Old Friend

That smile, genuine and innocent, it matches the sparkle in the light brown eyes with a silent tear resting on her edges. A light touch on the arm to enhance the moment of being around the people you love. I remember it now. For so long I've been glitched to the system, I forgot how to feel and show it at the same time. Is this Deja vu or the same story since the very beginning. How did I get here?

4:00 couldn't have come faster. All I wanted to do was be in the water. Have the warm sand between my toes, green mountains behind me and the endless glistening blue ocean as far as my eyes would allow. In the water I have the honu (hawaiian green sea turtle) to swim with, the Nai'a ( bottle nose dolphin) to protect me, the i'a (fish) to feed me and Nalu the surf to create and think up my wildest dreams in. Here, I'm safe, no one to call me names or pull my hair. No one to stereotype me as an idiot, no one to put me in a box. Here I'm free.

Floating on my body board was the best when the waves were flat. I hear quiet, stillness, peace. The sun was starting to burn the ends of my eyebrows, time for a dunk. Deeper and deeper I go, slowly becoming the current, breathing was second down here. I pass the menpachi hole, saying hi to the big puhi (eel) that's lived in that reef from before I was born. Right to my secret cave I discovered following a curious honu. It's as if he was sent to give me this gift. I dive still and motionless to slide right through a tiny cave and shortly leads me into a cavern in the reef. Shells and coral are all around, the pools are vast with schools of fish and the sound of crashing waves against the reef creating an echo that would spook most kids but for me it's heaven on earth. A safe Haven for a soul survivor like me.

Fast forward to today. May 08, 2026. Sitting behind the desk and writing up these reports that no one will ever read but apparently the higher ups will know if we screw up the format. I'm still a part of this rat race, was a quick thought that was hurried away with my boss chiming in about how we have more bs reports tomorrow because he's not going to do it. O.M.G. How did I get here? "What was that?" asked Nina, my only friend that really is the saint of my life. Nina found me in a park once and fed me listened to me and treated me like a human being. She later, brought me to church, helped me get a job at her workplace and I've been able to have low-income housing. Looking back, she is my guardian angel. I guess to answer my quick question, she got me here. Silent prayer of thanks to god for her. "Alrighty, it's time." "What?" Nina looked up at me. "It is time!" I smirked.

"No way!! okay, I have an emergency suitcase ready." she screeched. Of course you do." rolling my eyes. Thankful for a friend like her. Our whole friendship I've always teased Nina that I'll take her to the most magical place on earth. I can now take her. My grandmother recently passed and I've arranged a trip home for the both of us. "you're gonna love it!" I whisper to Nina as we clock out.

The warm air just washed over our faces as we stepped out of the Honolulu Airport. "Ahhh, Home." I had to take Nina to a couple local spots, Foodland for poke, Chun wah for manapuas and Leonard's for some Hot Malasadas. As we past my favorite beach to go up Nanakuli Valley I notice a long wave of people with signs and flags, yelling and chanting. Aloha Aina! Aloha Aina! We make our way home and I ask my Uncle Jim, "what's going on down the road?" with a concerned look on my face. "The military are taking over a part of the land that is for Kanakas and we are protesting. Some other foreigners have been slowly taking these lands." sighed Uncle. I look and Nina with a somber look, way to have a welcome. I carry on to show Nina pictures of my Grandma and I at our favorite beach, us in the tide pools. "This is where she taught me to catch 'a'ama crabs, and this is the lei she helped me sew." blinking back tears and with pride in my eyes as I look all around, I was surrounded by the love of my Kupuna for many generations. It sometime makes me feel small and insignificant. I know, twisted but I feel so small compared to those big Giants that have perpetuated their 'ike, (knowledge) for those after them. How and What will I leave behind? "Hi'ilani?" called Nina. "Let's Go!! " yelled Nina with urgency and excitement.

Giving Nina a few trial swims, so she's used to the current and length of holding her breath, she's ready. We dive, deep and slow. My honu showed up to share her love and show us the way. We pass my puhi friend and soon we're at the entrance. I see Nina's eyes get big but her excitement is a relief, rather than her being scared. I've talked so much about this treasure I'm sure she's dreamt of it. We pass through and come out to an open Cavern. We came right before sunset and all the shells are glistening with the glare of the golden sun. "This is my Haven and it is now ours!" I said adoring our secret. " Hi'i, Thank you!" she humbly spoke.

(Nina) As I break the surface my eyes are met with a sight I've never seen. A beautiful reef cavern that's a bit purple and along the walls, kissed by the sunlight. Crabs crawling along the rocks, fish swimming safe from predators and our honu, our guide that brought us in. I look at my dear friend Hi'i and started crying. "Nina, what's wrong?" asked Hi'i with a worried look. "Nothing." is all I could say before sobbing in my dear friends arms. "Hi'i, I asked for this. I prayed for this and being here with you has shown me that God sees me and knows me. The day we met, I was on my way to give up, I prayed to Heavenly Father that if he's real he would stop me. On my way to the bridge, I saw you. I figured I wouldn't need my lunch, I'll give to you, as I gave it to you I heard the most sincere and tender thank you. So, I stopped and sat with you. I heard your story and realized as I was sitting, I forgot all about what I was on my way to doing, also very quickly my little problems were not a problem. When I got home I fell to my knees and continued to pray and pray. More and more our story grew. What I never said out loud in my prayers was that I wanted a lifelong friend to share the love of Jesus with. I remember when those were all prayers. Those prayers are now tangible." I dropped to my knees and wept.

(Hi'i) Woah! Nina, he has answered my prayers too!" I fell to my knees next to her. We started to look around and admire the swim here the practice and the reward. "I think it's time to head back."

As we leave the beach we see the protesters again, camped out and ready for any fight. I wish there was a way to help my people. "Hi'i, I don't think it was coincidence that we became lawyers and made all those reports that happens to be right up our alley of, what was that word you used?" 'ike" (Knowledge). I said with a huge smile. "You're right!" Nina said. "It, is, Time!"