Within the span of a few days, there were two firsts for me at Ala Moana beach park. On Monday afternoon I sat on the paddleboard for the first time in my life, and Marysol stayed beside me on her board as we ventured into the waters. I was very nervous and unsure of myself and did not stand up that day. I focused instead on the sensation of paddling, on the soft sway of the board, and on the conversation with the incredibly passionate woman who has come into my life unexpectedly a few months prior.
Like the Officer who is in my life now, she lived in Seattle. She came back to her birth island less than a year ago to be closer to an ailing mother, at the same time I came back to the island I missed like home I never had from San Diego. We met couple of months after she met and fell in love with my closest friend, but the Officer and I heard about the excitement of their first date on ‘Iolani Palace grounds almost immediately when Eric came for dinner. Since then she has been a force of fire and expansion in my life, my soul sister of salt water beauty.
Three days after my first excursion, we went to Ala Moana beach park again. As I was carrying her Quitigua under my arm, I knew that it would be different this time. As I entered the water, I stood up and would continue to do so for the next hour. I did not accidentally fall in even once, absolutely elated to be truly stand-up paddle boarding for the first time in my life. It was the last hour of sunlight, and in one direction we were paddling towards the dreamy Waikiki skyline and majestic Diamond Head. In the other direction of the loop we paddled toward the setting sun, and the resplendent hues of the sky.
The board that carried me and that I guided through the waters, is very special to Marysol and I am honored to have been on it. One of only 40 in existence, it was designed by her and its name, Quitigua, holds a sentimental value of inspiration. Ala Moana beach is a beach of her childhood and to experience it through her grounded enthusiasm and love is very healing to me. I did not expect to have this love come into my life, and now that it has I am so happy for us to journey together in creativity and intermingling of personal island narratives.