My Freewrite Collage
- The Heat:
This is quite the contrast from my chilly hometown in Wisconsin. Before I left home for San Diego, I was shoveling massive piles of snow, huffing and puffing
through the twenty-below-zero degree avalanche weather. With the help of my kind three sisters, we plowed through the driveway just in time to catch my plane. Arriving in Hawaii in the piercing sunshine, I noticed a light, hazy cloud just over the horizon—a definite sign that we were surrounded by this undeniable heat of the Hawaiian sun. - Smiling Hawaiian People:
I literally felt the tangible warm spirit of aloha that shined brightly through the people. When I arrived in Hilo, jumping on the bus for our first expedition, I was already greeted by warm hugs, smiling eyes and the genuine grins of the Hawaiian people. They seemed eager to share their gem known as Hawaii, holding their arms open wide to foreigners like me, hoping we’ll discover the enchanting secrets of their native land. - The Lush Green:
Bright and vivid colors of Hawaii are accompanied by light rain showers. This soft rainfall gave a lush green tone to the rich scenery looking as if it could be in a movie set. But nature was the movie. It was a spectacular scene of natural beauty. I saw bright orange, yellow, and purple flowers…wild and exotic growing even in the ditches of the highways we zipped by. We visited a Volcanic Observatory Center, creeping through lava tube caves that smelled of sulfur. Before entering the cave, we passed under enormous palm trees whose branches swayed in the breeze as if to say hello in welcome. So many surprisingly unique plants and vegetation popped up throughout, setting the scene for this miraculous jungle. - Tin Roof-Hut Style:
One fun feature that surprised me during the trip was a tin-roofed house that captured a the relaxed, chilled atmosphere of Hawaiian homes. The vibe was evident everywhere on this island. I even noticed elementary schools with bamboo-like monkey bars for their playgrounds. A clever and resourceful choice. - Mountains in the Distance:
There’s no doubt that the mountains are everywhere. I mean everywhere. Outlining the horizon for endless distances, framing the city and the deep blue sky with their rugged and unusual shapes that fell and rose in a distinct, jagged-like fashion. Where Iʼm from, the Midwestern plateau is flat as pancakes, with no sign of hardly a
bump in the road. Except for perhaps the lonely turtle wandering the side of the highway.
6th Object: The City
I wasnʼt expecting a big, down-town city vibe when we arrived, but boy, did I feel it in the port of Honolulu. Mega massive skyscrapers rose to the sky, cargo and hustle-bustle of FedEx airplanes flew in and out of this buzzing city. I was expecting more of a secluded, perhaps rural atmosphere, but Hawaii still exemplifies that laid-back lifestyle everywhere you go.
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