Goodbye dreads, hello Kama'aina discount!

A quick update on the happenings of the past week.

Last Friday we went to the Big Island Farm Fair.  Just like it sounds, it's a county fair of sorts, complete with farm animals and rides.  Notably smaller, it also had some island flair, like the local produce for sale, macadamia nuts you could crack yourself, and local food vendors.  There was also a great family circus act, the Maltese family, that made it well worth our $5 each admission to the fair.  Overall a good time was had by all!

A big change also happened for me last weekend, involving my appearance.  After considering it for awhile, I made the decision (not lightly by any means) to get rid of my dreadlocks.  Why, you might ask.  I will share my insights:

1) Dreadlocks do not make good tropical hair, in my opinion.  Every time I got in the water, whether it be pool or ocean, I had to wash it and go around with damp hair for 24 hours or more (the things are like sponges).  Plus, one trip to the beach and I was finding sand in my hair a week later.
2) They are messy and the little bit of perfectionist in me just couldn't take it anymore.

3)  I wanted something more fitting of my maturity and my return to career life.
4)  Dreadlocks have an association with pot smoking hippies who don't do much of anything.  I fit the "hippie" part, but not the rest.

Fortunately, Jeremiah was so supportive of the idea (although he loved the 'locks), and was eager to help me through the process.  It was his idea to try first to comb them out to see what hair I could salvage.  The process started Saturday morning around 10am.  Our plan was to spend some quality time - me, Jeremiah, some fine toothed combs, and LOTS of conditioner!  After about 2 hours spent combing 4 dreadlocks, we realized several things:

1) It COULD be done, if we had a WEEK to do it
2) Neither of us had the patience for it
3) I forgot how tender headed I was
4) We were breaking off as much hair as we were saving
5) It just wasn't worth it.

So, we made the decision to cut the dreads shorter (chin length) and see if that helped.  Although it was less to comb, it still took forever.  Around 1:30 we decided to cut the dreads to about 1-2 inches long and comb that part out, seeing what we were left with.  By the time we were done, I was giddy with relief and excitement.  I washed my hair, and brushed it, and brushed it, and brushed it some more - just because I could!  I must say, we were both pleasantly surprised at the outcome.

After a trip to Supercuts to trim it up, I now have a short (but not too short), spunky style that fits me as well as the dreadlocks ever did.

With a spunky new look, it made obvious sense to go get ourselves some new Hawaii driver's licenses.  We picked up a Hawaii driver's handbook (at Walmart) to study for the 30 question test and on Wednesday I left work early and we headed straight for the HI county Department of Finance, Licensing Division.  We got there at 3pm, just in time as the last tests were administered at 3.  I sadly say that I missed 4 questions and Jeremiah only missed 1, but we both passed!!  The reward was a beautiful, colorful, lovely driver's license that we are both excited to be carrying!

The icing on the cake is the kama'aina discount.  Kama'aina means "local" in Hawaiian.  We would not refer to ourselves as kama'aina, as it is reserved for those who are actually Hawaiian, or have lived here a very long time.  However, many businesses will give 10, 15, 20% or higher discounts to those with a HI drivers license (for example, we booked our Advance Open Water scuba certification for 50% off what they charge tourists!!!)  SWEEET!!!  So, now we can get groceries, go diving, get luau tickets, or stay at hotels, all for cheaper rates than tourists would get.  It's a nice thing to have :)

This week we also sent some Aloha packages to our friends and families.  We miss everyone, and if it weren't for the expense, we'd send the packages to everyone we knew.  Our parents and some of Jeremiah's former co-workers were the lucky ones, this time around.  We packaged up some macadamia nuts, coffee, souvenirs, and our favorite photos and sent them off, with aloha (love).  It's our way of saying hello, we miss you, and/or thanks for all you've done for us.  Hopefully we will be able to send out more of these, as it was a fun thing to do.

This weekend we plan to kayak out to the Captain Cook monument and Kealakekua bay, hopefully encountering some Hawaiian spinner dolphins while we are there!  ALOHA!!!