#ThisDiva Takes a Hike!

It's 6:00am on a Sunday morning and there's a handful of eager hikers on the Makapu'u Point Lighthouse Trail. Some are here to get in their daily workout and the rest just to take in the view...as for me...it's a combination of both. After nearly four months on the island, I've gained more weight than I dare admit in writing...between the poke bowls, poi donuts, manapuas and malasadas...#ThisDivaIsEatingHerWayThroughParadise! But I digress.

It's one of the easier trails on the island - so I've been told since this is my first hike EVER! It's a quick 15-20 minutes to the end of the trail on a wide paved road so amateur hikers welcomed! And even if the 100% uphill hike is a stretch, I promise you won't even notice when you're surrounded by the absolutely breathtaking views.

 

Today had a slight overcast and it even sprinkled a bit throughout our trek and yet it still managed to take my breath away.

Although I usually consider a 3-hour trek through a mall as the extent of my hiking, I'm convinced that these types of excursions will now become a staple in my weekend repertoire. Besides, why bother living in paradise unless you try to uncover every beautiful thing it has to offer!

A hui hou!

#ThisDiva + Bruno Mars = Best Birthday!

To be perfectly honest, I'm not one who frequents popular live concerts. I blame it on my years of Opera training and having to diligently stay clear of loud venues and events...but every so often (and more so now that I'm no longer marathon singing), I'm here...and loving it! 

And what woman wouldn't want to bring in her Birthday being serenaded by the sexy and talented Bruno Mars?! I mean, really?! And not just any concert, but an epic 3-day tour in the city where it all started - Hawai'i! Amazeballs! Yes, I said, "Amazeballs!"

The energy and excitement of the night warped me back in time to my first concert ever :: Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation Tour...my adolescence idol next to Cyndi Lauper and Madonna.  And Bruno's throwback covers of 80's and 90's R&B faves took me back to my love affair with Boyz 2 Men...that fourteen year old girl was never the same. 

But tonight was special and is another night to add to the list of nights to remember. I'm all about celebrating Birthdays with a bang and they just keep getting better! So here's to another great year hopefully to be filled with more adventures, laughs, good music and maybe even a few more sexy serenades!

A hui hou!

#ThisDiva Just Keeps Going...in Seattle!

What?! Two posts in the same week...what?! Just when I thought I wasn't jet-lagged enough after Japan, I flew to Seattle after only being home for two days. I'm pretty sure I have no clue what day it is, but who cares when you're in charming Seattle! 

This is my first time here (and in Washington) and based on all of the recommendations I've received, I apparently have a lot of ground to cover. Unfortunately it's been 33 hours of non-stop rain so the view has been bleak, but #ThisDivaShopsRainSleetOrSnow!...with the help of a lot of Starbucks!

I made my way to the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, UDub and Boeing...what can I say, I'm a little obsessed with planes at the moment. And let's not forget about the shops! Umm...who knew that the best Nordstrom home department EVER would be based in Seattle?! Thank goodness I bought that extra suitcase in Japan!

 

Pike Place Market was nice. I'm sure a local would kill me for saying this, but it was like Brooklyn's Smorgasburg meets New Orleans and Boston. Great seafood, lots of French fare, a whole-lotta pork and bursting with colorful characters. Even though it's within a growing metropolis and literally downtown, it still managed to feel quaint and not nearly as crowded as I had imagined...probably because there was a torrential downpour...but I'll take it! 

   

It was a whirlwind of a trip - shopped and saw as much as a day in Seattle would allow, but now it's time to head home just in time for Easter. I'm looking forward to some sunshine and keeping my feet on the ground...for at least 10 days! 

A hui hou!

#ThisDiva in Japan!

So this week was a week of many firsts. I cooked one of my favorite dishes {tortilla de patatas} for the first time since living in Hawai'i. I went to my first Turbo Kick-boxing class...I'm not so sure I can survive a second. I even took my first island hot tub dip...but what really made my week special was ending it with an impromptu girls' weekend to Japan! My first trip to the country and the continent! 

I consider myself fairly well traveled, but my heart keeps leading me back to some of my greatest loves; Paris, Milan, Vienna...Hawai'i!...so it's time to mix things up! So after a nearly 11-hour flight, I landed in Fukuoka, Japan...consider my mind blown! I knew I would like Japan, but didn't expect to out right LOVE it. Since we only had 26 hours until we needed to catch our flight back, we set our sights in the Hataka city of Fukuoka. Great shopping, wonderful people - a city perfectly mixed with tradition and modernism...and did I mention that the food is awesome?!

It's a city that made me feel right at home and I had no trouble diving in head first. And so what do you do in a city you've never been and time is quickly ticking by?! Shop and eat! I hear Tokyo is a shopper's dream, but let me tell you - Hakata was not short of stores, boutiques and 100 yen shops to help me add to my wardrobe and home. In fact, I had to buy two suitcases to carry everything back...not sure what I was thinking when I only brought a carry-on backpack with me - #ThisDivaWasHopingToStayOnABudget!

Luckily, we also stumbled across a group of Taiko drummers and dancers - stunning and a definite highlight to our day. To see any type of art form in the place of its origin is always something truly special to experience and this was a treat!

But by 9pm, it was time to board the plane back to Honolulu. I was exhausted, my feet were sore and my bank account nearly depleted, but I had the biggest grin from ear to ear because we had thrown caution to the wind and spent a day uncovering this cool little city in Japan. These are the things I'll look back at and know that I've tried to live life as best as I could.

A hui hou!