Friends Who Hawaii Together, Stay Together
1:51:00 PM
So, one of the worst things about living in Hawaii is the turnover rate. Hawaii is a place for wanderers, students, and military families, all three of which are temporary. As someone who's had the same best friends since middle school, losing friends is not something I take lightly. Before I had even lived on island for a year, I had already made lifelong friends that were moving off-island. See, here in Hawaii when you find a friend that you vibe with, you don’t let them go. Unless you were born and raised here, you are a transplant that is far away from home and their comfort zone, so finding your “tribe” is one of the greatest moments.
Nine months into my life in Hawaii, and five months into Nate’s
first deployment, two of my greatest friends on island had left to go back to
their home states. This was a bizarre feeling for me because I’ve known most of
my best friends from home since I was 12-13 and I got to hang out with them
every day as much as I wanted. Moving to Hawaii I started finding these people
that I loved dearly and that were changing me in great ways… and then THEY LEFT.
YEP. Just picked up and moved and I wasn’t ready for it AT ALL. Like Wait,
what? I met this new person that I love and they’re just GONE!? HOW IS THIS
FAIR?!
Well it’s not fair and it sucks. There are some friends that
I’ve made on island that I know for a fact I will never see again after we are
separated. Then there are those friends that I’ve known since the beginning that
they were life-long, and they don’t have a choice when I’m knocking on their
door other than to let me in. Sorry beezys! The most beautiful thing about
these friendships being separated is that we can continue to see each other
forever in fun ways! We can plan trips to see each other (once I’m back on the
mainland) and I can’t wait to grow old having girls trips with my friends all
over the country. I know forever that I will have a person to see when I’m in
Michigan, or California, or on the East Coast. I know it’s cheesy but not all
friendships need a 10 year start, to live next door, or to talk every day. All
I know is that if Kayla or Amanda – my greatest transplant friends, ever called me
in the middle of the night, I would be there in a heartbeat.
Maybe I’m still a little salty that you just left me high
and dry… but I’m so proud of you guys and I love watching your lives progress
even if I’m not always around you, or texting you, know that I’m HERE and I
love you forever and ever. Hawaii changes a person. We may not have all changed in the same way, but we all understand what it feels like to have lived here. That will always tie us together because friends who Hawaii together, stay together.
With that being said, last weekend Amanda came out to visit us in Hawaii one last time before I’m off this little island for good. I got to meet a handful of her new friends and spend some time with her at her favorite spots!
I like to think one day in 50 years we will all meet
back on this island and watch the sunset at spitting caves… remembering way
back when we were all so damn lucky to live Hawaii.
1 comments
It would be so tough to live in a place with so many temporary things and people. But what an awesome bond and shared experiences! I also love any and all pictures of Hawaii. So gorgeous!!
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