https://www.facebook.com/craigellenwoodphotography Craig Ellenwood
https://www.facebook.com/bayofdreams George Kalilikane
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151679960035314.845975.835165313&type=3 underwater photos from today
Aloha friends, I will be referencing my two friends, Craig and George, and their facebook pages, through out this entry. I wanted to first post the credit to Craig for being one of my best friends here in Hawaii for the past seven years and accompanying me today. And to Uncle George, who teaches stand up paddle boarding (SUP) on the west side of Hawaii at Bay of Dreams. Please visit the above site links to learn more information about Craig Ellenwood and his photography, and Uncle George’s Bay of Dreams. Lots of photos and videos!
It’s getting late and my eyes are starting to blur from a day in the sun and water, but I wanted to write this tonight while many of the memories are still fresh. Tomorrow is Mother’s Day and I will be with my four year old son Zachary.
I’ve long had an attraction to the water and when I first moved here May 23, 2005, I would spend hours in the turquoise waters in Waikiki. In August of 2005 I bought my first longboard from craigslist, paddled out to Queens and started to learn surfing..it became my greatest love. I would often wake up for an early sunrise session, and return again in the evening. There is something about being in the water that is not only invigorating but cleansing to the mind and soul. When you are in the water, it’s impossible to dwell on what else is going on. Colors look brighter, your appetite turns to natural fresh foods, your sleep patterns improve. You gather strength from swimming. And there is a connection to the ocean that is only paralleled perhaps by being in the forest.
I have not longboarded since Sept 2011 when I was in Bali . Before that, it had been almost a year since I was on a board. I can’t explain what happened with my passion for surfing, I still loved the water and enjoyed boogie boarding, and sailing. But my insatiable urge to surf every day went dormant. I was confused because it had brought me such joy and peace. That stillness that happens with your spinning thoughts has a leftover effect for the rest of the day. It’s like liquid xanax. I had a new job as a nurse and have also been working on A’Kai Silks, and was very content. But there was a small voice in me that kept asking me..why do you live three blocks from the beach and you don’t get in the water anymore? It didn’t matter if there were good waves or not. I was always happy just to be in the water.
Today my friend Craig and I drove to west side to meet up with Uncle George. George gives SUP lessons for free and allows you to get in the water with one of his boards. Such a beautiful gift. I’ve been wanting to try out SUP for some time now but wasn’t sure how my balance would be and I kept making excuses. What changed this was having a patient teacher who helped me choose the right board, how to hold the paddle, and how to navigate around the bay. The bay is a quiet area with smooth water and beautiful water clarity. Spinner dolphins frequent the area. It was not crowded so I didn’t worry about running in to anyone. There was a wide open space.
I went out with an 11 ft paddle board. First on my knees, and I got the feel for the paddling, as George referred to it, “bringing the ocean to you, not pushing it away.” I was delighted on how easy it was to stand up. A little bend in the knees and a sway in the hips, the paddle dipped into the water and I glided out over the bay. The sun was behind a few clouds at first but I could still see the bottom..when you stand on a board and are able to look down to see the ocean floor it’s a whole new perspective. Long boarding is fast and there’s the rush of the wave pushing you in, which is its own joy. But there is a very quiet peacefulness about slowly paddling while standing. A turtle popped his head above water and we made eye contact. My heart about burst. I knew it was God‘s way of saying , welcome back mermaid, where have you been.
The sun came out and the water burst alive in that amazing blue green color and shimmered, I am always mesmerized by the way sunlight ripples in water. Sometimes I would sit crosslegged on the board and just watch the water. I headed out with Craig to beyond the rock wall but the water was choppy and we weren’t seeing any dolphins. But I was content to paddle around the bay and watch for turtles. I could have set a lunch and drink on my board and stayed there all day. As I’m writing this now my muscles are a bit sore but not as bad as I expected.
The best part is the rebirthing and remembering the ecstatic joy of being in the water. Tropical water and sunlight, one does not get cold. One is filled with that serenity of the water both on the surface and the colors below. Being in the water makes the rest of the day magical. The old memories of surfing and then running the streets at night in Waikiki to watch the entertainers , and tourists, all came back. Creativity flourishes.
Eventually we dropped off the boards and walked along the beach to a shallow area. Craig and I have been wanting to experiment with underwater photos and the silk veils I make. Craig had an underwater camera..I was delighted the way the silk spread open in the water and spent a few minutes swimming with the silk, letting it twist on my legs and caress against my skin. It’s a water dance all its own and I can’t wait to do more of it.
I will have to practice diving deeper underwater. We were in a shallow water and the clarity wasn’t the best but it was a fun experiment. I have a pool at my apartment so I will be practicing diving down and holding my breath ..the poses are easy..long flowing dance movements come natural. The veil takes on its own movement, as it does in the wind. I will be practicing so I can swim with multiple veils at once and create a billowing jellyfish cloud of silk. The dress I wore for this first shoot was too dark, I was wearing a bikini underneath and I don’t like how all of the straps interrupted the flow of body with silk. I’ll be looking for a strapless suit to wear or maybe just go with a seashell bra 
Might even pick up a weight belt to help me stay down longer. Deeper water would help too. I’m able to dive down pretty good when I have a snorkel mask and fins on but I want to develop the skill to do it without any help..and create a long trail of colorful silk clouds.
But the swimming with silk and the photos were just an added bonus of the day.
The true spirit and that deeper connection to life, God, the water, the island, and the merfolk, came from paddle boarding. If my body isn’t too torn up tomorrow, I plan on spending Mother’s day with my youngest, I want to put him on the front of the board and share the connection.
Thank you to Craig, George, and JWM.
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I’ll be spending more time making silk head scarves for those who are going thru chemotherapy and would like something comfortable and pretty to wear. Here’s a listing ready to go..
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