Recently a representative from the school was in Hawaii doing high school recruiting, and I got to help out with that.  It was great to share my school experience with the young minds and ensure their parents it’s a great school to go to.  UCSC’s campus and location is very much like Hawaii, very green with mountains/forests and not far from the beach.  The weather is great during the warmer months but does get the Bay Area foggy cold air and I’ve experienced El Nino during my freshman year.  The town’s a little more hippy-like, not so much North Shore country, kinda inbetween Honolulu and Hale’iwa, maybe Lahaina-like?

Some facts about the school:

• Ranked 1st worldwide for research impact in molecular biology and genetics
• 1st nationally for publication impact in the computer engineering Ph.D program
• 4th among top N. American universities for research influence
• 6th nationally amoung medium-sized schools for alumni participation in the Peace Corps
• 7th worldwide in international finance
• 18th worldwide for reserach impact in geosciences
• 29th nationally among public doctoral universities
• One of the highest percentages of students participating in Education Abroad Program (EAP).

It’s very rewarding to give back to the community, especially to my alma mater and Hawaii.  It felt great to not only get alums involved with my efforts, but also helping UCSC directly with spreading the message about what a great school it is, the invaluable education and life experiences the students will get, creating a connection with potential students and their parents, and laying the koa wood planks to build the bridge from Hawaii to Santa Cruz \m/.

it’s in the stars that i’ll be forever a bridesmaid!  maid of honor at that too!  guess i do a pretty darn good job, lol.  the first 3 times, i earned it, by default was next of kin, and was one of the few single ladies left.  this time around, i got lucky and got a call from the Hawaii Five-O casting and asked if i was available to play a bridesmaid.  OMFG, hellz yeah!  i’ve been keeping up with the show and had a hunch Chin Ho and Malia were gonna get hitched, but it could be anyone’s wedding.  there was a chemistry with (Charlie) Fong and Kono, they would make a cute couple but so does he and i (wishful thinking).  seems the new girl Lori likes Steve and showed some affection in episode 10, all the ladies are so jealous.

i actually got my nails done, mani & pedi, just for the show!  i normally don’t do much to it or would paint it myself, but i’m gonna be on national tv, so i need to look not like a beach bum .  i got my hair and makeup done by the professional artists that also did Malia’s wedding look!  my dress was a pretty coral color and i got to wear a sunrise seashell necklace and some handmade shell bracelets.  it’s so so pretty.  flowers were pinned to my hair that was a pretty shade of pink (and white), and a matching orchid lei was adorned around my neck.  let’s see if i made any screen time or i might just be  a blur.  i’m standing right next to the bride at the altar.  look for me Monday night December 12th on CBS Hawaii Five-O!

Preview of Episode 12 Alaheo Pau’ole (Gone Forever)

CBS Hawaii Five-O

Did you know that the 1st Wed of every month, the The Contemporary Museum and Honolulu Academy Arts (HAA), has free admission?  It was a drizzling Wed morning as I drove up Makiki Heights Drive to the Contemporary Museum.  The rain is refreshing sometimes, brings out the rainbows and waterfalls, although I didn’t see any rainbows this day.  The museum has a beautiful lawn and small garden to walk around in.  I was more intrigued with the garden and landscape than the art collection.  While driving down the mountain, I had to pull over and take a picture of Diamond Head and Honolulu, such an awesome view.  At the HAA, I got a chance to see some other galleries that I missed the dozen of times I’ve been there.  I didn’t know they had an upper level!  Learning something new each day as I’m exploring this beautiful island I call home!

FYI, Hawaii State Art Museum (HiSAM) is always free!  HAA also has Bank of Hawaii Family Sundays, 3rd Sunday of each month, and Military Appreciation Day for military personnel and their families, which is 1st Sunday of each month.

some things i noticed and heard, which makes me think about people:

the difference between East Coast people (girls) and West Coast people (girls) are EC care more about what school you go to (preferrably Ivy League), and WC (I should state LA) care more about what car you drive, if you own a house, and you’ve got a high title paying job.  makes me think, hawaiians care about where you surf, where’s the best local grind, and if you know aunty so and so’s son’s so and so.  lol.  i’ll never fit into EC nor LA.

LA girls – married ones go out flirting like they’re not married, with their LV bags/purse and whatever name dress and shoes that they can afford to buy with their husbands money cause they don’t work.  sounds like a typical Housewives of XX show.

NCAL is so much better than SCAL!.  sure we have hi-end retail and $$MM homes, but we also have beautiful ghettos like Oakland, hippy town like Berkeley, diverse San Fran, French and Italian scenic wine country, and the list could go on.

love life, live simple, be free

an epic adventure with friends!

See the full gallery on Posterous

free stuff in hawaii, yes there are.  free concerts, it does happen!  i won tix thru the local radio station to attend a performance by Jim Brickman, America’s Romantic Piano Sensation!  it was a really nice private performance, and oh so romantic.   

later that evening, i went an Incubus concert for free!  i got a group together to go sit outside of the concert area to eat, drink, listen to the music, and watch the sunset and stars.  later on the night,  my friend noticed the “gate” blocking the concert area was down, and we made our way down towards the stage.  it was pretty cool to see Incubus live and up-close.  i didn’t know too many of their songs but have been hearing it frequently on the radio station.  i was rocking the beat.  i had one of the most embarrassing moments that night, only those around witnessed it, and they laughed their butts off :O.

the next evening, Willie K was rocking the ukelele in Waikiki!  it’s something about the sound of the strings that makes my heart beat and the melody of the hymns that soothes the soul.

so how does one have Unlimited Fun on Limited Funds living in Hawaii, as it’s assumed to be an expensive place to live?  like every place, there are free activities, you just got to be in-the-know, or events_seeker like me .

it’s a start of a new week, my health is finally getting better, and what a great way to get together with friends and make new ones than to see a free classic movie “Casablanca” outdoors, under the stars, and in the swanky beautiful hotel The Edition.  i really enjoy their free no cover movie nights, free valet parking, beautiful view, location, and cool hip vibe.  if you do end up buying dinner or drink, it ranges $7-$14.  you don’t have to spend a fortune on a date or just hanging out with friends.  i hope they keep doing this and please bring out more free popcorn and candy!

i’m looking forward to Sunset On The Beach at Queens Beach in Waikiki coming up Sept 10th!  they’re premiering Hawaii 5-0 Season 2.  the stars will really be out – Alex O’Loughlin (O-la-la), Scott Caan, Daniel Dae Kim, Grace Park, and many other casts!  lucky i live hawaii and “Here’s looking at you kid” \m/

It’s been 1 yr since I started this new yenyen posterous blog & Beach Bum Network.

2 yrs since I moved to Hawaii and started a new life, friends, jobs, etc.

3 yrs ago this time I was in Vietnam walking through the War Memorial, floating in the Emerald Sea of Ha Long Bay, and visiting the land where my parents grew up. 

10 yrs since I got my passport and step foot on international soil of Roma.  

Cheers to my anniversaries and more milestones to come \m/ !

One of the reasons I moved to Hawaii is because of the travel bug I had in 2008.  After taking 6 weeks off from work to travel in Asia, and later on, another 2 weeks in Maui, I wanted more.  Being in Hawaii allows me to travel across both sides of the Pacific.  And that’s just the beginning  .

After months and months of attending events, I’m excited to announce that I’ll be hosting one in Honolulu!  Bookmark your calendar for Tuesday, October 18th, details TBA.

Meet Plan Go, I came upon this website last year, it caught my attention and I knew I wanted to learn more and get involved.  The name was catchy and the message was simple.  Here’s some information below.  ”Like” the facebook page, follow on twitter, and sign up for the Career Break Newsletter to get started on a world of travel resources and inspiration.

Ready to realize your travel dreams? Stop dreaming and start packing! On October 18, 2011 in 17 cities across North America to learn more about career breaks and extended travel.

• • MEET inspirational speakers and like-minded travelers in their area.
  • Get motivation, contacts and resources necessary to PLAN the trip of a lifetime.
  • And start taking concrete steps forward to get ready to GO!

Despite being common in many countries such as Australia and the UK, career breaks, life sabbaticals, “gap years” and other forms of extended travel are not currently an American or Canadian birthright…but the Founders of Meet, Plan, Go! are on a mission to change that!

At every event will be individuals who have fulfilled their own dreams of traveling around the world, or are currently in the planning stages. Their real-life stories include an understanding of the unique challenges that all long-term travelers must overcome in order to claim their freedom on the road and who appreciate the unbelievable triumphs of realizing one’s dream of a long-term international adventure.

NY Times article about last year’s event: http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/10/17/travel/17Prac.html?ref=travel

Quotes from last year’s event:

“This was a fantastic event! It made me realize that long-term travel is a completely realistic goal and that I have much amazing company also doing the same.” – Seattle Attendee

“Your event convinced me that my pipe dream of traveling was actually possible… and then gave me tips and tricks on how to accomplish it.” – NYC Attendee

“I loved this event! It helped reassure me that I wasn’t crazy about thinking about quitting my job to hit the road, and it connected me with many other like-minded travelers.” – Orlando Attendee

Beach!  Gotcha, didn’t I?

I just got back from watching the highly anticipated and tear-jerking movie “Soul Surfer” with my surfer chic Teo.  Anyone and everyone should watch this movie, not only does it show how exciting it is to surf in beautiful clear blue Hawaiian waters, but also the courage and passion of the main character Bethany Hamilton.  At one point after the accident, she questioned her purpose in life and decided to join her church group on a volunteer mission in Thailand after the 2004 tsunami.  There she and World Vision organization helped to “construct temporary living shelters, a boat-building center and Child Friendly Spaces so children have a safe place to play and learn.”  She also helped the children to not be afraid of the ocean and taught them to surf.  She witnessed the devastation and loss that the people have experienced, but still maintained hope.  She had her own feelings of tragedy and loss, having overcome it to continue to pursue her love of surfing and becoming Pro.  She never gave up on her dreams, nor did her family, friends, and the supportive surfing community.  She took a break, stepped back to see the bigger picture not just in her life, but in the world, and refocused.  She came back a stronger person and a humanitarian.  She’s truly a star!

Sometimes that’s we need in life, to pause and evaluate things.  Are you happy and is it worth it in the end?  Let’s not drown in our sorrow and smell the tuberose; look around and appreciate the people and the environment around you.  There are far more tragic things happening and worser places in the world.  Do something for others and not for yourself.  It can change and make a tiny difference.  But it has to start with you.  I guarantee you’ll be a happier person with a new perspective.

Chevron AidsWalk Committee 2002

Kaiser Permanente Building Emergency Response Team (BERT) 2006-2008

National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) Retreat in Philly 2007

San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (SFIAAFF) 2007

NAAAP-San Francisco bike across Golden Gate to Tiburon 2007

Kaiser Permanente Asian Associate (KPAA) & Corporate Asian American Employee Network (CAAEN) Holiday Book & Toy Drive 2008

SF Funraisers Valentine’s Auction 2009

Locks of Love hair donation 2009

Habitat for Humanity Honolulu Chapter 2009

Kaiser Permanente Teddy Bear Clinic 2009

Medical Help Tent for Nike Women’s Marathon Expo 2009

Star 101.9 and Kokua Foundation Beach Clean Up 2010

CitySolve Volunteer 2010

Honolulu Festival making cotton candy for the keikis 2010

The Bella Project 2011

Surfrider Foundation Beach Clean Up 2011