Friday: Finding Mana.

The original and fabled Ironman race course is here on the Big Island, and Friday is our day to tackle the 2.4 (actually more like 2.6 from the pier) mile swim. I hopped in the van with 4 of the guests and could feel a nervous tension among them with this big swim coming up. So I played some disco on the car stereo. It’s almost impossible to be nervous when you’re singing along to disco tunes. Arriving in Kona, we danced from the car to the pier, ready to swim. 

The course is marked with buoys till about the ½ way point, then there’s a long, unmarked stretch to the turnaround buoy, marked with a big IM for Iroanman. Conditions were excellent, and we got there in well under an hour, even with lots of stopping and chatting. We hit an outgoing tide on the way back, but it was nothing for this seasoned crew, and we followed Ryan aboard his SUP with his bright yellow shirt back to the pier. Hugs all around. Shout out to guess Mari and Melinda for their first IM swim and Paula for one of her longest swims ever.

We sent guests into town for lunch and the guides gathered at a favorite spot for burgers and poke. I think almost everyone wound up at Ululani’s shave ice to top it all off. Back at the Hale, naps happened, roosters be damned.

Our afternoon swim was more of a cool-down from the big morning swim, and of few of us went wildin’ out onto the reef to chase some fish around. Heather took her famous swimmer portraits. 

Thanks to Melinda who took my big camera and got one of me! - HP

Clare had made a couple of infusions that I’ve been employing in cocktails all week. Tonight's was rum infused with about 9 different fruits and herbs from Maui, and it went well with lime juice and a splash of Pog. Dan put out some Ono crudo (from the one we caught) and some grilled hot peppers with aioli dipping sauce. DInner was seared spearfish (it tasted a bit like swordfish), with bok choy and Clare sweetened things up at the end with a lilikoi pie. These two knocked it out of the park all week. 

Heather played a slideshow of photos from the week, always sadly sweet, as we know we are nearing the end of our week here. 

Back at the beginning of the week, I remember hoping that we (me, Heather, Ryan, Kekau, Clare, Dan, both Amandas, and Momi) could help the guests find the Mana produced by this Island, and use it to help them spiritually and physically. I’m certain we accomplished that as I look at all the guests' faces, their postures, and the light around them. I’m certain they’ll come back better. 

Till we share the Aloha again, Mahalo,

Hopper

We gathered at the beach for one final sunset, and the Pacific delivered one of the most brilliant and persistant green flashes we have ever seen. Thank you to both Melinda and Debbie who both caught it with iPhones (I didn’t catch it with my camera!) - HP