Aloha from Anaka!

Oh Hawaii!

2007-12-11T16:57:00.000-07:00

Here it is folks, and update in the wonderful life of Anaka. As of right now I leave in 9 days to come back to cold,snowy Utah. And I couldn't be more excited! I will definitely miss this place for sure, but I am excited to feel like I am doing something with my life and achieving more then i am out here. As an update, Our power went out a week or so ago and we were without power on this side of the island for about 11 hours. Some are still without power, and the temple is still closed because there isn't any power in it. I've included a picture of being buried in the sand when the entire island went to the beach cuz school and works were all closed. It was a fun day, despite not having any food to eat besides ice cream and bread. I also found out today that my ear infection was caused my a fungus that is growing in my ear. Spent a good $150 dollars to get my ear suctioned out and buy fungus releaving ear drops in the middle of the island. What a great day! Tomorrow is my last day at the restaurant and then Friday is the last day at the PCC. Thursday I am going rock climbing and Saturday is Graduation for those at the Universtiy. And then I am going to China Town next week with a friend. Whew, it'll be a blast. I've heard that its freezing in Utah!! I can't wait to see snow again. I bought a lot of great things from paradise, and am excited for you all to see em. I"ll include some pictures if i can get it to work. I love you all! see you soon!
Anaka

Check out my Slide Show!

2007-11-30T11:33:00.001-07:00

Service and Work

2007-11-21T10:45:00.000-07:00

so here it is, my decision as of right now. Which may in fact change in a matter of minutes, but is this right now. I am planning on moving home after christmas, but i am going to apply for the part time application to go to school this coming semester just in case the eyes, or I, can't handle Utah. That or i just miss the beach too much. I already have a return ticket, and I'd like to quit my jobs anyways so if I come back i'll just start over. This works because its all about how my eyes handle that kind of enviroment again, gives me a place to go back to if I need to return to the humidity. Man life can be confusing!! Well here are some pictures of a service project that I did with the roomates at 6am. We were the only ones there waiting until around 7. I guess when you throw in Mormon Standard time, plus Hawaii time, everyone is about 1 hour late. It was at the beautiful temple so i didn't complain, that and they served us breakfast afterwards. Do you realize how much food it takes to serve a stake service project breakfast in Hawaii??? Now that was a lot of rice, eggs, and sausage. Whew! I'm also going to throw some pictures I took of my work. Now I feel like a tourist because Leaving is much more real now. I want to go experience everything and buy all the little crappy things I have no need for. Oh well, its all apart of the experience! Well i love you guys, i'll see you in a month from today!
Anaka

Sun, Sun, and more sun!

2007-11-15T15:18:00.000-07:00

Hello Familia and Friends
It has been awhile since i've updated my blog. I had created one a while back but it wouldn't let me load photos so i quit and gave up. Sorry :). I miss everyone so desperately right now, i come home in pretty close to a month but it still feels too far away. Really nothing new thats very exciting, I got another job. I like it ok, i'm just gettin pretty tired of tryin to make tourists happy. I think i've said Aloha more times then i can count. I love you all so much, if you want anything from this island please now is your time to make the requests. That or your gettin just some lovely sand :) Its fairly cheap around these parts. Well i love you all, I hope your doing well and are remembering to get me a lovely christmas present! Actually when mom asked what i wanted for Christmas the only think I could think of was family and the dogs. I can't possibly imagine anything that would compare to being home again. Being here has definitely taught me perspective. I view life so different now, everyone and everything is so much more important now. As much as i love the life here, its not home. And home is where I want to be right now. I feel like i'm living a zombies life right now, doing the motions just waiting for something to come along and make me feel alive again. Its a weird feeling. Well sorry to get all dramatic, its been one of those days :) Well i will see most of you soon! Have a wonderful day or night whenever you read this!
Anaka

Updates

2007-10-30T13:20:00.000-06:00

Well, here are the updates. Tomorrow is halloween and in preparation for this blessed event my friend and I decided to carve pumpkins and threw in a little Hawaii spirit by carving a pineapple as well. I actually enjoyed the pineapple carving much more then the pumpkin, this due to the fact that you can enjoy the sweet yumminess as you carve away. And yes, I am once again single. Life is crazy i've decided, and I am just gonna live it up. I also went on a hike last week, and will include pictures. I went with 2 friends from switzerland, one from Kenya, and one from somewhere on the mainland. It was amazing. They spoke languages I can't even begin to understand. I love these people. I also went to my wards Family Home Evening last night for the first time. It was a lot of fun, I have fallen in love with some brown boys. Whew, they are handsome! My roomates are jealous. Mom what would you think if I married a lovely brown boy? :) Well I am offically decided to stay here next semester, and have purchased my plane ticket already. I am so excited to come home and see everyone. My plane comes in the 21st and I leave the 1st. I need to make sure someone brings a coat with them to Cedar City to pick me up so I dont freeze to death. I am flying into Vegas with one of my roomates and then driving to Cedar City where the fam will pick me up. Its cheaper to do it this way. well my computer is acting weird again, I need to get off. But i love you all, I hope your doing wonderful. Keep smiling!
Much love, Anaka

Paradise

2007-10-15T22:44:00.000-06:00

The internet, and computer appear to be working just peachy now! I just cross my fingers that it stays this way. I never realized how hard it is to live out in the middle of nowhere and have to comute to find anything that resembles city. I love it, but it can be a challange at times to. I was gonna ask, did my cousin Lindsey ever see the picture of the turtle that I saw here? I thought she might think thats cool. If I could have Keith's email or something so that I can email that picture to her. Maybe i'll put it up on the this and someone can forwad it to them. Well skydiving was the best experice i've had in along time. It was incredible!! Kinda scary how addicted I became, but thanks to my bank account I won't have the chance to do it very often. Mom its only 1500 to get your license, and then only 20 bucks a jump, not bad huh :). well its also offical, I have a boyfriend. Never thought it would happen out here did ya? Its exciting, We have so much fun together, lots of adventures. And i also looked at a house here in Laie so that I could be closer to campus next semester and closer to Ryan. This one is on, like directly on, one of my favorite beaches. Not as big as the one i live in now, but it'll do the job ok. I'd be living in a room with 2 other girls. Talk about cozy!! Well my eyes are drying up like raisins so I need to get off. I'll include some pictures that you've probably already seen, but oh well. I love you so very much, keep in touch!
Anaka

Updates and Birthdays

2007-10-11T00:52:00.000-06:00

Aloha everyone. It's taken me forever to finally get on this again due to our internet being down at the house and now my computer is completely not working which has all the pictures I was going to put on here. Things here are crazy like always. My Birthday is in 2 days, and I am going skydiving belive it or not. I'm way excited, I need something to boost my mood :). Umm, can't really think of anything else to update this with. I wanted a list of things that are wanted for christmas so that I can start looking now since it'll take me some time. I will try to get some pictures as soon as possible. But I dont know if it will happen since my computer wont turn on. But I love all of you so very much and am grateful for everything. I hope your very happy and loving life. I miss you more then you can possibly imagine. I can't wait to see you in a few months. Keep being the awesome people you are!
much love,
Anaka

Hiking

2007-09-21T14:16:00.001-06:00

Hello Mainlanders! Just giving a brief update on my adventures here on the island. This morning I went on my first hike here on the Island. It was an awesome hike! Just minutes from my house as well. i went with one of my good friends Andreas, he is from Swizterland had is a lot of fun. We went to a swiss-German movie a few days back in Honolulu as well. After the hike we went and jumped in the ocean in our clothes because It was so hot and the ocean is so amazing. Some days I end up showering close to 3 times just beause i get into the ocean so much that there is always sand and salt water on you. I've included some pictures. One is of my hand, a very swollen fat hand at that. The mosquito's here are ruthless and i'm even more allergic to them here then back home. I get attacked and then look like I have tumors growing all over my body. Its great!! The best is when they are on my face :) I've also thrown some of the hike on there, and of Andreas and I. I might include one of my bike against the ocean. That amazing bit of metal known as a bike is my best friend. I honestly don't know what i'd do without it, we've bonded. I've developed a new theory on life, its known as the Only One Date Theory. I will go out with a guy once, unless I feel something really really special. Its like the boys here have this conspiracy, where they feel its there right to pull the moves on the second date. Drives me nuts!! So, just one daters for me from now on. No worries Annie...I won't be gettin hitched with this theory! Well i love you all so much, i Miss you. Keep me updated and hopefully i'll be seeing you at Christmas :)
Anaka

hat, tips, and swimsuit models

2007-09-16T02:00:00.000-06:00

So i broke down and bused myself down to the mall in a nearby city, desperate for some clothes and new sandals. what an adventure that was!! I was terrified that on the way back i'd get on the wrong bus and end up on the other side of the island with no clue how to get home. But neverthe less, here I am, safe and sound in my house a day later. The view was incredible the entire trip. I never get sick of the scenery here, its like living in a dream. So my purchases at the mall trip were this amazing hat, some sweet new rainbow sandals and 2 new shirts. It was like I was in heaven. sad that you have to plan out going to the mall or going shopping anywhere, living here is amazing. I love the simplicity that you learn to live by, and how my only expenses are rent, food, tithing, and every once in awhile something for myself or friends. I love it! I think i'm saving more money here then I did in utah, and i'm making less and living expenses are more. I've decided that I am in heaven with this kind of lifestyle. It just fits me so well! I'm sorry for not being able to answer any phone calls yesterday and today. Today I worked for about 11 hours because I had to cover someone elses shift. Wow, what a long long day. But i did make about 200 dollars in tips, not bad i'd say. Its nice being a girl waitress, you get some pretty decent tips if you know what your doing. I'm lucky to have this job, I really really am blessed. It's very strange, nothing has really changed according to my future but I suddenly feel very happy with where my life is going, yet I dont know why. The Lord has given me the strength to keep going no matter what I run into. My last story today, is that yesterday I had the incredible opportunity to be a swimsuit model for a local house party for the clothing line Modbe. We were invited through the singles ward to a ladies house to view some clothes and watch some girls model the clothing. Well once my roomates and I showed up they were asking a few of us if we wouldn't mind modeling. So i thought, Why not? Then they handed me a swimsuit and pointed to the bathroom to change and I had second thoughts. I had sat at the beach that day on my stomach while I became way too involved in Harry Potter. So my entire back side was red as a tomato. Needless to say, that I wore my cut off jeans on the runway with a swimsuit top. I think they were kinda confused about the shorts but i wasn't going to explain! haha, we all made model names up. Mine was Bobbi with an I. My friends were Roxi, Toni, and Bambi. Very intense. I think i've found my role in life, swimsuit model!! Just kidding. I dont think they'd like me to wear the shorts that much. well I am going to go to bed, I love you all, your wonderful. I'll talk to you later. Love you!
Anaka

Friends

2007-09-06T11:10:00.000-06:00

Yes, I do have them. Friends I mean. Here are some updated photos of recent adventures on this beautiful island. I'm still just tryin to keep going and keep my head up. Work has been miserable, and I highly doubt that I will be ablet to go to school again, but I'm certainly going to try. What does God have in store for me?? I am enjoying my time here, ive made some cool friends and we hang out everyday. Today I am going to help run a booth at the school for their club they created there, the ocean appreciation club. Its pretty sweet. At least it gives me something to do. So i've decided that I need to get an animal of some type here before too long. Its like a strain on my body not to have one around, kinda weird. Thank goodness everyone out here has a dog of some kind running around, gives me a boost. Well here are the pictures, they are pretty funny. The first one is of me, Drew, and Natashia getting some acai (I think thats how you spell it). Its a drink/smoothie/meal thing that is pretty popular. The second one is Dan and I eating our massive bowls. It was huge! I may include some pictures of our cat Slayer that eats the mice, and our $1.00 shoes natashia and I tried on at wal mart. She eventually got them because she couldn't believe they have $1.00 shoes here in America. :) good ol' Wal mart. Well i love you guys, i need some emails about the lives of the mainlanders, ya? Bye!
Anaka

2007-09-04T13:26:00.000-06:00

Sunday

2007-09-02T12:07:00.000-06:00

I love sunday's I've decided. No work, laziness, and men in skirts. Doesn't get better. Well things are looking up. Found out there is a very good chance i'll be able to attend school this coming January at byuh. Although I won't be accepted, its a little program they have for those who can't get accepted right away. They won't let you take more then 8 credits at a time, but honestly I dont think I can do more then that anyways with my eyes the way they are. So i'll finish those credits and then apply for school here. I think that its going to be a lot harder to finish school then I had planned on. My eyes aren't as well as I'd hoped. I think i'll be lucky if I finish my associates. But hey, its better then nothing huh? I've decided i'll marry a wealthy man here on the island and just raise my 13 kids on the beach. Sound like a plan? It's looking promising for me. haha. Well so I've met some boys out here. Dating is very different on the island then it is at home. No one really dates, its called one on one haning out. I kinda like it though, its more chill. So I went to the ryan shupe concert, and man, it brought back the feel of home. I loved ever second. I'd rounded up some boys i'd met at the beach earlier and my roomates. I don't know if they liked it as much as I did, but oh well. They are just missin out if they dont enjoy it. So are you all saving your pennies to fly me home for Christmas?? I love you all, have a wonderful day.
Anaka
I tried adding pictures but it wouldn't let me today, I'll try again later!

Homesick

2007-08-30T01:07:00.000-06:00

It's finally getting to me. When is anyone going to send me mail, or better yet get a plane ticket out here! I guess I can blame it on bad day at work and extremely tired eyes, mainly due to my over use of them for the first week. I'm gettin kinda depressed being a lone all day and then coming home and being alone and then being too tired to ride 5 miles on a bike to get to a good beach. hopefully this weekend things will look up. Ryan and the Rubberband are on their way, they always lift my spirit. But I love you guys. I honestly do need some words of encouragement and kind words from family and friends. It gets pretty sad never seeing anyone that knows you or cares how your doing etc. I really hope I can go to school again, it would really improve my outlook!!! Thanks for listening, hope to hear from you soon,
Anaka

A hard days work

2007-08-28T01:29:00.000-06:00

Well I'm officially a working woman again, and a bus driving, bike riding fanatic. I was riding my bike down a dirt path right next to the ocean while looking at the beautiful mountains in my swimsuit today after work, and thought, holy smokes, im really here. I'm living life in hawaii. How'd I get here! Work was good, tiring. I hang out with spirit, their pony. we get the exotic birds in tomorrow. I'm pretty darn excited. I just met a cool guy from New Zeland at my friends FHE. It was freakin sweet. I fell in love with his lovely accent. Life here is so very different. I'm starting to fall in love with this place. At least as long as someone doesn't mention family, and then I don't do so hot. Why do I have to love you guys so much? Oh well, thats life i guess! I must be off, my book and I have a date. Love you everyone,
Anaka

Update

2007-08-26T22:40:00.000-06:00

I jumped off of this, fun fun

It's so beautiful!

Aloha!
Hello to all those living on the mainland, thought I'd give you a little update on life in paradise.
I got a job, and thank goodness it's not fast food. I'll be a little tourist waitress at a cute cafe. And bonus, they have a pony, cats, dogs, and parrots on the property to create a unique feel. How'd I luck out? I think i'll be happy here, its just going to take some more time to adjust. I just said my goodbyes to my dear sweet mother who sacrificed so very much to live in hawaii for a week with me. She helped out so much and i'm grateful for what she helped me with. It was a fun week thats for sure. Although she did have a hard time eating what poor college students eat, and the fact that girls really do live very sloppy when you throw 5 of them together. here are some humerus thoughts I had this past week:
* Never thought i'd be sweeping sand off my bed every night, and watching my gecko friends watch me with big eyes.
*Never thought i'd see so many men in skirts at church, and be strangely attracted to them.
* I think everyone in hawaii missed the church talk on not wearing flip flops to church, that or they didn't bother to send it to them.
*The beach looks even better when you wake up every morning to the sun coming off the water
*There are little creatures in shells, and they do have pinchers.
*Reading a book is the most incredible experience in the whole world.
*You can go to an interview in cut offs and flip flops and they think you look good.
*milk costs 8 bucks a gallon.
*You are never completely sand free, its always SOMEWHERE when you least expect it.
*And the best news, i think i have now seen at least 5 white boys. My luck is turning!

I love you guys. I want some updates and words of encouragement. Keep being happy, and come visit me soon!

First Week In Paradise

2007-08-25T00:30:00.000-06:00

Well things here in Hawaii are quite different then what I had imagined, its much for beautiful for one. It feels sometimes like I am in some strange foreign country. I've settled into my house, and am now looking for a place to make some mula. I actually found a place tonight that may work out, It's a cute little cafe just down the road a bit, i'd be waitressing. We'll see. Its so beautiful here, it's hard to belive its not just a dream. I miss you all so much, as soon as I can I will post some pictures. I love you!!!!
-Anaka

Aloha `oe island girl!

2007-08-20T08:29:00.000-06:00

It is with heavy hearts and much excitement (and jealousy!) that we sent Anaka on her way to adventures in Hawaii with a Luau at Mom's last night and the beginning of this blog. We love you, Anaka!! We will miss you sooo much, but anticipate hearing about all your great stories and experiences on the island. Please update us with pictures and stories on this blog so we feel less like there is an ocean between us. A hui hou kakou! Until we meet again. :)