Mahalo Hawaii

This would be the last and most memorable moment for me on the Pacific Island of Hawaii. Tomorrow I will be departing for Colorado early in the dark and gloomy morning. Time is running so fast like water flowing down the stream to the ocean. It is almost to week 3 and only left 2 weeks before return home. Why so fast? I was just living the Hawaiian life and getting fit into it and now I will be needed to leave. With wonderful friend and people all around it really makes my life feels so much fun and meaningful. If one would ask me to describe Hawaii in 3 words I shall express that it is....

" Happiness ! Mesmerizing ! Unforgettable ! "

Lat week was probably the busiest and enjoyable day to go through. Myself together with my Water Team, we went to visit some places which will be helping us for our team and self action plan. On the past Monday and Tuesday, the most important days while we are here in the island, the Eco-Gallery Solution. It was exhausting and challenging since we had struggled out for the special day, sleepless and stressful to prepare the materials, documents, spreading news, making appointments and reservations, updating websites and many other things which are needed for the presentation. 

Finally, we are all done and finish it successfully. It was really hard and tough for me and perhaps some other friends when we are needed to make presentations and sharing talks to the local communities who came from different background. I would say most of them were high educated profile people where some of them were directors or perhaps CEO of big company from Hawaii, Japan and the mainland. You don't wanna cheat or play trick with what you are saying or you will be messed up and get burn for Q&A session afterwards.

As for me, I was assigned to make presentation on Waihe'e Tunnel or the Dike Tunnel. This was one of the places that we went for the site visit. It is one of the most interesting and the journey that you really want to put in your itinerary list when coming to Hawaii. Some sharing, do you know where is the Hawaiian's water resource come from? Yah..this is the first question which will be popped up from my mouth once I started the sharing. Yeah it is the Dike Tunnel which is located somewhere within the Waihe'e valley which it provides about 7 to 9 millions gallons of water per day to certain areas in Oahu. For this trip, we took a long 500 m walk deep inside the tunnel. It was so dark and we were only given each one of us a green torchlight. When you reach the end of the tunnel, there is a storage tank which stores the water that flowing down through the dike channel which took approximately about 9 months from the mountain ridge before it can be collected. The best part when we got the chance to drink the water. Oh gosh..it is terrifically cool and awesome. The taste of water is so pure and yummy. My stomach get bloated with the water. Hehe.

To be able to share and apply the concept for my personal action plan which regards to greener water treatment, I am justifying on the point where the collected water has to go through only 2 treatments with chlorine and charcoal before it can be safely distribute to the locals. In contra, in Malaysia we have to add some more chemicals and further treatment phases which will also producing unwanted byproduct sludge. And do you know that sludge was scheduled to be as one of the hazardous waste which means it is really bad to our environment. The other case would likely be the cost of treatment which is so and so expensive.

Rather than seeing and investing on perhaps the most environmental friendly technologies and methods to counter the problems which required millions of dollars, why don't we look at the main source of the problem why we had to prepare all these? The answer is the pollution at the neck of the water basin. Unlike the water from the dike tunnel which was preserved and protected, provide admission  for authorized personnel only, the water taken from the stream in Malaysia wasn't been controlled and leads to pollution by people. By making some amendments on policies that regulated our water resource, reinforce and straighten the law might help our water clean from debris, naturally purified and restored with no exact reason to go for expensive treatments. I hope it will be one of the solution for me to share with my partner company when I return back to Malaysia so soon.

I really wanted to make a reflection on people saying and recommending Hawaii for honeymoon or vacation. Em yah I would 100% say yes for that. Seriously this island is just so awesome. I don't wanna leave here. Haha. The golden sandy beach, crystal clear blue water and a wonderful snorkeling experience to see turtles, dolphins, Nemo, corals and other beautiful aquatic lives just a perfect complimentary for the day. For shopaholic, yes it a true list for you too. Waikele Premium Outlet which stored Coach, Gap, Tommy Hilfinger, Levi's, Nike, branded perfumes, Polo, Salvatore Ferragamo, Ray Ban, Oakley, Samsonite and s much others will be on the top place to visit. Besides that, we have Ala Moana, the biggest outdoor shopping mall in the world, Ross, where you can buy the cheapest expensive brand, Walgreens, Wallmart, Best Buy, ABC Store and many more. So good if you can bring a thick piece of wallet. For those who wants to experience surfing will definitely enjoy the Waikiki Beach and the North Shore, Snorkeling and one the most beautiful places in the world the Hanauma Bay, popular tourist center the Pearl Harbour and  visit the best outdoor activities and films scene locations like Jurassic Park, The Tarzan, 50 First Date, Journey to the center of the Earth, The Kualo Ranch. Ohh.. I really have a good time here in Hawaii.

Maybe, someday I will be coming back here in Hawaii. Yah. If not for vacation, maybe to further my study in University of Hawaii in the East West Center. I'm so lucky that now I am officially accepted as the Alumni of University of Hawaii and this could be one way that opens the door for me to study in here or US. Alhamdulillah.

For the rest, I hope the journey to the mainland tomorrow would open my eyes, widen my thoughts on US and provides me the best experience for life. Here I come Colorado !!! Huhooo.....

Until then, the story of SUSI in Hawaii end.... T__T

The day in the States

Alhamdulillah. Finally, I'm safely arrived to the Island of Oahu, one of the most dense and living island, where it consists more than 80% of Hawaiian local population and surprisingly it is not the biggest island after all. The Big Island of Hawaii which is located to the south-west of Oahu is the biggest island but because of the island's geographical layers covered with volcanoes then it is so much unsafe for human living. So, after I went through so many hurdles, a long and exciting journey flying to the island, myself and the other 4 SUSI from Malaysia had successfully landed on the Honolulu.

Since this is the first entry from me, I wish I could have more time to spend with the computer. I meant for blogging. When we were just arrived at the Hale Manoa, our hostel here in East West Center, Christina who is our program coordinator brought us straight to the Kailua Beach to meet the other participants. From the day till this lovely evening I sit and writing for the entry, it is damn packed and I am total sleepy all the times. Very bad. The true fact that I am gonna recall, it is so true when my senior said, your life will be getting busier and you might not find any hours for this. Glad I make it, after all it is day 12. So fast.

First perception on Hawaii, some people would assumed that the weather of the island will be freaking hot since it is a city island and surrounded by the Pacific ocean, slightly on top of the equator. Yah it is hot but  it is not really that hot as compared to Malaysia and other neighboring countries like Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia. Here's average tropical weather and temperature around 25 Celsius at noon and getting lower at night approaching to 18 Celsius, frequent precipitations and strong wind continues to blow and brings cool and chilly sea breeze from the Antartica. I made my first few days here worse, trying as much as I could to adapt with the new environment and making myself out of jetlag, I fall sick and having a bad sore throat. Till now, I am still having the cold and seldom coughing. Lucky, I brought some medicines from home and trying not to consume it everyday and not too dependent on it.

So far, I have so many things that I had learnt, experienced and socialize and making new friends from people all over the countries. Well to make it short, easy and concise, I shall share some photos and later elaborate, for all the journeys I went so far in Hawaii.

The night before departure, my families and I miss them. ^^ 

Oh my MTM families, diorang sangup datang hantar sampai KLIA dan buat kejutan ! Terharu beb ! haha..Thanx

Singapore Airport Terminal, awesome! seriously cantik

Hoho..ready to flight !! Boarding pass

It is early in the morning in Singapore, Malaysian Delegates are ready to depart to Narita Tokyo.

Hehe..with Wei Qian

Muslim's meal - specially requested for me

Nice doll but not so nice price tag

So cute and so expensive

See ANA air plane... we took ANA instead of US Airlines to Hawaii

The flight was delayed for luggage problems somewhere in Hanada, the officers arranged a new flight and here we are making the right way and ready to fly with ANA.

Coming nearer to Honolulu..Yuhoo !!!

Yeah !!! Finally arrived..

On the way to East West Center, University of Hawaii, Christina pick up us from the airport and this is the highway..

Here we are !!!

Here's the hostel, Hale Manoa ! I'm in 12th floor and lucky that this building equipped with lift. Hehe

Can you see the partitions between the rooms? it is the kitchen.

My room key card, officially the resident of Hale Manoa ! Oh and my room number is 1209E !

After check in and put all the luggage, we were brought to the Kailuha Beach. See the blue colour of the beach ! It is seriously awesome.

The wind blows so hard and chilly here.

Our first day dinner, we went to the university food court and have our buffet for $10 and I know it sounds crazy like having dinner for more than RM30 in the college!

This is one of the task for Scavenger Hunt in Waikiki Beach...Photoshoot ! hahaha

Waikiki Beach

We went here for our dinner after the game

Ahhh...received this book and this is super cool book for creating green campaign or project in your country.

Somewhere in Waikiki... We went to Lance House, our coordinator.

Lunch at Lulu Restaurant

We play Jengga first before lunch. The tricky part is where we have to play the block with 2 eggs!!! Gila..haha

This is Brian our SUSI assistant coordinator. He was taking the picture up from the tree.

^__^

Oh then we went for sailing around the island of Oahu. It is pretty amazing since we can see all the geographical structures and city design of development for Honolulu.

Ok.. so this is the view from my room. Can you see the sunrise? How beautiful is that and only when you are in the top floor otherwise your view will be blocked by vast amount of trees.

It is in the bus to Waikiki. You have to pay $2.50 for a journey. But if you taking the bus back for return within the time range as per typed in the receipt, then you have to pay nothing. Oh ya.. from campus we took the number 4 bus !

Presentation on Eco-tipping Point with my team.

I went to this restaurant where they only served organic foods in the downtown. 

And Michele Obama once visited and dine in the restaurant. cool !

I forgot this building's name. Hehe

The vending machine which sells instant noodles.

Blurred but still blossom

We went to Safeway like Tesco to buy our groceries.

My favaourite part of all. Hahaha

Wahh..stock for 4 days..haha

Nice game just like Monopoly. But it is a green and environmental themes

This game sucks ! I'm done halfway and give up.

Malaysian Team !

My roomate..Mohawk Chavanant from Thailand. He's taking Chemical Engineering...cool outfit ! I belive it is Pakoma, Thai's multipurpose sarong

The girl standing on my left is Malaysian and she is one of the mentor and SUSI's alumni

At Burn's Hall, listening to the talk by Japanese Officer..I forgot her name. hehe

Need to fill the forms

At the front entrance to our campus !!!

Yeah received our phone !!! Free calls to all USA, unfortunately not to Malaysia

Waikiki Beach

Farmer's market...still expensive

This A B C store is like 7 eleven..more than that it is everywhere  in here.

Makan time

Enjoy

This is our sailboat

Shakerr time !!!

Hehe

Perasan jadi VIP naik limousine...Menangis
hahaha

Jakon..

We kept our foods here...It is for students

Can masak-masak here..

Serious time

We are water team..planning for team site visit and presentation. From left : Ko ko (burma), Dia (Phil), Shye (Phil) , Rex (Phil) Grace (Mas), Me and Mai (Burma)

Rainbow

Here's the Ipad...huhu.. luckily I'm the Web master...so this device I own it..hehe

 Last weekend, we were given the opportunity to have a short 2 days homestay. Me and Phon from Thailand, both of us together under the same family. Our host mother, Madam Wendy from Kaneohe and she is quiet old woman about 72 years old but very strong. She swims and walk faster than both of us. Superb !!! And now she's staying alone in her house since her husband went for work offshore and her only son worked in Florida. So she is all alone and we are here to make her happy for the weekend. Maybe we did ! Haha

From the look out point

Me and Phon (Thai) with our host mother, Madam Wendy

Entrance

I love her house... So country and urban

Tepi rumah ada sungai...syok gila

Wendy loves flower so much and kept telling us all about the trees and flowers.

At the back of her house !!! Cool

This is Wendy's sailboat

Future sailor perhaps !!

I slept on the coach for 2 nights and that is the best experience ever. I love nature and this house

The view from the house.

Ok. So there are some of the photos that I took from the first week while I'm in Hawaii. Now I'm gonna share you with some of the photos I took for my meals here. Surely you guys wondering what did I ate here? And to my families, have no worry. I'm now so much fatter than before and the foods are greatly nutritious and delicious. However, it is expensive because it is Hawaii. The sources coming from the outside and so the additional costs and taxes add to its value. Oh and ya, I don't eat beef or chicken here. The only thing I ate is seafood. Sometimes vegetarian. It is hard, not at the first pace but after 7 to 8 days here, then I'm started to crave for KFC. Woahhhhh

I don't take the chicken, only the vegetables T_T

The popular Shave Ice or Snow Cones !!!

Favourite

Finally.....

Hey..my first time I'm making my home-made popcorn..My host mother teach me how to do this..Yummy

Avocado... I help to pluck this fruit in the garden

The thing that I can eat in Japan is only the Ice Cream T_T

The Malaysian's Flurry is far tastier and yummier

Kemestian...hehehe

I love the raspberry cinnamon roll...sedap dan murah

Makan sushi jela

Till then. I have so many things to do and only left about a week and half to spend in Hawaii. Next week will be the most challenging week in Hawaii since we will be having our Eco-Gallery Solution, where we need to present and share our solutions to people on what we have learnt so far in Hawaii. It's gonna be tough and we have so many things to get prepared before the gallery. Wait for the next post which I don't know when and where would it be. I can't promise anything since am kinda busy with assignments and other things. So far I trully enjoyed the moments in Hawaii. It is awesome !

Huhooo...