My husband, Peter has officially made one year of living in Texas. He left Maui on May 28, 2008, while me and Ry stayed on Maui and tied up loose ends. Ry and I make one year here on June 25th.

Over the past year we have all struggled with letting go of Maui in our own ways. I think for Peter it was most deep rooted and challenging. It wasn’t only the physical place that he missed, but also his parents, sister, brother, nephew, and the overall feeling of knowing someplace like the back of your hand. A place where everyone is on your side because you are the majority.

For me, I was ready for the change. I craved something different for my daughter, Ryenne. And my feelings for a natural birth for Kai urged me to move on. It just wasn’t going to be possible on Maui. But I internally struggled with the thought of leaving my island home, where I grew up, my brother. Cringed at the thought of not seeing the ocean every day…

Now that we’re here in Austin, I am loving things that this city has to offer. I am confident that we made the right choice. I know that Ry and Kai are going to get a great education, and if their hearts are pulled back to Maui, then they will have my blessing to do so, armed with knowledge.

As I meet people here in Austin, I can’t help but feel that Peter and I were cheated out of an excellent education. The education we received in Hawaii just wasn’t up to par. Not acceptable for my own children.

I am so looking forward to our trip back “home” in August. It will FOREVER be referred to as our home. Our special place where we met, fell in love, got married, started our family, got our toes sandy.

In my perfect world, when the kids are a little older, I’d like to send them home to Maui for a month or two each summer. I want them to grow up with the best of both worlds – knowledge in their heads and aloha in their hearts. I think that would be the greatest gift ever.