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Ever thought about life after Peace Corps? Because I have — a lot.

Peace Corps was the most transformational experience of my life. I honestly feel like everything I did in my life led me to joining the Peace Corps and everything I do after will be because of the Peace Corps.

Oh and hi! How rude of me. It’s been a while since my last blog post hasn’t it? Well good to see you again. So quick…

Sugar Is Just Sweet Salt

I can’t make a difference So don’t try to tell me that I am making memories that will last a lifetime Because at the end of the day It’s just too challenging for me So I am not going to lie to myself by saying I like being here and I love these people Because every day I’m reminded that I should just give up And nothing you say will make me believe That I can do whatever I put my mind to So no…

He Hawai’i Au, Mau a Mau

I am rooted. I am proud. I am Hawaiian.

From my name, Kamaka, to my values; I am Hawaiian.

I write this post at an interesting time in my life where I am living abroad working for the American Government.  One of the three goals of Peace Corps is to promote understanding of Americans onto the host country nationals.  I struggle with this at times because sometimes I feel like I am stuck with an i…

Guess what?

Hawai’i, I’m coming home!

Not for good, but just for a visit.

After being in Madagascar for over two years in the Peace Corps, I will finally be heading home to see my family, friends, and beloved Islands.  Buraaahhhh I cannot wait!

Since I will be going home soon, I should brush up on my local kine talk ah? I not talking full on pidgin, but small manini kine Hawaiian style lingo here and there yeah.

So if you are reading this and aren’t from Hawai’i then I apologize in advance for some of the references and words that I may use.

They say you should never write how you talk, but dis mah blog and I can do whateva I like!

You might understand what I’m saying, but it will probably just be a little weird to read.  But seriously, people in Hawai’i actually speak like this.  So if you are really curious and have no idea what I am talking about then just ask—I’d be happy to educate you.

So kala mai my haole braddahs and sistahs. Cheeeehuuuu!

Fo those who no know, I was born and raised on the Big Island of Hawai’i.  I basically lived there my whole life.  Da longest I been away from da islands was when I studied abroad in Spain fo three months; I tink living in Madagascar fo two years without leaving small kine beats dat.  Eva since den, it was hard fo me to stay in one place foa too long after catchin’ some mean cracks by one incurable case of da travel bug. Dat buggah!

I tried lots a tingz to get rid of it, like being busy with school and work, not looking at plane tickets, and even being broke—nothin’ wen work! I just kept getting on that plane and flying away somehow.  To Argentina fo one nahda study abroad, Washington to visit one friend, Colorado twice, one fo snowboard and once fo da X Games, den finally Utah to camp in Moab before leaving to Madagascar with da Peace Corps.  I swear it wen feel like my feet was off the ground every ahda month after my diagnosis.

So staying in one place and not even boarding one plane fo over two years is small kine weird fo me ah.  Honestly, I small kine nervous fo board one plane overseas again aftah so long.  But nerves and excitement stay one in the same so I get choken excitement more than anything.  How can I not be yeah?

How many Peace Corps Volunteers get to take their home leave in Hawai’i? Saying I am lucky would be one undastatement.

No matter where I go in this world, Hawai’i is just always the most beautiful place in my eyes.

I have been to a few places around da world and it is hard fo compare to Hawai’i.  There’s just something special about coming home, like feeling dat cherreh warm ocean breeze as soon as you ha’alele the sliding doors of da airport. Nothin’ is sweetah than home, I’m pretty sure there might be one popular saying about sweet homes but who actually knows.

It’s gonna be nuts to see all these people I never seen in person for over two years, but what will be even mo nuts is them seeing me with long hair and facial hair for da first time! I neva had long hair or facial hair in my life, and even tho dey seen picthas of me online and thru Facetime calling, it’s still gonna be pretty trippy fo dem to see me like dis.  I don’t think people will recognize me at first.  Ho dis gon’ be fun.

Clean cut, short-haired Kamaka in 2016

Hairy, long-haired Kamaka in 2018

Still throwing up the Shaka cheeheee!

I’m so curious to see what wen change. What’s new in Hilo? Kids still go to Tilt at Prince Kuhio Plaza or wat? Hawai’i get Chipotle yet? Guy Hagi memes still a ting? I like watch the Hawaiian language version of Moana, where dat stay? Get one hurricane or volcano erupting again dat I should know about? SO many things I like know yeah…

I guess I will find out soon enough tho.

Yah so I not one those sentimentol losahs dat like to count down the days to a big event in their life, so I not gon’ do dat.

48 days *cough cough*

Brah I’d neva do dat, shut up!

So anyway if you survived thru dis blog post tanks ah! Also, if you stay in Hawai’i in December, let’s cruise, catch up, talk stories, grind some poke bowls/acai bowls then kanak attack on the beach!

I neva taught I’d be away fo dis long, but I knew I would be back eventually cuz no matter where I go and what I do, I am always coming back home to you, Hawai’i.

I no can help it.  See u soon den!

\m/

Alatsinainy Bakaro: Where The Roads Are Bad, But The People Are Awesome

Ianareo no nandray ahy. Ianareo no nanaiky ahy. Izay zavatra rehetra nataonareo ho ahy no be dia be noho ny izay zavatra rehetra nataoko ho anareo. Misaotra betsaka. Mankasitraka e.

To the place and people I have committed two years of my life; to the place that has opened their doors to me and in doing so opened up my heart and eyes to things I would have never experienced otherwise; the place I…

I have always believed that the key to a happy life is balance. That is probably why I took up slacklining as a hobby a few years ago—I love everything to do with balance. Like the hip hop duo Atmosphere, I am always trying to find a balance. But as you some of you may know, it’s not that easy to find one. Sometimes I think it might be hiding with Waldo somewhere. We struggle, and we struggle…

Yup you read that wrong! I mean you read it right, but it’s still wrong. It should say making friends and cooking pancakes. Just a simple tactic to draw your attention so you can click on this link. Like standards in today’s society, the title is the “looks.” It’s what grabs your attention. And my words is the “personality.” It’s what holds your attention. So now that I got you let me hit you…

What’s News? (Inona Ny Vaovao)

It’s been a while hasn’t it? Don’t worry I’ve missed me too.  Oops I mean I missed writing for all of you to read. I’ve been busy though.  Kinda.  Sometimes.  Not really.  Well yeah, actually. Peace Corps service is weird at times.  Sometimes you feel like you have a million of thing you have to do and no way you can finish all of them, and then at other times you feel like you have wayyyyy too…

Hold on, before you say anything I know what you’re thinking. “What an idiot, he totally spelt ‘site‘ wrong. Sorry to break it to you, grammar policeperson, but there’s no misprint in this title. I obviously know what how to spell love at first ‘scythe.’ I know my blades.  I’m talking about love at first site. Real, genuine, raw, unadulterated love at first SITE. The unique love that you can only…

A Hui Hou Kākou

All good things end too soon. That’s how I felt about my time at La Maison d’Arnaud which is an orphanage in Diego, located in the northern part of Madagascar.  I want to try to explain how I feel about the city of Diego and the orphanage without making it seem like a Yelp review, so I’ll try my best.  But if this were a Yelp review, I’d give it 5 out of 5 stars.   Or in this case, 5 out of 5…

The one thing I love more than being with people, is being by myself. Okay maybe not all the time, but I really do enjoy my time alone. Being alone doesn’t mean that you’re lonely though. It means that you’re comfortable enough to laugh at yourself, talk to yourself, listen to Adele and the High School Musical soundtrack by yourself, and generally be by yourself. You learn a lot about yourself…

4 Things We Can Learn From The Malagasy

I have been for a year, and I have learned so many things.  I have always thought outside the box and my perspective and outlook on life deviates from the norm from time to time.  In this blog post, I want to share some things that I believe we—as in anybody traveling to Madagascar or suffers through this post—can learn from the people of Madagascar; the Malagasy. So let’s get to it: 1. Fotoana…

Today marks one year since I’ve arrived in Madagascar. Exactly 365 days, 4 hours, 17 minutes, 52 seconds and counting since I stepped foot on this magical island. I totally just made those numbers up but I bet you believed me, right? Anyway… Now that the ice has been broken, I can’t even begin to describe how much I have grown and learned about myself since being here and becoming a Peace Corps…

Hi my name is Kamaka Dias and I’m a haole…in Madagascar. In Hawai’i I’m Hawaiian; I’m Portuguese, Korean, Japanese, Spanish and Caucasian. In other words a mixed plate. But here in Madagascar I’m mostly recognized as one thing: a haole; or as they call it here: vazaha. Vazaha is the word they use for foreigner in Madagascar. It’s most commonly said to rich French people who live in Madagascar. Or…