My story
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain
“Let’s just go look at some real estate while we’re here”
Those were the words that would start us on the biggest and best adventure of our lives. There we were, my husband, my nearly-two year old son, and I laying in the warm lapping waves on a little beach in Lahaina Town. We were on vacation for my husband’s birthday.
We had dreamed of moving to Hawaii for the last two years, having fallen instantly in love with it when we first visited when my son was just three months. It always felt so wonderful when we were here and our hearts ached like it does for a long lost love every time we had to return to the mainland.
There we were two years later, laying on the beach with an appointment to see a little house that was up for sale.
When I saw the house from the outside I wanted to run. But, we had only one rental car and it was my husband’s birthday. I gave in, “ok, let’s check it out.”
We walked in and were greeted with the island of Lanai staring back at us across the Pacific ocean, being shown in all it’s glory through the wall of floor to ceiling windows. At that moment, the rest of this fixer-upper house became a blur. We were intoxicated with the view, the giant Plumeria trees surrounding the property and the HUGE palm trees that marked the corners.
When we found out that the orange tree in the backyard was planted when the current owner brought her first son home, and that her first son shared the name of our first son…we knew it was meant to be.
It was fate. All signs pointed Go!
Then we learned that the current owner was friends with a man that was my husband’s boss in high school. The owner of a surf shop, this man was looked up to by my husband. He kept him out of trouble and offered a place for me to sit and visit and make googly eyes with my then high school sweetheart while he worked.
What were the chances that my husband’s old boss, confidant, mentor, had been in the wedding of the seller of this house!
Fate. All signs pointed GO!
We soon found ourselves on our way back to Southern California, just in time for it to turn cold for Thanksgiving. Except this time we weren’t returning with a heavy heart. No, instead we were returning with our very first house in escrow.
IN HAWAII!
And so started us on the path of making our dreams come true, following our hearts and listening when something bigger than us says “GO! DO IT!”
(I try my hardest to always listen to the signs. To live my life that way. Is it intuition? Realization? Being present? Or just listening? I say it’s all of the above.)
The Ohana Mama
We all can’t move to Maui but we can all keep that dream alive. I hope you enjoy The Ohana Mama; to hear dispatches from paradise, find things to do when you are coming to visit on vacation and when you just need a little escape to aloha-land.
And hey, my husband, he’s now a Realtor, so he could even offer you a chance to look at some Maui real estate…you know, just to check it out ;)
Aloha and mahalo for visiting, I’m glad you found me!
Sarah, The Ohana Mama
Come find me on Twitter and Facebook
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
The Ohana Mama, now that’s better!!! Congrats on your “new” site, and many Hawaiian blessings throughout the rest of 2009. Be back on New Years ’10 to tell you “I told you so.”
xoxo,
Jess
Thanks for the drop by on my blog today fellow lip gloss junkie. I love what you are doing for mompreneurs and women entrepreneurs (that’s me). VERY cool. I also just followed you on Twitter!
Aloha and Mahalo!
Maxine
http://www.shopvanitygirl.com
Aloha Ohana Mama!
I was so excited to find another local Mom blogger! I am a Mompreneur that owns a home-based Ring Sling business in Waianae, Oahu and would love you you to do a product review of our slings! To give you a little background, our slings are fully lined with either 100% cotton flannel or 100% cotton material, they are made with Hawaiian Print materials and include toy loops (ot toy tags) and inseam pockets. We use light, colorful, strong aluminum rings from sling rings. We’ve been in business for 3 years and I recently started a Baby wearing blog, you can find us and follow us here:: http://babywearinginparadise.blogspot.com/
I am going to add your button to my site!
Mahalo and Aloha!
I enjoy your site. Sounds like Hawaii is beautiful. I will keep checking in on your site. TIA.
Hello,
I am over here on the Big Island and I learned about your site through Linda with Buzz Cooperative.
I do blog but I am putting more emphasis on my stories, http://www.humanbodydetectives.com . I would love to connect!
We lived on Maui/Lahaina, in the mid 90s but then traveled to Portland so I can go back to school. I have 2 girls, Merrin ( 11) and Pearl ( 7). We have been on the BI for almost 8 yrs now.
Hope to hear from you.
Heather
Hi Ohana Mama,
Way to Go! Great site and it looks like you’re having fun!
XOXO,
Tammie :)
Twitter: stacialoo
November 8, 2011 at 8:28 pm
Awesome story!! I am so glad you listened to your intuition. I am a local girl from oahu but something told me to move back to Seattle. I am glad I listened but I do miss home sooo much!! I hope to come visit you one day soon too…
Great story about paying attention and following your heart. We all have stories about how we came to live here on Maui, or how you were born here. Thanks for sharing. Happy birthday to your husband and happy Maui anniversary.
Aloha,
Dania
Always follow your heart, and you will never go wrong. From the south of France to California, and now to Arizona: no regrets, but a new adventure.By following my heart, it brought me to you, my very sweet and beautiful daughter in law. Avec tout mon amour. God bless. Bisous bisous. xoxoxoxoxo
Still one of my most favorite posts…Love your story about following your dream and moving to Maui.
It’s awesome, inspiring and it’s almost like I hear you telling me on the phone! :)
Anne Samoilov´s last [type] ..Make Your Plan Public
Mahalo.
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I just stumbled upon your blog and I’m in love! I am originally from Hawaii but live on the mainland now with my husband and daughter. I’m crossing my fingers that one day soon I can make the move back home!
Mahina´s last [type] ..Saying Good-Bye to Puna…
OMG I am so happy I found your blog! I’m from Oahu and now a mainland transplant, but have never stepped foot on another island. My boyfriend and I are taking our first trip there in May to celebrate my son’s 2nd birthday! I’m so excited!
Riza´s last [type] ..No Regrets
Twitter: greg_barth
April 21, 2012 at 5:39 am
Hello Ohana Mama! I stubbled across you on Twitter and made it here to your site. I read your story. That is pretty cool. Way too many never take a leap of faith and go for it like you did and imagine are still doing. Congrats for jumping in with both feet. You are now rewarded with all the benefits!
Greg Barth´s last [type] ..Beachbody 21 day Ultimate Reset
I’ve always wanted to move to maui now I have the chance! Starting to get nervous thinking about moving there by myself. Any advice 45 single an starting over at 45 raised my kids.starting to get nerve while going through my things!
Thanks Tami