldn't see faces all flew and entered into this egg and in the video that caught it you see the egg go up.He said the egg was like a portal going to heaven or something like that. He was super sincere about it. Not even a nutty guy. Didn't tell us to believe it but it was so crazy. Of course we didn't believe it but it was just so random even watching the video. You can see it at www.jesusvine.com. Just from hearing our friend pass away it was such a weird thing. So many different ideas out there of how people view life and what happens. So after we left there, Drew and I could not stop thinking about everything that happend and the emotions. We started jamming at home and Drew started playing this chord progression that he always messes around with. All of the sudden, both of us start getting these lines and ideas and thoughts for the song. We immediately grabbed a pen and started writing. It flowed so naturally and was exactly how we felt about this day. Here are the lyrics. We didn't finish the chorus but im working on that. Im currently sick or I was gonna video it. Bob will always be in my memories and his aloha spirit. Aloha Oi Bob! Tell me what ya think and REMEMBER the singing isn't that good as im getting over pneumonia:

Verse 1 Big balls of light, on the horizon angels take their flight Asking why, why we were born to die.
Verse 2 Trying to see, beyond this magical fantasy Dreams don't die, Until the next life we'll try
Verse 3 Its beautiful, this life we're living and days of mine Write it down, take a picture as the sun goes down
Verse 4 Rising sun, as another days begun Days like these, I won't forget your watching me
Verse 5 Take some time, to release your weary mind All my cares, broken up in the ocean clear

Nothing is as constant as CHANGE

For the past while, CHANGE has been a constant thing on my mind. It started back before I left Hawaii and has stayed around my head and for the last little bit has been something I've thought of and noticed. Its such an interesting thing. Change means so many different things. Change effects all of us constantly. We all look for change. Change of pace. Change of luck. Change of job. At the same time we have a love/hate relationship with change. We don't like change when it effects something that is going good for us or when we have things planned out for awhile. Change can be good or bad. Change occurs in everything. We may change names when we get married or change our perspective on something or someone or how we view life. The world wanted change which landed Obama a new job. My thoughts are changing as I gain new knowledge through experience and change. I have come to realize that change is really a natural part of life. Whether we want it or not, it will come as needed in good and bad times. Sometimes its hard to deal with change especially when we don't know why its coming but I believe that change is a positive good thing even when we don't see the benefits at first. It helps us grow and learn. We are who we are because of change really. Although it may seem like a bad thing at times, I don't believe change ends up as a negative thing. Its an inevitable thing that will follow us.
I've been trying to write music and focus on thoughts and experiences. Writing music is such a cool natural thing. I am writing a song about some of what i've said and need to finish another verse and tighten stuff up but thought I'd share it. Let me know what ya think. Be honest. Maybe I won't be shy and will record a video and put it up here with music.

Verse 1 Waiting, as life passes me by.
Changes, it all comes with time.
You live and you learn, but life don't come easy.
you gotta take it slow and change with the seasons.

Chorus You gotta move along
Cause time just don't stand still
You've got to free your mind, free your mind.

verse 2 Live for today, don't wait for tomorrow
Yesterdays gone and time we can't borrow.

Well im still throwing around a few different lyrics and stuff but that is pretty set in stone but still much work needed. Give me any thoughts you have about change or my lyrics. Always appreciated. Aloha

Sun+Camera= A happy soul

Lately I've been looking for an adventure and to get away from the cold air. Since it wasn't looking like it would snow which means no work I knew it was an opportunity for my to soothe my soul and clear my head. My dad and I took off to st george and stayed at our condo down there. I was stoked because I knew it was good weather and a perfect time for me to test out my camera skills on my new camera. My dad and I found some nice hikes to go on which felt nice to take it slow and easy and hang out with my dad. Here's some pictures I took.















It was fun just to try it out and see what i got. Let me know what one you liked the best. Its a skill in progress but if your looking for some cool photos to look at or need a photographer let me suggest some awesome talent of good friends....

If your in Utah, check out my buddy Clay's Photography who has a good eye at www.claytonhansenphotography.com or www.claytonhansenphotography.blogspot.com

OR... My good friend Malia in Hawaii who is such a cool girl at www.maliajohnsonphotography.blogspot.com

I hope to learn some from them as they have inspired me to be a better photographer. ALOHA!

Music feeds my soul

So last Wednesday I turned 28. I've been in Hawaii the last few years on my birthday so it consisted of school sometimes but usually i'd ditch and go chill on the north shore with my good friends and go surf all day. I started a good tradition out there of buying myself a present on my birthday. When it came this year I had no clue what to do during the day. I told my bro-n-law that I was gonna go out and find something cool to purchase whether it be a shirt or an electric guitar. Well my friends, i did find a cool rvca shirt.But it gets much better. I found myself drifting over to the local music shop browsing in the electric guitar section and then saw this kid from my homeward who worked there and told me he'd hook me up with his discount. So this is what i ended up with:

and....
Thats right an acoustic-electric ukele and an amp. Im stoked for it. I've wanted an uke since living in hawaii. And one of my goals this year is to spend more time on my hobbies and specifically writing music and getting better. Maybe I will drop some tunes on this and see what ya think. Aloha!