Adios Hawaii. Talk about a tough place to leave! I could not have asked for a better stay in paradise. For two weeks I surfed, hiked, dove both from cliffs and underwater etc. Much of this would never have been possible without the local expertise and help provided to me by my friends Dawn and Mike. They set me up with an incredible list of activities to do. I can't thank you both enough.
Also, for LAFIF AND Boston, I have confirmed that 1st Lieutenant Marine Pete Brennan is alive and well in Honolulu. I got to catch up with Pete a few nights ago. Thank you so much for all you do bud. Be well my friend.
Finally, while here, I was able to read Gerald Chertavian's A YEAR UP. Cliff notes: This is a wonderful story of how one man turned his vision of helping underprivileged young adults to make a better tomorrow for themselves into reality. I'd gladly toss it in the mail if anyone is looking for a good read.
I also put a good dent into Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain. Full disclosure, I was on page 75 before I realized I was reading a novel, not a non fiction. Ughh..
Anyways, I am back in New York City with NECHAMA. Excited to get back at it!
Mark/Chops
CARBO LOADING ON FRENCH BREAD BEFORE A HIKE WITH MIKE
RIDING IN THE BED OF DAWN'S PICKUP TRUCK ON THE HIGHWAY. YIKES!
HEADING TO MAUNAWILI FALLS! MIKE IS HIKING IN FLIPFLOPS?!?!
AN ABSOLUTE GEM ON O'AHU
JURASSIC PARK SETTING!
THE FAMOUS DUKE STATUE
I BET MIKE $40 HE WOULDN'T BELLY FLOP. CHECK OUT THE FACIAL EXPRESSIONS FROM THE GIRL ON THE CLIFF. I'M A TERRIBLE PERSON.
I WAS BEING PEER PRESSURED TO JUMP OFF THIS. LOOKED LIKE TWO BROKEN LEGS WAITING TO HAPPEN. I PASSED. 50+ FEET INTO A BATHTUB!
SAYING FAREWELL TO THE BEST SURFER ON OAHU! MAHALO DAWN!
USING THE HORIZON AND TWO FINGERS TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH DAYLIGHT I HAVE LEFT.
I JUST CAME UP WITH NOT ONE, BUT TWO RETAIL PRODUCT IDEAS. I'M A GLASS HALF FULL GUY!
SAYING GOOD BYE TO MY PARTNER IN CRIME, MIKE. HOW ABOUT THOSE AWESOME TSHIRTS!
CATCHING MY FLIGHT TO LA UNDER A SMOLDERING SKY
The Future Is No Place To Place Your Better Days
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Hello all.
I'll let the pictures do the talking. Still crushing it in Hawaii!
One other thing. A few of my friends are doing some pretty cool stuff of their own at the moment and I'd like to share them with you. Long overdue. My BC High pal Jon Contrado is an artist and never stops impressing me with his talents. Great guy. Great artist. You can see his work here:
Also, there is my childhood next door neighbor and friend Jenna Bortolotti. She is a very talented singer/songwriter out of Boston. If you are in the area, catch her next show! If not, you can find her online too.
PRIOR TO A STRENUOUS HIKE ON THE MANANA TRAIL, MIKE IS LOADING UP ON SNACK PACKS!
AFTER TREKKING THROUGH THE WOODS, WE FOUND SOME WATERFALLS AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SOME BAD DECISIONS!
MIKE GETTING IN THE ZONE BEFORE DECIDING TO....
DO THIS!
AND THIS!
CHANNELING MY INNER TARZAN FROM ATOP A WATERFALL!
OH HELLO!
OH HELLO!
RELAXING BEFORE CLIMBING UP THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN TO GET OUT OF THE JUNGLE!
WEST COAST BEACH
MOUNTAINS COMING OUT OF THE OCEAN!
REMINDS ME OF THE PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY. NO HIGHWAY HERE THOUGH. JUST THE VIEWS.
THAT'S A WAVE LANDING ON ME! I WAS WORKING TO GET A SHOT OF THE COASTLINE AND NEVER SAW IT COMING! YIKES! KNOCKED ME ON MY BEHIND!
CHECKING OUT A FEW WAVES BEFORE SUNSET
HELLO HAWAII!
SPYING ON SOME SURFERS AND THE SUNSET
SPEECHLESS
LAST FEW MOMENTS OF DAY
EVERY STROKE IS AN OPPORTUNITY. GOOD NIGHT.
The Future Is No Place To Place Your Better Days
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Grettings All,
I have done a couple of gorgeous hikes, some surfing, kayaking, and a round of golf in the past few days. Oh, and Mike and Dawn had me eat cheesecake! That was a first for me. I think I am done trying that. No me gusta.
Watching Dawn surf is pretty cool. It is like every piece of a puzzle is in place with one piece to go. That final piece, her. As the waves rolled in, she would effortlessly find herself at the break and just get right on to them like a pro. Watching me surf... Well, there are a few additional pieces missing in my puzzle. Heading to the beach to work on my craft.
Hang 10
Mark/Chops
I NEEDED TO EAGLE THE 18TH HOLE TO BEAT MIKE. MY ATTEMPT FROM 220 YARDS OUT. ALMOST ONLY COUNTS IN HORSESHOES AND HAND GERNADES. FROWN.
I CAN'T BEAT MIKE AT GOLF, SO I AM TRYING TO LITERALLY BEAT HIM. FRANK, I THINK YOUR BRO MIGHT HAVE YOU BEAT ON THE GOLF COURSE!
PALI LOOKOUT. MIKE IS CURRENTLY SLEEPING IN THE CAR
HEADING TO THE TOP OF THAT MOUNTAIN IN THE DISTANCE!
DOWNTOWN HONOLULU BELOW AND PEARL HARBOR DOWN THE COAST
Puerta Moreles, Mexico, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, New York City.
I have covered a fair amount of a real estate in the past week or so, but finally made it out to Hawaii!
I ran into my friends Mike and Dawn down in Mexico at Frank's wedding. Mike was the best man. Dawn was, well, THE BEST. It is hard to describe these two together, but I'll go with incredibly kind and hilarious. They were talking up Hawaii big time and said we should all come visit. Well, SURPRISE! I'm here!
So far, thanks to an awesome itinerary from Mike and Dawn, I have covered an incredible amount of the north shore coastline here on Honolulu. Scenic drives! Incredible beaches! Cliff jumping! Diving. Boccie etc.
In store I have plenty more exploring to do and hopefully some island hopping as well. It is a bit overwhelming with the amount of options for things to do here. Still to come? Surfing, mountain climbing, volcanoes, exiting planes while they are in flight, some more cliffs to Sayonara off of etc. Time for a big breakfast and to seize the day!
Aloha,
Mark/Chops
OH HELLO!
NORTH SHORE COASTLINE ON THE MAIN ISLAND
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SURFING ON THE NORTH SHORE. PIPELINE!!
BOCCIE MATCH WITH DAWN AND MIKE! THEY CRUSHED ME!
EXPLORING THE COASTLINE
HOME OF OUR DIVING EXPEDITION
IT WAS INCREDIBLE. MY CAMERA STINKS
I WENT SWIMMING. SORRY MOM.
COMING UP FOR AIR FROM DIVING
THE FAMOUS NORTH SHORE
TURTLE BAY - NORTH SHORE, HAWAII
ABOUT TO GO CLIFF DIVING AT CHINA WALLS
COASTLINE VIEW FROM CHINA WALLS
WHALE WATCHING HERE!!
SURVIVED DAY ONE IN HAWAII!! WHAT A DAY. THANKS DAWN AND MIKE!
