Aloha!

     Hawaii is the only state completely surrounded by water.  As a matter of fact, it’s the most isolated body of land in the whole world surrounded by miles of Pacific Ocean. It’s also the only state to have an increasing land area with its continuous volcanic eruptions. It is essentially a body of land in the middle of nowhere making something new to  become a part of something so beautiful. 

      Some of you may be wondering what makes someone or a whole family no less just pick up and leave the place they lived most of their life and move to this isolated place? Well, for one thing, its really beautiful here. Hello? It’s Hawaii! Yet, I thought I’d take this moment to explain how my husband and I along with our three boys would come to arrive and settle down on this beautiful island. 

      My husband and I first came here on our 9th anniversary for our belated honeymoon. My husband, Daniel immediately fell in love with it here.  I’ve always loved Hawaii since coming with my parents at the age of 13 on a vacation to Maui and Kauai and again at the age of 21 with my best friend Stacy visiting the island of Oahu.  So since that first trip with my better half, we would come to Hawaii at least once a year for the next five years.  One of those trips was  even a family trip with our three boys, my sister-in-law,her husband and my mother-in-law.   That was an adventure!  My husband would fall more in love with Hawaii with every trip. This place just felt like home to him, he would tell me.  I shared his enthusiasm too, but Hawaii still remained a vacation spot for me and not a place to move and actually settle down.  After all, we had a great life in Orange County, California and had been living there quite comfortably for five years.  I was working for Kaiser just a few years out of residency establishing my practice there.  I loved my job, my Costa Mesa community, my church friends, work friends, and my fitness class friends.   I loved my whole fabulous Orange County life and everything that came with it and not to mention all the best that Southern California had to offer that was just a drive away.  I think those from Southern Cal can relate. 

      Well, Daniel started thinking seriously about it after our last trip to Maui.   I told him I was on board but on one condition.  That condition was I still had to work for Kaiser.   I really liked where I worked and realistically speaking, if we were going to live in an expensive place like Hawaii, we were going to need something with stability to support us. Anyway,  I really didn’t think it was attainable, even with that stipulation.  Also, I wouldn’t even know where to begin.   On the contrary, my determined husband  took it upon himself to contact the Hawaii Kaiser physician recruiter. He only got so far before he had to actually hand over the application to me. Although, I’m sure he would’ve carried it all the way through if he could.  And wouldn’t you know it?  They were offering a position right in the community that we  admired on one of our travels,  in the town of Kapolei. 

      From then on, God started opening all the doors, but the final decision didn’t come that easy. It took a lot mutual discussion, listing pros and cons, and prayer, lots of prayer. I was truly torn!  I prayed and prayed for a sign.  In all my prayers, quiet times, seeking counsel from others, I kept getting these messages about taking the journey.  What I finally heard was that it wasn’t very important if I left or stayed and it didn’t even matter if I succeeded or got everything that my little heart desired. Not very encouraging right? But something that did ring loud and clear when God was speaking to me and that was there was going to be a purpose for my family and I in making this journey.  Somehow. God would have a purpose for us in taking this path.  I may not know the reason immediately but that I just had to trust him.  Aghh! That trust thing!  That’s always tough. Not only that, He kept giving us all the green lights.  My interview went well and they had offered me the position at Kapolei. It was up to us to make the final decision.   So when it came right down to it, Daniel and I couldn’t walk away from this opportunity and we didn’t want to live with any regrets. And so began the journey......

     But the transition was anything but easy.  There was a lot of heat.  There was all the stress that came from moving, Then more stress. There was preparing the kids, saying good byes, and it did put a major strain on our marriage. Even after making the decision, I was still torn and panicked about leaving the only home I ever knew and move to a place with miles and miles of Pacific Ocean between me and my family and friends.   People cope differently in times of stress.  Like a violent force of nature, I admit and ashamed to say I acted out in ways that was not very becoming.  Never the less, I am grateful to God that we are coming through that storm now.  And Daniel and I continue to learn and grow from it. 

      So we’ve been here a little over 6 months now.   They say living here is not the same as vacationing here and I definitely realize that now.  Just because we live in paradise, it doesn’t mean we escape the stresses of daily life.  Since arriving here,   the transition has not been all that bad.  My work has been supportive and welcoming.  As a matter of fact, everyone is very friendly and welcoming here.    We really love our quiet  community and slow pace of life.  The kids are settling in to their schools making new friends, learning Hawaiian in their classes and being exposed to so much nature.  You really can’t escape the beauty of nature here, clean fresh air, beautiful beaches to explore.  We found a new church.   I was first caught off guard when a child I hardly knew called me aunty, but now I find the fact that Daniel and I are uncle and aunty to every local child that we come in contact with just endearing.  I’m still getting used to pronouncing towns and street names, and stumble every time I see a new patient.  So many vowels and names that start with K!   It surely feels like we’ve moved to a small town. The degrees of separation have decreased a bit.  The manager of the store we we bought our mattress from on our second day here was also the husband of one of the nurses at my clinic.  I sometimes find myself running into patients at the grocery store.  ‘Are those Funyuns for you, Dr. Brunken?’ ‘No that would be my husbands’.  Just kidding, she didn’t ask me that,  but you get the picture.   The fact that this place is isolated I think is what makes  it have a greater sense of community and social responsibility. 

      Do I miss the hustle and bustle of Orange County? Not really. Do I miss the buzz of excitement, always something going on? No, there’s actually always something happening, some festival, or community awareness activity.  And its so much safer here. 

Waikiki is only an hour away if I miss the city life.  Will I get the infamous and dreaded and one of my fears before moving here, ISLAND FEVER?    Hmm let me think,  clean air, beautiful beaches, hiking trails, Waikiki, nearby  islands to visit.  Nope.  I don’t think so.  Of course there is always some trade offs. Any dislikes?  We may miss some Southern Cal chains. Please bring me some Trader Joe's and for Daniel, Tommy's!  Produce is more expensive.   Traffic still not bad compared to LA but if there is an accident by our house, there is only one highway to get through it.  And of course, we do miss our family, church family and friends.   That takes some getting used to but that just means they have to visit. 

      It has been one year since we’ve made our final decision and we are not looking back.   We moved to an isolated, beautiful, dynamic and diverse island.   Like  that volcano, we endured some heat and violent forces in the transition only to find ourselves landing in a spot exactly where God wants us to be.  We are happy and excited to become a part of something so beautiful. 

You call me out upon the waters

into the great unknown 

where feet may fail

And there I find you in the mystery

In oceans deep

my faith will stand