Jade Colored Waters

We all need a little motivation some times.  When it comes to entering the ocean, there are different kinds of dangers lurking beneath the waves.  Such as these sea urchins, hiding in tide pools and waiting for the misstep of a poor soul.  Or the constant battering and grinding of waves.  For an eleven year old girl, snorkeling was particularly terrifying.  No sound, no air on your face, no ground beneath your feet.  Just a tube sticking above your head while waves threaten to drown your only air supply.

But the wonders underneath scary waves!  Bright corral and fish in a world all their own, where a mermaid and fantastical creatures would not seem out of place.  But how to get a terrified child to see this beauty?

After walking down from my neighborhood to Napili Cove, then around the point of tide pools carved from lava rock, through Napili shores and across another point, I understandably decided to rest in the cove and beach of Kapalua shores to cool down and enjoy the bright blue day.  I sat on the beach and listened to the familiar chatter of families on vacation, and locals getting sun.  Directly behind and above me a little girl dressed in a light blue bathing suit lay cowering underneath the sun.

Every couple minutes a different family member of the girl would come out of the water and try to convince her to come in.  A red faced grandpa, "Why don't you get in the water!"  Sigh, "Or not."  Then mom, trooping out to make sure her chicka has a good time, "It's soooo hot, at least go cool down."  Slightly more exasperated and over-bearing dad, "Just get in the water!  Stop laying on the beach."  And finally silver haired grandma, "You can just stand on the sand and there's plenty of fish to see right there!"  All to no avail.

Eventually the whole family trooped out of the water and sat on the beach and talked about the fish they saw and kept gently repeating the same types of phrases, trying to coerce the girl in.  Finally mom came up with, "Let's just go wash the sand off in the water" and Jade, the girl, walked down the beach and gingerly entered the water.

Soon grandma got her snorkel and stood in the water looking at the fish.  Eventually they convince Jade that the water is harmless and mom walks out to fetch another mask for her.  After standing and looking at the fish she finally decides to put on fins.  This leads to laughter and giggling; as who can really put on fins without falling over?  Ungainly and completely unbalanced, with the extra bouncy of water pushing her over, mom holds her while grandma helps.  And off they go!  Mostly hugging the corral close to shore they do venture out to see the fish beyond the sand.

What a beautiful scene!  When Jade and grandma finally get out of the water they troop back to the blanket.  Grandpa says "Well time to go to see the hula dance," to which Jade replies, "I don't want to see the hula dance!" - An attempt to do more snorkeling.  They leave with higher spirits and a happy atmosphere.  Although Jade drags her feet, she knows that there will be other days of snorkeling and well, a hula show awaits!

This story was a good reminder that sometimes the key to success and a good time is to take that first dunk into the cold water.  While the people who convince us to do it, are actually the nicest people.  And from there take the obstacles step by step until happiness is achieved, and then go on to seek the next hula dance.