From my little perch in a 10th floor apartment I try to absorb enough of the Waikiki view to last me a lifetime. Well that might be a little overdramatic seeing that I will surely return to Hawaii some day, but with my current finances in mind I think it is prudent to assume it will be a while before my return to surfing glory. The view from where I am sitting really is spectacular, lapis blue sea and lightly swaying palmtrees as far a the eye can see, but Waikiki and I will probabaly never really get along. Too many highrises, plastic replicas of Hawaiian artifacts, and way way too many tourists. That might sound a little hollow considering that I myself am a visitor to the Islands, but Id like to consider myself Kama'aina (meaning welcome resident or long term visitor). The next time I visit though I think id prefer to reside on one of the other islands. Maui which we visited this past week was amazing in many ways, and especially the North Shore towns of Paia and Hana had the local vibe that spells Hawaii to me. No rush, friendly attitudes and most importantly room to move and live. It didnt hurt that the best kitebeaches in the world are located nearby, and that one can get to ride one of the gnarliest waves in the world, Jaws, if one should suddenly develop suicidal tendencies. As most of you have probably guessed I would definitely choose the North Shore if I was ever to live on Oahu again. Still bugs me that I never got to kitesurf Mokuleia on the North Shore, but at least I got to see polo up there which is almost as cool. Not. Sitting hunched over my laptop the question of how best to spend the last days in paradise does present itself. I struggle to come up with anything really good, but I can proudly say I got up at 630 this morning and had a pretty good surfsession at Waikiki beach for the first time. Im hoping therell be wind tomorrow so I can get in one last tropical kitesession before its back to the muddy waters of Amager. I am however looking forward to the briliant Scandinavian winds! Tonight I will drink brightly colored cocktails because this i Waikiki after all, and then I will begin to look forward to my 36 hour flight back home. Aloha!
