Summer Trip to Hawaii 2012

Sometimes one meets someone who embodies something very special. Such a person is Danny, a guide we hired to take us into a remote part of Kauai , HA called the Kalalau Valley in the remote northwestern part of the island. There we hiked the Kalepa Ridge that looked down into the valley thousands of feet below. The hike was breathtaking and at times quite hair raising as the ridge narrowed in some places to only several feet in width with sharp drop-offs on either side. There would be no second chances in some areas. Even our experienced guide had some harrowing tales to tell of careless slips and near misses. But even more impressive than the hike for me was Danny and I'll tell you why. At 64, he possesses enough positive energy to light a city. He goes about every small task with an abundance of attention and enthusiasm. Not once did he have a negative thing to say during the entire day. He managed to turn every negative comment, no matter how small, into a positive. There was just no negative vibe emanating from this man at all. Watching and listening to him, I had the distinct feeling that I had to change my life. I want to be that kind of person. It is beautiful to behold. And more, I could see how that positive energy had the power to change the universe. When he spoke of rainbows, they somehow suddenly appeared , as if to please him. When he praised the light falling on the volcanic flanks of the valley sides, it shone even more magnificently, dazzling us with even more spectacular changes and variations.  Preparing the mid hike dessert was an unforgettable experience. All along the way he collected the most amazing flowers and leaves with which he decorated samples of different exotic desserts he had concocted the evening before the hike; cacao mousse with various other live super foods mixed in, coconut mango mousse, and a third treat made with passion fruit. The attention he paid to the presentation and to the preparation was impressive and eating them was quite near a religious experience.

Summer Trip To Hawaii 2012