Journey
Aloha and Welcome
You’ve just arrived at a sanctuary of creative expression—a digital journal rooted in the heart of the Pacific and fueled by the Spirit of Aloha. This space is a personal testament to the healing power of art, literature, and the deep call of nature’s wisdom. Each piece shared here—be it a story, a sketch, or a reflection—is offered with the hope that it uplifts, inspires, and sparks connection.
Leaving behind the high-pressure pulse of Silicon Valley wasn’t a retreat—it was a homecoming to something more authentic. This journey isn’t just about escaping the rat race; it’s about reclaiming spiritual resilience, awakening inner clarity, and walking the path of radical self-renewal. From mountain peaks to ocean breezes, this journal follows a journey of transformation—and invites you to walk alongside it, one story at a time.
Paradigm Shift: Bay Area Gentrification
The rapid rise of technology in the San Francisco Bay Area has caused significant changes in the communities, posing a daunting challenge for our long-time residents to adapt. With real estate prices soaring, many have been forced to uproot their lives and move. The plight of homeowners, who have invested years of their lives in their homes, is particularly heart-wrenching. They yearn to refinance and tap into their home equity without the burden of higher mortgage payments. However, they find themselves trapped, unable to access their home equity, and often compelled to sell their homes to high-earning tech workers.
The tech industry holds immense power to address community challenges, yet a shift from collaboration to competition has hindered progress on complex issues like gentrification. To make a real impact, we must prioritize working together over rivalry. Collaboration allows us to pool resources and expertise, creating solutions that uplift those most affected. True success lies not just in individual achievement but in driving meaningful change for our global community.
TOXIC Wasteland: Leaving the San Francisco Bay Area
I realized it was time to leave. I felt detached and stressed out from working and living like this. Adding to the stress of being estranged from my children, I also realized that I had become entangled in the perpetual bombardment of company politics, manipulative competition between coworkers, and quickly meeting deadlines. I was burning out. If I didn't take action soon, it could seriously impact my mental well-being. I felt like a ticking time bomb ready to go off, at risk of being consumed by this toxic lifestyle. That was when I decided to depart from the Bay Area and pursue my passion for the arts and literature.
I discovered a new home in the lively Honolulu Arts District with a solid determination to uncover the true essence of living. It dawned on me that finding my Aloha—the Hawaiian way of life centered on love, peace, and compassion—was the way to go. Understanding the potential consequences of suddenly leaving, I was prepared to let karma take its course.
Radical Acceptance: A Hard Pill to Swallow
Life, at times, can break you in places you didn’t even know could fracture. I know this intimately—I live with the quiet, aching grief of being estranged from my children. It’s not just absence; it’s a hollowing. A silence that echoes louder during birthdays, holidays, and quiet mornings when I instinctively reach for a memory instead of a voice.
There is no easy way to carry this kind of heartbreak. It weighs down the soul, especially when it’s tethered to something as painful as witnessing your own family pulled apart by greed—an invisible poison that corrodes trust and love until all that's left is distance. There’s a unique kind of isolation in being cut off from the very people you see your reflection in.
I see pieces of myself in my children—the spark in their eyes, the dreams they chase, the wounds they try to hide. And yet, we now live in separate worlds. Looking back, I recognize how the relentless rhythm of the Bay Area—the tech grind, the status wars, the drive to “succeed” at all costs—created a culture where compassion is too often mistaken for weakness. It’s a culture I was once part of, and unknowingly passed down.
Accepting this truth has torn me open. It’s a bitter, burning pill to swallow. But radical acceptance is not surrender—it’s choosing to face pain without flinching, to feel the sting of truth and still decide to stand. To still love. To still hope.
And that’s what resilience is. Not the absence of scars, but the courage to live with them fully exposed, refusing to let them define the rest of your story.
The Lonely Road of Owning Yourself
Owning yourself isn’t just a right — it’s a quiet revolution. It’s the moment you stop asking permission to be who you are. It’s liberation not from chains of iron, but from the invisible ones—expectation, judgment, fear. When you begin to live in alignment with your values, you discover a kind of freedom that no one can give you… and no one can take away.
This is the journey of becoming: daring to question the world’s rules, embracing your beautiful contradictions, and standing firmly in your truth. Climb that inner mountain. At the summit, don’t just breathe the thin air—exhale everything that no longer serves you. Let the weight fall. Let your spirit rise. And as you gaze across the vast horizon of possibility, feel the universe cradle you in quiet harmony. In that stillness, you’ll realize: peace was never something to chase — it was always waiting within.
It’s never too late to write your next chapter.
Even at retirement age—perhaps especially then—the blank page before you is not a limitation, but a promise. Starting anew may seem daunting, but it is also a declaration of the enduring human spirit: we are always capable of growth, reinvention, and brilliance, regardless of age.
Now is the time to reclaim joy, nourish your mental well-being, and express your true self through the arts. This journey is not just personal—it’s a beacon for others who may feel forgotten, disconnected, or uncertain of their worth. Through creativity, courage, and spiritual resilience, we illuminate our own paths and help others find the courage to walk theirs.
You are the author of your life. Pick up the pen—and begin.
Searching for Aloha
There are moments in life when we feel completely adrift—lost not just in the world, but from ourselves. Have you ever looked in the mirror and not recognized the person staring back? Many of us spend years wearing masks, trying to fit into lives that were never truly meant for us. Eventually, something inside us stirs—a quiet but powerful knowing—that we’ve wandered far from our truth.
I know that feeling all too well. I once lived what looked like a picture-perfect life, but underneath, it was unraveling. I lost everything I thought defined me. And just when I tried to rebuild, I found myself caught in the same storm again. The despair was crushing. But somewhere in the stillness, I heard a whisper—not of defeat, but of hope. I realized that if I kept going down that path, I would lose more than just things—I’d lose my spirit.
So, I chose differently.
I began a new journey. Not one of survival, but of healing. A path rooted in authenticity, peace, and purpose. A path to rediscover the spirit of Aloha—not just a word, but a way of being. It became my compass home.
Finding your Tribe
We all long to belong—to feel the quiet joy of being understood, to walk beside those whose hearts echo our own. For the artist, the dreamer, the seeker of beauty, finding that circle of kindred spirits is like breathing life into a silent song. In that sacred space, creativity blooms without fear, and the soul is free to wander and wonder.
It is here, in this dance of shared purpose and open hearts, that the spirit of Aloha reveals itself—not just as a word, but as a way of living. It teaches us that connection is medicine, that presence is power, and that healing begins with truth. To walk the path of Aloha is to discover a sanctuary within—a place where art, mindfulness, and belonging intertwine to restore the soul and awaken the light within us all.
Influence of Hawai'i
I feel a deep connection with the spirit of Hawai'i. It's a place that unites people from diverse backgrounds and fosters love, compassion, and unity. The vibrant traditions, stunning landscapes, and mix of cultural influences make it truly special. The people of Hawai'i embrace the aloha spirit with warm greetings and communal celebrations. They also take great care to preserve their environment, which is truly inspiring.
Hawai'i's artistic vibe and global influence are genuinely unique and captivating. Its inclusive and welcoming nature creates a sense of belonging for everyone. The blend of traditional and modern elements creates a comforting and invigorating atmosphere. As the sun sets, the magic of Hawai'i brings a smile to my face, highlighting the unbreakable bond between wholesome goodness and culture. It's a timeless style that holds a special place in my heart and resonates throughout the rest of the world.
Coming to Hawai'i to be KAMA'AINA
I came to Hawai‘i seeking to live and learn Aloha — not just the word, but the spirit, the lifeblood of a people rooted in land, legacy, and love. What I found was a culture carrying deep wounds — the echoes of a stolen sovereignty, of promises broken by history. Yet, within that pain, I discovered something extraordinary: a people whose spirit refused to be extinguished.
Despite centuries of displacement and cultural erasure, the Native Hawaiian soul remains vibrant — not because it was spared hardship, but because it chose to respond with dignity, resilience, and a radical kind of love. Aloha is not weakness. It is power. It is resistance through compassion, sovereignty through spirit, and survival through deep connection.
In learning from this culture, I haven’t just come to admire it — I’ve been changed by it. I carry a profound respect for the kānaka maoli and their gift to the world: a living philosophy that teaches us how to coexist, how to heal, and how to remember who we truly are.
As a Veteran
As a veteran, my love for this country runs deep, forged in service, sacrifice, and the belief in justice. But that same sense of duty compels me to confront a painful truth: that this land, Hawai‘i, carries the scars of injustice and loss. The overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom was not just a historical event — it was a heartbreak that still echoes in the lives of the kānaka maoli today.
And yet, in the face of this sorrow, I’ve witnessed something profoundly moving. The Native Hawaiian people, despite all they’ve endured, continue to embody the spirit of Aloha, not as a cliché, but as a sacred resilience. They’ve taught me that Aloha is more than kindness; it is a way of being rooted in reverence, reciprocity, and truth.
I came here hoping to learn, and in doing so, I’ve been humbled. To walk the path of a true Kamaʻāina is not just to live on this land—it is to love it, protect it, and honor those who have carried its soul through generations. I am committed to that journey, guided by the wisdom of a culture that refused to disappear and inspired by a spirit that continues to rise.
The Sting of Imperialism
Imagine this…
You open your home to visitors — curious, different, draped in unfamiliar fabrics and bearing glittering gifts from places you've never dreamed of. You greet them with warmth, share your food, your songs, your stories. Your culture thrives, and in your openness, you offer them a place at the table.
But behind their smiles is something you can't quite name — a quiet calculation. They study your ways while slowly introducing their own. At first, it seems harmless… just another way of praying, of building, of living. You listen. You’re intrigued. You want to understand.
Then, slowly, the shift begins. Your gods are called primitive. Your language, ignored. Your sacred places, redefined. You are told your past is something to be corrected — that their way is progress, and yours is something to outgrow. And in your innocence, you begin to forget the sound of your ancestors’ chants, the weight of your own name in your native tongue.
Soon, you find yourself in a world shaped by their beliefs, their borders, their truths. You adapt, thinking this is how to survive. You compromise, thinking this is how to coexist. And just as you try to find your footing, the ground vanishes.
Your sovereign nation — once recognized, respected — is silenced in the shadows of empire. Your queen is taken. Your people are lost in grief and confusion. You rise to resist, but their power is swift, brutal, unyielding. You are outnumbered, outgunned, and unheard.
And so, with heartbreak in your hands, you surrender not because you are weak, but because you want to protect what little remains. But deep inside, something still burns. A memory. A name. A whisper passed from elder to child: We were once a kingdom.
You have lived through the heartbreak of imperialism — not just as history, but as a daily reality etched into the land, the laws, and the language. The burden didn’t end with the loss of a throne; it continued through generations forced to navigate a world that no longer reflected their truths. Survival became an act of quiet resistance — learning to move within systems not built for you, while never fully surrendering your soul.
This was the world of the Kanaka Maoli when I arrived — a people whose spirit had been tested again and again. And yet, in the depth of that struggle, I found something sacred. Something unshaken. I immersed myself humbly, to learn what it truly means to be Kamaʻāina — not just of the land, but in deep relationship with it and its first stewards.
And there, at the heart of it all, I found the Spirit of Aloha. Not just a word. Not just a greeting. A force. A sacred pulse that refuses to die. It is the quiet strength passed through hula, the breath of the conch shell, the prayers whispered in ʻōlelo, the hands tending taro, the chants that awaken the ancestors.
The Spirit of Aloha is not passive — it is revolutionary. It forgives, but it never forgets. It welcomes, but it does not yield. It is the heartbeat of a people who have every reason to collapse — and yet they rise.
And in that rising, there is hope. Not just for Hawai‘i — but for all of us learning how to remember where we came from, and who we were always meant to be.
Aloha
The Spirit of Aloha
Aloha is not just a word — it is a way of life, a sacred inheritance passed down through the breath of ancestors. At its heart, Aloha is a spiritual practice rooted in Indigenous Hawaiian wisdom. It embodies compassion, mutual respect, and a deep reverence for the interconnectedness of all things — people, land, sea, and spirit.
More than a greeting, Aloha is a living force. It asks us to see one another — not just with the eyes, but with the soul. To act with empathy, to speak with kindness, and to live in balance with the world around us. In a world that often rewards detachment and self-interest, Aloha invites us to slow down and listen — to honor the moment and the people in it.
This guiding principle is not passive or naïve. It is a resilient response to centuries of disruption, colonization, and cultural erasure. And yet, the Hawaiian people have kept Aloha alive — not by clinging to the past, but by embodying it in every act of care, every shared meal, every chant and hula that tells the story of who they are.
To live with Aloha is to commit to mindfulness — a conscious choosing of love over fear, connection over control, and healing over harm. It is both gentle and powerful. Forgiving, yet unflinching. It is how a culture survives — not through domination, but through deep spiritual strength.
In embracing Aloha, we do not merely adopt a custom — we align ourselves with a sacred philosophy that has withstood the test of time. And in that alignment, we begin to rediscover what it means to be truly human.
Resonate Pono; Absorb the Mana
There exists an ancient and unseen vibration—subtle, yet profound—that hums beneath all things. It is the resonance of Pono, the feeling of deep alignment, when one’s heart, mind, and spirit move in harmony with what is right and just. This vibration is not static; it flows like water, like breath, like chant—gaining power as it passes through the hearts of those who live with intention and love for one another.
It is the pulse of the ʻāina, the whispered wisdom of the ancestors carried on the wind, the rhythm of drums that echo across generations. And when a people rise in unison—rooted in truth, bound by culture, and awakened by shared purpose—that vibration magnifies. It becomes Mana.
But Mana is not merely power. It is soulful frequency. It rejuvenates the weary. It sharpens clarity. It stirs the spirit from slumber and calls it back to purpose. To stand in this resonance is to be both humbled and uplifted—reminded of who you are, and who you are becoming.
This is the sacred force of a people who remember. A people who endure not by clinging to the past, but by embodying it in every breath forward. The resonance of Pono restores. The vibration of Mana transforms. And in their embrace, the self is not just healed — it is reborn.
Aloha Mindfulness
To live with Aloha Mindfulness is to awaken to the sacred current of love that flows through all things. It is not simply a practice — it is a remembering. A remembering of who we are when we stand rooted in compassion, clarity, and deep respect for one another and the ʻāina. In moments of uncertainty, Aloha becomes more than a concept — it becomes a compass, gently guiding us toward the path of Pono, the path of rightness and balance.
When the weight of sorrow threatens to break the spirit, Aloha offers shelter — not by denying grief, but by holding space for healing. It softens what is hard, and brings light to places we thought would remain in shadow. In times when faith is fragile, the vibration of Aloha becomes a quiet strength — not loud or boastful, but steady, unshakable, like roots gripping the land through storm and drought.
Many who embrace Aloha as a guiding principle discover its profound versatility — it is love, yes, but also action, discipline, and sacred intention. It is the kindness in our words, the courage in our choices, the forgiveness in our hearts. Aloha Mindfulness asks us to be present — not just for ourselves, but for our communities, our ancestors, and the generations yet to come.
Through this presence, we access a deeper Mana—a wellspring of energy born from alignment with the sacred. To practice Aloha Mindfulness is to live with resilience wrapped in compassion, walk gently but with power, and shape a life that honors both the struggle and the song.