My Hometowns
I am originally from Honolulu, Hawaii, and moved to the mainland (Southern California)
when I was around 3 or 4 with my family. I don't remember much of Honolulu from back then, but once in awhile during the summer I go back to the islands (usually Maui) to visit family and friends. My parents used to take me and my younger brother to the beach every day, where we played in the sand and ocean. It was nice that we lived right across it. My dad used to work in Hawaii and he knows all the ins-and-outs of the islands. He held the state record for the largest Mahi Mahi fish caught for awhile too. The local dialect is pidjin.
My favorite island is Maui...I have been to Maui, the big island, and Kaui. Maui is where all the beautiful sites are--waterfalls, volcanoes, beaches... of course the other islands are pretty too. My favorite memory is of a few years ago, when my dad took me and my brother out snorkeling to Molokini, a small island. We saw all kinds of fish, eels, and crabs. I also used to catch a lot of geckos and sand crabs on the beach at night with my brother. They were all over the place—we even found a gecko hiding in the closet! Honolulu now is much different than it was twenty years ago. Tourism each year increases, and Honolulu is now a bustling city. The beaches aren’t as clean and the water isn’t as clear, but the friendliness of the locals is ever-present. I hopefully want to work on the islands sometime in the future!
I now live in La Palma, Orange County. I usually tell people who don't know where it is that it's very near Knott's Berry Farm. It's a really small city in the suburbs, and I love it there. I can't wait to go home during Thanksgiving--my brother and I are planning a trip to Snow Summit! My favorite restaurant in La Palma is La Capilla, a Mexican restaurant with really good tortilla soup. I have 2 tortoises (Ume and Maru). When I go home, I usually hang out with my friends, catch up on fun reading (emphasis on fun), and try to play the piano. There are many recreational places that surround La Palma, and the beach is just a 30 minute drive away. It is also within an hour’s drive to UCLA, UCI, and USC. My neighborhood is tightly knit, and filled with roaming cats. Contrary to the name, La Palma doesn’t have that many palm trees. It used to be a cow farm way back when if I can remember correctly. Moo!