#Maui Late Night

[elijones94]

🌺🌸 Moana and…Pua’s cousin?! 🐗🌴🌊

[samandcolbyownme]

Summary: request by @thesarahn - " I just found out I was Pregnant today and I was wondering if you could do a quick little one shot about revealing it to both boys (poly relationship)?" 

Warnings: talk of pregnancy, reader being pregnant, poly!samandcolby, talk of being anxious, nervousness, feeling sick, all fluff mostly 

Word count: 1.6k | not edited 

╔═══━━━─── • ───━━━═══╗

Your anxiety levels peaked the longer you sat in the bathroom. You knew one of the boys was going to be looking for you any second. 

And you were right. 

As you stood up to gather up all the opened and ripped packaging of the pregnancy tests you snuck out and got earlier today, there's a knock on the door, causing you to freeze. 

"Y/n?" Sam asks quietly on the other side of the door, "Are you okay in there?" 

"Um, yeah." You say trying to mask the nervousness in your voice, "I'll be out in a sec." 

You hear Sam walk away and you let out a sigh, "Shit, shit." Your hands shake with both excitement and being scared to death. 

The two lines on the pregnancy test were the cause. 

You rested your hand on the counter as your other moves up to cover your mouth as your eyes grew watery. 

You've always wanted to be a mom, but now that it's actually happening, you were terrified. You wanted nothing but the best for that little bean growing in your belly. 

You knew how Sam and Colby would react, it was just hard to convince yourself of what you knew. 

You took a deep, shaky breath as you buried the box and wrapped in the middle of the small trash bin. You really didn't want them finding out by an empty box in the trash. 

You tucked the positive test into the band of your swimsuit bottoms and moved your cover up over top. 

You washed your hands and took one last look in the mirror before you walked out to change their lives forever. 

"Thought you fell in." Colby laughs and you shake your head, "No." you laugh, "I'm good." You walk into the bedroom, quickly shoving the test to the bottom of your suitcase.

Sam leans against the door frame, causing you to jump slightly when you turn around and see him, "Sam." You breathe out, "You scared me." 

"Is everything okay?" He walks in, "You've been acting kind of, off. Lately. Are you okay?" 

He walks over to you and you reach out, wanting him to hold you, "I'm just tired. I think it's from the plane ride and then not getting much sleep last night." You laugh slightly and he smiles, "Yeah, we're sorry about that." 

Colby walks in, "What's this?" He walks over, "I wasn't invited? Rude." He smiles as you bring your arm away from Sam to pull Colby into the group hug. 

You stand there for a second, eyes closed while in the embrace of the two people you love most. 

"I'm starving." You mumble and Colby nods, "That's exactly why I came in here. Wanna go out for dinner?" 

You nod, "Yes please." 

Dinner didn't go as planned, for you at least. You took, maybe three bites of your dinner and had to go to the bathroom because you felt like you were going to puke it right back up. 

You stood in the stall, head rested on the wall as you took a few deep, calming breathes. 

You walk out, washing your hands and fixing your hair before going back to the table. 

You could tell Sam and Colby were suspicious. 

Between now and yesterday, your mood drastically changed, no matter how hard you tried to pretend everything was okay. 

Sam and Colby rented a private beach house for a week in Maui, and although you were super excited and greatful to be here, you just wish you had found out about this little surprise after you got home. 

"Hey, babe." Sam leans in, laying his hand on yours, "Are you okay? Honestly." 

You smile, flipping your hand to hold his in yours, "Yes, baby. I'm more than okay. I just.." you scrunch your nose, "I don't really like what I got." 

Which wasn't a whole lie. 

"Oh, well why don't you order something else?" Sam smiles slightly, "Please, we want you to enjoy this trip. No stress at all." 

You had to fight not to laugh at his words, because you were already trying not to do that. 

Ever since you opened that little box with a test inside, your mind felt like it was in maximum overdrive. 

"I'll look again." You nod, smiling as you look down at the menu. 

The rest of dinner went good, you didn't have to excuse yourself to go to the bathroom again, not until you got back to the house. 

"I think I'm going to go get a shower and go to bed. I'm pretty tired." You say with a yawn coming into play at just the right time. 

"Okay. We'll be out at the pool if you need us." Colby points as he grabs his towel to sling over his shoulder. 

You nod, walking to grab your clothes before going to the bathroom. 

As soon as the door closes, your hormones also come into play, causing all of your feelings to hit you at one time. 

You press your back against the door, hands over your face as you gasp, sobbing into them. 

You blow out air, walking over to turn the shower on. 

By the time you got out, Sam and Colby were still out at the pool. 

Editing. 

You laugh, shaking your head as you walk over and lean against the open slide door, "Are you really editing in the pool?" 

They both look up, like kids that were caught eating candy they weren't supposed to be eating. 

You laugh, walking over to sit down on the edge of the pool. You dip your legs in the water and Colby lays his arm over your thighs, resting his head on your knee. 

You felt like now was the right time to tell them. 

"So.. I have to tell you something." You start and sam looks at you like you kicked a puppy, "No, no. It's nothing bad." 

Sam sighs, "Don't scare me like that." He laughs slightly, "What's up, babe?" 

Colby looks up at you, chin pressing into your knee, "What's going on, mama." 

You smirk, "Funny you say that. Um.." you look up, eyes looking at anywhere but them for a moment, "I, um. I took a.. pregnancy test today, well." You tap your phone, seeing that it's past midnight, "Yesterday. I took a pregnancy test yesterday." 

Colby's brows raise and Sam tilts his head, "Was it.. positive?" 

You nod, "It was positive." 

They stay silent for a second before smiles grow on their faces. 

"I'm sorry," word vomit following, "I should have told you earlier, that's why I was in the bathroom so long and at dinner I felt like I was going to puke because I really didn't like the food I got and.. And-and I just needed to take a minute because-" 

"Whoa whoa whoa." Colby sits up, placing  both of his hands on your knees, "Slow down, babe. Take a breather." He laughs slightly, "That's..It's a big thing." 

Sam nods, "We totally understand. It was probably a lot to take in at one time." 

You nod, tears welling up in your eyes as a surge of hormones ransacks your body. 

"Come here." Colby pulls you off of the edge and into the pool with him and Sam, "You need to relax, okay. This is a good thing."

"A great thing, actually." Sam moves through the water, over to you and Colby, "Are you happy?" 

You nod, "I'm excited, but I'm so scared." Sam places his finger gently under your chin, "Baby, look at me." 

You look up at him and he smiles, "We're going to have a baby." He smiles even bigger, "We love you. So much." 

Colby kisses your head, "Fuck, we're so in love with you, you can even imagine." 

You smile, "I love you, both. So much. I just.. does it bother you not kno-" 

"You don't even have to finish that." Colby leans back slightly, looking down at you, "It doesn't matter. We're both here and we're both going to treat it like it's our own. You know that." 

You nod, tears forming again, but this time they fall before you can blink them away, "Shit. I'm sorry. These hormones are.." you gasp, trying not to sob, "I-insane." 

Colby laughs, "Aww, baby. Come here." He hugs you and Sam joins in, "We love you and little bean no matter what or who the dad is. You hear me?" 

You look at Sam, nodding against Colby's chest, "Yes." 

Sam leans in, pressing a kiss to your lips, "We love you no matter what." 

You nod, "I love you." 

Colby tilts your chin up to look at him, "We mean that. There's nothing that could ever change that." He smirks, "Now I can't stop thinking about that bump. Oh that bump, baby. You're going to look so sexy with that." 

You smile, looking down as you shake your head, "You guys are nuts." 

"For you." They both say, causing you all to laugh. 

"I'm just as nuts for you." You smile, pulling them both in for a hug. 

You spend a little bit longer out by the pool with them, talking about the future to come and you can help but think, so this is love. 

.·:*¨ ✘ ¨*:·.

Thanks for reading, I hope you all enjoyed. 

Love you all! 

Likes and reblogs are majorly appreciated! 🖤

[songbirdsanctuary]

Through the Cracks

Warnings: Panic attack, minor injury's

Word count: 2,133

Grian lay curled up on the cold, stone floor of his base, shivering despite the warmth of his scarlet jumper. His breath came in shallow, ragged gasps, remnants of the panic attack that had torn through him only moments ago. They’d been happening more often lately, creeping up on him like a shadow he couldn’t escape. The weight of it sat heavily on his chest, but it was fine. He was fine. That’s what he kept telling himself, over and over, as if repetition would somehow make it true.

So what if the nightmares came almost every night now, vivid and inescapable? He’d wake up drenched in sweat, his heart hammering like it was trying to break free from his chest. But he always shook it off, forcing himself to believe that it didn’t matter. It was just his mind playing tricks on him. It was fine.

Why should he care if the panic attacks left him feeling drained and raw, like his nerves were exposed to the open air? He told himself they didn’t matter, that they would pass like they always did. He was used to this, used to the sudden terror that made it feel like the walls were closing in, used to the way his skin crawled with the phantom sensation of hands touching him where they never should have been.

That feeling never went away, no matter how many times he tried to shake it off. It lingered like a ghost, a constant reminder of a violation he couldn’t forget. But that was just his life now. He’d learned to live with it, to bury it deep enough that no one could see. He was used to it. It was fine.

He barely noticed the broken mug beneath him until he shifted slightly, and the sharp shards dug into his skin through his jumper. It should have hurt, but it didn’t. Or maybe he was just too numb to feel it. The warmth of his own blood seeped into the fabric, staining the red a darker shade, but he didn’t care. Not about the pain, not about the mess, not about anything.

All he could do was curl up tighter, trying to make himself as small as possible, as if disappearing might make everything stop. But the panic still lingered, just beneath the surface, waiting for its next chance to pull him under.

He couldn’t really hear anything. The world was muffled, distant, like he was underwater. He didn’t hear his cat, Maui, meow softly and sniff curiously at his side. He didn’t hear the gentle padding of paws retreating in concern. He didn’t even hear the creak of the door as it opened or the sound of approaching footsteps, each one growing louder, more insistent. All of that faded into the background, swallowed by the chaos in his mind.

But the voice cut through the fog.

"Grian!?"

The sudden loudness made his head throb, piercing through the haze like a bolt of lightning. The sound was sharp, too sharp, and his body flinched involuntarily. His ears rang from the volume, and before he could process anything, a hand pressed down on his shoulder.

The touch wasn’t harsh, but to Grian, it felt like fire. His eyes flew open, wide and wild with fear. He couldn’t breathe, his mind went blank. He had haphephobia—the fear of being touched. It wasn’t always debilitating, at least not when he had time to prepare himself. If he knew someone was going to touch him, he could brace for it, let the anxiety roll over him and fade. But the unexpected touch—it was unbearable. It sent his entire nervous system into overdrive.

A scream ripped out of his throat before he even realized he was making a sound, his hands clawing at the floor as he scrambled backward, trying to get away from the touch, away from the sensation burning through him.

“Grian?” The voice was softer now, but still there. “Hey, it’s okay...”

He barely registered the words before he felt arms wrap around him, pulling him into a hug. They were trying to help, trying to ground him, but it only made things worse. Panic flooded him like a tidal wave, crashing down with suffocating force.

“STOP!! PLEASE, DON’T TOUCH ME!”

The hands let go instantly, and he collapsed to the floor, curling into himself, shaking uncontrollably. His mind was a whirlwind of terror and confusion, every nerve on high alert, screaming for safety, for space. He squeezed his eyes shut as tightly as he could, trying to block out everything, willing the world to disappear.

He didn’t know how long he stayed like that, curled up and trembling, but slowly, painfully, the panic began to ebb. His breathing, once ragged and shallow, steadied into something more even, though his body still shook with leftover tremors. His muscles ached from the tension. His skin felt too tight, raw and exposed.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he opened his tear-soaked eyes. The world came back into focus in blurry fragments. The floor, the scattered shards of the broken mug, and then, just beside him, crouched low and looking terrified, was Gem. She didn’t speak, but the worry and fear in her wide eyes said enough.

“Grian? Are you okay?” Gem asked gently, her voice soft and tentative, almost like she was afraid of scaring him further. “I—I’m sorry, I didn’t know touching you would cause that…”

For a moment, Grian said nothing. His heart was still racing, his mind still clouded with the echoes of panic. Slowly, he forced himself to rise to his feet, though his legs felt like jelly beneath him. Every movement felt heavy, like he was wading through thick fog.

“Grian?” Gem asked again, concern lacing her voice as she stood up beside him.

“I’m f-fine,” Grian mumbled, his voice hoarse and strained from the screaming. He tried to make it sound convincing, but the quiver in his words betrayed him. He wasn’t fine, not even close, but he had to be. He had to tell himself that he was. It was fine. Everything was fine.

The past didn’t hurt anymore. It couldn’t. What did she even have to be worried about? It was just a little panic attack. It wasn’t as if the memories still had claws in him. He was over it—he had to be. He didn’t need to drag her into that darkness, didn’t need to burden her with the weight of his past. She didn’t even know about it, so why complicate things?

“You aren’t fine…” Gem’s voice was soft, almost pleading, as she bent down and began picking up the larger pieces of the broken mug, carefully dropping them into the trash bin. “Please, talk to me.”

Grian’s throat tightened, an irritated hiss escaping before he could stop it. “It’s fine!” The words came out sharper than he intended, stinging his throat just like the cuts on his skin stung with every small movement. He clenched his fists, the shards of glass still littering the floor seeming to mock his fragile composure.

Gem frowned, clearly unconvinced. Her eyes drifted to the blood staining his jumper and the torn fabric where the glass had cut through. “Let me at least clean those cuts…”

Grian instinctively drew his wings closer to his body, folding them protectively around himself as if they could shield him from the world. His feathers quivered slightly, still on edge. The thought of anyone’s hands on him, even for something as innocent as cleaning his wounds, made his stomach churn with nausea. His skin crawled just imagining it, like tiny invisible needles pricking at him.

“I can do it myself,” he insisted, his voice tight and defensive. His wings bristled with tension, and his eyes flickered with a hint of panic. Even though he knew she meant well, the idea of letting someone touch him again, even to help, made him want to bolt from the room, to put as much distance between himself and anyone else as possible.

Gem paused, her expression a mixture of hurt and worry. She wanted to help—he could see that—but she also respected his boundaries. With a small sigh, she nodded, stepping back to give him space.

“Okay,” she whispered. “But if you need anything… I’m here.”

Grian didn’t respond, too lost in his own mind. His cuts stung fiercely, but that pain was easier to deal with than the roiling anxiety inside him. He kept his wings tightly folded, trying to convince himself that he didn’t need help, that he was fine—just like he always told himself. But deep down, even as he tried to convince himself otherwise, a small part of him wondered if he’d ever be fine again.

Gem had left, and Grian sat quietly in the dim light of his base, carefully cleaning his wounds. The antiseptic stung, but it was a manageable pain—something he could control. He wrapped the cuts with a piece of clean cloth, his hands trembling slightly, though whether from exhaustion or lingering anxiety, he couldn’t tell. He let out a shaky breath, trying to calm himself down. He didn’t need help. He didn’t.

But as the silence settled around him, the guilt crept in. He felt bad for pushing Gem away. She had only wanted to help, and instead of accepting it, he’d snapped at her. But he didn’t need her help. He didn’t need anyone’s help, right? He could handle it all himself, just like he always did—

The door creaked open again, pulling Grian from his thoughts. He looked up just as Gem stepped in, this time with Mumbo by her side. His heart gave a small lurch at the sight of him.

“Grian?” Mumbo’s voice was soft, filled with gentle concern, as he stepped forward, closing the distance between them.

Grian’s breath caught in his throat. He didn’t move, but his eyes tracked Mumbo’s every step, his body tensing slightly out of reflex. Then he saw Mumbo’s hand reach out, not too fast, not too forcefully, just a quiet offer of comfort. Grian felt the tightness in his chest loosen just a fraction, and with a small, almost imperceptible nod, he gave Mumbo permission to touch him.

Mumbo moved carefully, pulling Grian into a soft embrace, his arms wrapping around him in a way that was firm enough to offer comfort but never too tight, never suffocating. It was gentle, safe. Grian relaxed into it, his body melting against Mumbo’s warmth as if he could hide from the world for just a moment.

And then the floodgates broke.

The tears came slowly at first, warm and wet against Mumbo’s neck, but before long, Grian was crying in earnest. His sobs were muffled by the fabric of Mumbo’s shirt, his body trembling with each ragged breath. He pressed his face deeper into the crook of Mumbo’s neck, clutching at him as though letting go might shatter him completely. Mumbo’s arms tightened around him, still gentle but unwavering, grounding him in the present, offering a steadying force against the storm of emotion that had overtaken him.

Mumbo was one of the few people Grian had confided in about his past, about the things that still haunted him late at night. And when it weighed too heavily on him, Mumbo was always the first to come to his side, to offer comfort without needing to ask. The silent understanding between them meant everything in moments like this.

Grian had forgotten Gem was still there, standing quietly off to the side, her presence neither intrusive nor impatient. She watched, her expression soft with empathy, but she didn’t speak. This moment wasn’t for her. It was for Grian and Mumbo. She understood that.

And as Grian sobbed uncontrollably into Mumbo’s shoulder, all the sleepless nights, the panic attacks, the constant fear, and the memories he couldn’t shake came crashing down on him at once. The weight of everything pressed into him, suffocating, drowning him in a sea of overwhelming emotions. But in Mumbo’s arms, he let it all out—finally allowed himself to fall apart, knowing that he wouldn’t be judged for it.

Mumbo held him through it all, whispering quiet reassurances, his hand gently rubbing soothing circles on Grian’s back. The room was filled with the sound of Grian’s sobs, the heavy, ragged breathing as he let everything he’d been bottling up spill out in front of the only person he trusted enough to see him like this.

And for the first time in what felt like forever, Grian allowed himself to feel vulnerable, to stop pretending he was fine when he wasn’t. The weight was still there, but it was shared now, held up by someone who cared enough to carry it with him.

[vasyandii]

Hi love! Here I am again annoying you <3

For the OC ask game thingy:

4, 9, 10, 14, 23, 24

If you don't want to answer all of them you can just choose! <3

Yes hello hello!! Sorry it took so long for me to get to this ask ;0;;; I always want to make sure I include a lil thank you doodle so it took a while xD

(( The OC Ask Game as a refresher ))

4. When scared, does your OC fight, flee, freeze or fawn?

Despite prioritizing her own safety over others, Phayvanh is stubborn. If it comes to it, she's going to fight until she has an opening to run or until another person comes.

So.. kind of a mix of Fight AND Flee xD

9. Do you have a specific lyric or quote which you associate with your OC?

Oooh Definitely this one quote

“The dog that weeps after it kills is no better than the dog that doesn't. my guilt will not purify me.”

10. What's an AU that would be interesting to explore with your OC?

Ooooh boy. I have alot of Aus but here's a list of my favorites.

1. KruegerNak Fantasy Au where Nak is a Naga and Krueger is a Nachtkrapp (Night Raven)

2. Avatar Last Air Bender Au where Krueger is a Dai Li Agent, Nak is a Fire Nation Soldier

3. Boxing au!! Krueger is a Professional Boxer, Nak is a Professional Mauy Thai Fighter

4. This one Super cringe Ice Skating Au: Nak is in a women's Hockey team, Krueger is a figure skater

These are all Aus I want to explore more but never really have the time since it doesn't.. really fit with the military setting I like. But it's some I like thinking about!

14. How does your OC want to be seen by other characters?

She wants to be seen with improvement. That she's trying so hard to be better. Her words and actions have hurt people in the past and she wants to prove that she won't make the same mistakes again.

On a lighter note, she wants to be seen as girly. She really adores and admires women. She wants to dress pretty and be pretty like the women she looks up to (Syd, Iskra.. etc.) Because she didn't have the chance to be feminine back in Laos.

23. What emotion is the hardest for your OC to process? How about express?

Guilt and Grief. Nak is FILLED with guilt and grief.

The more she improves as a person the more she feels guilt for her actions in the past, she doesn't know if she is able to apologize because how could she? Would it be too late? Some of them are long dead so she can't apologize.

Guilt is an emotion she can explain, Grief isn't.

Grief is in her very core. Nak grieves for her mother for giving birth to her, for giving her up. So much so that Nak doesn't know why she feels like this, she misses and yearns for her mother so desperately. However Phayvanh doesn't believe she should be feeling this way, she doesn't deserve it. After all..

"How can someone miss a person they never knew? Touch? Seen? That person could not be real for all they know."

This is an emotion she doesn't express besides from finding mother figures in older women.

24. What is an alternative life path your OC might have gone down? How different would their life be if they'd made those decisions?

Her alternate life path would be controlling Naga's Drug trafficking Ring.

If Nak never fled Laos and took up Naga's family business she would most definitely be dead by now. Her temper and stubbornness would've run what her uncle built up to the ground. Naga knew that.

Joining Chimera was the best thing that could've ever happened to her.

Aaand thats all I can say for now, I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I did writing this :3

[kaziwi]

Hi, ◡̈⋆ʜᴇʟʟᴏ(●’◡’●)ﾉ!! (Is this how I request?)

Sorry if this sounds awkward, I was thinking of a Maui (from Moana) Reader (gender nuetral) being a demi-god. Any power (the shapeshipting etc.) can be up to you! I was thinking of a small oneshot (anythings fine really) that's similar to the song "you're welcome" in the movie, so like, Reader is stranded alone on the island, desperate to leave, they can't swim cuz the ocean hates them (curse from Te Fiti), and then they meet the Straw Hat Pirates, and either want to leave with the crew or just steal their whole ship. Something along the lines of that?

Hope you have a nice day!!

Hi! This was a interesting request, I hope you enjoy!!

Strawhats Save Stranded Reader

Character(s): Strawhats

WC: 392

Its been about 2 years since you've been stuck on this island, and you were getting desperate. You wanted to get off this island as soon as possible and go back to living your normal life as a demi-god. Your powers have grown weaker while you stayed on this island, and you just wished you were at full power again.

You were sitting on the beach, bored out of your mind, when you noticed a boat approaching. It was a big pirate ship with a lion head on the front. Its been so long since you've seen a ship you jumped up in joy, signaling them to stop here.

The ship's crew stopped on the island and went to greet you. You learned they were called the Strawhat Pirates and that they stopped here wondering if there was a village they could restock at. You told them no, but desperate to get them to stay, you said the island was full of resources that they could take. You decided not to tell them about your powers for now...just in case...

While a few members of the crew left to explore the island, you stayed back with the members that you learned to be Nami, Chopper, and Franky. You explained to them about how you were stranded here and you desperately needed to leave. They were sympathetic towards you and the big cyborg even started crying after hearing your story. They invited you to join them for dinner tonight, and you graciously accepted. While you were excited for dinner, another thought popped in your head, what if you stole their ship...it would be the perfect get away!

Later that night, you sat on the lawn of their ship, The Thousand Sunny, listening to one of the crew members, Usopp, tell a story about his 8,000 men. It was growing late, and you knew this would be the perfect time to use your demi-god powers to overpower them, when the captain, Luffy, turned to you.

"Nami told me about your problem, so how about you join us for awhile, we can drop you off at any island you want!!"

You looked at him shocked, even after knowing you for less than a day they offered to help you. You accepted excitedly and partied the rest of the night celebrating your escape from the island.

[foxes-that-run]

Have you done a Hunger analysis/can you do one

Hi, I haven't, I love that song though. So here it is:

Hunger

It is about Harry looking back on a relationship he is not over. It was leaked in 20 April 2022, the week he played Coachella. See 2022 timeline if you subscribe to the thought the leaks are timed.

When it was written is less important because it's quite reflective, but based on 'one year into two', if I had to guess, I think this song is from the first week of January 2017:

4 January 2013 - Blue dress on a boat

6 January 2015 - Harry and Taylor were ambiguously dating (and touring) since Valentine's Day 2014. Harry arrived in LA on the 2nd and neither was seen for a few days. Taylor posted this photo with 'This Love' Lyrics. Harry then reappeared. Things seemed tense at Lily Aldridge's birthday on the 19th and Taylor went to Maui with the Haim sisters while Harry stayed in LA. Taylor started dating Calvin a few weeks later.

6 January 2016 - Harry posted this photo of rain on a window. Out of the Woods MV was just released, it aired NYE 2015 in the same show as the last 1D TV appearance.

5 January 2017 - The leak Lately included that it was written on 5 January 2017, He flew to LA on the 6th. Lately was leaked on 6 January 2024. That is one year turning two from 2015:

Lyrics

Candles burnt down to the floor Wearing less than you wore before Shoes sitting by the door never put them on We would stay in my house for days Spilling breakfast on pillowcases Your stuff don’t taste the same Now that you’re gone

The first verse is reminiscing of the good times, of enjoying spending time together in a hedonistic way.

To me the first lines are on New Years Eve 2012 which Taylor also included in New Years Day "Candle wax and Polaroids on the hardwood floor / You and me from the night before". If written in January the shared NYE memory would have been timely.

I love the line "shoes sitting by the door" it sounds to me like they were to go out but stayed in to be together.

"Your stuff don't taste the same" to me is her music, especially Red and 1989, I imagine hearing them after they were actually over would hurt with how much the themes of 1989 especially are "built to fall apart and back together again"

I guess I’m prone to overthinking One thing goes wrong and I can’t adjust I’ve lost the taste for the good in us And I’m sorry

The second verse is talking about feeling sad that Harry wasn't able to keep the relationship and his engagement with it.

"Lost the taste for the good": reminds me of the Two Ghosts, "We're not who we used to be". Two Ghosts was written around Valentines Day 2015, soon after this break up. To Nick Grimshaw Harry said about it "sometimes things change, and you can do all the same things, and sometimes it’s just different, you know". I think this is a similar detached loss of connection, later to Zane Lowe Harry said he was 'just coasting.'

I think with more time for reflection this song has matured to see with regret why he lost the taste for the good in what he lost, which Two Ghosts doesn't get into.

"Prone to overthinking" is interesting, Harry seems like he would. He uses this word again in Grapejuice about Taylor, he acknowledges she worries about other girls and assures he doesn't want anyone else "You're always there, so don't overthink, I'm so over whites and pinks"

We had a hunger then only each other then Couldn’t get enough when we started Always a hunger then now it’s just emptiness We were in love, we were starving We had a hunger then

To me, the song title and chorus has a double meaning:

In the first half of the chorus Harry is singing about Hunger in the sense of an insatiable desire for each other. The bliss of a new relationship where you just want to be together all the time.

This ends with 'now there's just emptiness. He uses emptiness as an analogy for being emotionally depleted in Ever Since New York also "There's no water inside this swimming pool" and in Two Ghosts "We're just two ghosts swimming in a glass half empty"

I hear a second meaning with "we were in love, we were starving." The theme of the song is reflecting on where it went wrong, I think he is referring their mental health and wellbeing at the time as being a factor for why it didn't work out.

We could ruin a perfect night On my birthday I made you cry You told me you learned to drive I guess you lied I could never get sick of you I just bit off more than I could chew And as one year turns into two I’m still not over you, still not over you

As the song says, they are still not over each other.

You told me you learned to drive

This could be read two ways, as many anons have said to me today :)

Taylor used driving as a metaphor for their relationship in Treacherous and throughout 1989 and Harry did in Keep Driving. The line is saying that she told Harry they could make it work but she lied and they didn’t. I really like this interpretation, it reminds me of Fools Gold where he also called her a lair for him feeling like his commitment to their relationship wasn’t reciprocated

This reminds me of of a Gatsby quote Jordan says to Nick: “You said a bad driver was only safe until she met another bad driver? Well, I met another bad driver, didn’t I? I mean it was careless of me to make such a wrong guess. I thought you were rather an honest, straightforward person. I thought it was your secret pride.”

On my birthday I made you cry

Taylor also refers to this in Coney Island the male part sings "Were you standing in the hallway / With a big cake, happy birthday". Sadly there are options for this, I think the big cake is a metaphor for an special gift:

2015, he threw a big party with lots of famous people in LA just before he left for tour. After possibly break up 6 January, on the 17th Taylor shared a photo of her kitchen with the framed Temper Trap Lyrics on her stove, (below). She then went to Maui with the Haim sisters, on the 23rd - 30th (I wonder if Harry was meant to go). On Harry's birthday she was in Nashville.

2013 Taylor had Temper Trap write and sign the correct lyrics/Arm Lyrics/Tattoo and framed it for his birthday, but they broke up before she gifted it. She included it in the photo again in 2015. :( The blue dress on a boat was 4 January, however she was in London on the 21st and rumoured to see him. There were reports she had booked a week in Italy as well as other gifts. Harry had a wild 19th birthday with a £5k bar tab and strippers.

I could never get sick you

I hear "I could never get sick of you" as responding to something said directly to Harry. However, in November 2015 Taylor used those words to Vogue. It's an interesting comment that was foreshadowing the Reputation era. If this song was written in early 2017 it would have been the thick of that:

"I'll need to give people a certain breather from me because at a certain point they're going to get a little sick of hearing about me, so then I'll need to go away for a while and then depending on my gauge on how sick of me they are I'll decide when to put out the next album,"

I just bit off more than I could chew

I think this is the crux of it, Harry was quite young when they started dating and the One Direction schedule of a tour and album every year was intense. In his more recent interviews he's talked about mental health, and his band mates have also spoken about the toll it took on them. I think Harry was not available or ready to provide an older partner who was also anxious the support she was looking for. In his words in To be So Lonely, he "Wasn't ready for it all".

[pickles4nickles]

Rotating some ideas in my mind about doing some sketch commissions for charity 'cause the fires on Maui are hitting literally and figuratively extremely close to home.

I'm thinking they'd be for like Aloha United Way or Hawai'i Foodbank because I've known those two charities for forever and they've been vetted, so-

I'm not exactly sure how I'll go about them just yet, though, 'cause my spoons for all of this is kinda low but uhh if anyone is interested in something like that, here's a casual late night interest check.

[elijones94]

🌺🌸 Moana and two palm leafs 🌴🌊

[dankusner]

OBITUARY

KRIS KRISTOFFERSON

Country music superstar, A-list Hollywood actor

LOS ANGELES — Kris Kristofferson, a Rhodes scholar with a deft writing style and rough charisma, died Saturday.

He was 88.

The country music superstar and A-list Hollywood actor died at his home on Maui, Hawaii, family spokeswoman Ebie McFarland said in an email.

McFarland said Kristofferson died peacefully, surrounded by his family.

No cause was given.

Starting in the late 1960s, the Brownsville native wrote such classics standards as “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down,” “Help Me Make it Through the Night,” “For the Good Times” and “Me and Bobby McGee.”

While Kristofferson was a singer, many of his songs were best known as performed by others, whether Ray Price crooning “For the Good Times” or Janis Joplin belting out “Me and Bobby McGee.”

He also starred opposite Ellen Burstyn in director Martin Scorsese’s 1974 film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore , starred opposite Barbra Streisand in the 1976 A Star Is Born and acted alongside Wesley Snipes in Marvel’s Blade in 1998.

Kristofferson, who could recite William Blake from memory, wove intricate folk music lyrics about loneliness and tender romance into popular country music.

With his long hair and bell-bottomed slacks and counterculture songs influenced by Bob Dylan, he represented a new breed of country songwriters along with such peers as Willie Nelson, John Prine and Tom T. Hall.

“There’s no better songwriter alive than Kris Kristofferson,” Nelson said during a November 2009 award ceremony for Kristofferson held by BMI.

“Everything he writes is a standard, and we’re all just going to have to live with that.”

He was a Golden Gloves boxer and football player in college, received a master’s degree in English from Merton College at the University of Oxford in England and turned down an appointment to teach at the Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., to pursue songwriting in Nashville. Hoping to break into the industry, he worked as a part-time janitor at Columbia Records’ Music Row studio.

At times, the legend of Kristofferson was larger than real life. Johnny Cash liked to tell a mostly exaggerated story of how Kristofferson, a former Army pilot, landed a helicopter on Cash’s lawn to give him a tape of “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down” with a beer in one hand.

Over the years in interviews, Kristofferson said with all respect to Cash, while he did land a helicopter at Cash’s house, the Man in Black wasn’t even home at the time, the demo tape was a song that no one ever actually cut and he certainly couldn’t fly a helicopter holding a beer.

In a 2006 interview with The Associated Press, he said he might not have had a career without Cash.

“Shaking his hand when I was still in the Army backstage at the Grand Ole Opry was the moment I’d decided I’d come back,”

Kristofferson said. “It was electric. He kind of took me under his wing before he cut any of my songs. He cut my first record that was record of the year. He put me on stage the first time.”

In 1973, he married fellow songwriter Rita Coolidge and together they had a successful duet career that earned them two Grammy awards.

They divorced in 1980.

He retired from performing and recording in 2021.

Sinéad O’Connor slams old pal Kris Kristofferson for toxic masculinity

Sinéad O’Connor – aka Magda Davitt, or Shuhada’ Sadaqat – is back on Twitter with a vengeance these days and has since shut down her account.

Over the weekend, Sinéad sent out a number of pleas from County Wicklow regarding her missing 14-year-old son Shane, who thankfully was found safe and sound on Monday morning.

Even the police got involved, and when Shane was found “safe and well,” Sinéad tweeted “alhamdulillah,” Arabic for “praise be to God.” (You’ll remember that she converted to Islam last year.)

The 52-year-old Sinéad also let the world know about a long-ago fling with the singer/actor Kris Kristofferson, who’s now 82.

A fan of Sinéad’s on Twitter shared the true story of how Kristofferson came to Sinéad’s aid in the days after she shredded a photo of the Pope on "Saturday Night Live" in 1992, and faced the wrath of an angry nation afterward.

Not long after, Sinéad was one of the featured performers at a Bob Dylan tribute concert at Madison Square Garden, and the crowd booed lustily.

Kristofferson was sent to the stage by the organizers to take the visibly upset Sinéad off, but instead, he told her not to let the “bastards get you down.”

So with Kristofferson’s words of encouragement, she continued, singing a capella about injustice and war, and he was the first one onstage afterward to give her a hug.

The aforementioned fan, Audra Williams, shared the story on Twitter in the context of the new Gillette ad that’s whipped up so much debate.

Williams tweeted, “The recent Gillette ad has started/furthered a lot of conversations about what alternatives to toxic masculinity look like. This is it.” Underneath the tweet was a photo of Sinéad being comforted by Kristofferson onstage during the Dylan show.

Sinéad, using her @magdadavitt77 handle, offered her take on the fan’s opinion and it was pretty surprising, not to mention crass.

“I would not agree Kris wasn’t toxically masculine. He took full advantage when he got the chance and then immediately turned nasty once…” and we won’t go on given that we’re a family site.

She ended the quote with the hashtag #NoHeroOfMine.

Sinéad further elaborated on Monday morning.

“In case my use of the words ‘took advantage’ [in] an earlier tweet might be misconstrued I wish to make clear that in no way, shape or form was I in any way sexually assaulted by Kris Kristofferson. And that the one time we did have sex, it was consensual.”

Sinéad seems to have made quite an impression on Kristofferson.

He wrote a song 10 years ago called “Sister Sinéad” in which he called her a “bald-headed, brave little girl.” Guess the feeling isn’t mutual.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

I woke up this morning and wore my Ohana hat from a store in Hanalei in the house where I'm staying off Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. Ohana means family in Hawaiian, and I'm not talking bloodline, though of course it also means bloodline.

I woke up this morning and tried to reach my friend Kat again who lives up country in Maui because they don't have water or electricity and I did not hear from her yet.

I woke up this morning missing Conor and Mika. Last time I returned to Kauai from Los Angeles, five year old Conor asked me what it was like to miss me.

It makes me wonder why as adults we go so long without wondering. How we decide so much before we ask questions.

I went to get a coffee at Erewhon in Pacific Palisades, a health food store where Margaret Cho cut in front of me in line two days ago to order her post workout protein drink with her entourage.

I got into the checkout line and my cashier was a beautiful American Indian man with a moon face and long gray hair to his shoulders and gentle eyes, and he asked me if I was a member of the store.

No, I don't live here, I said, I'm not a member.

Where do you live?

Hawaii.

When I spoke Hawaii, he stopped what he was doing - put my groceries down and reached across the counter for both my hands. His fingers were ringed with turquoise and silver.

He asked me if I was alright.

Yes, I don't live on Maui, I said, but...well, of course I have friends who do, and no - nobody is really alright there at all.

Right there, in the middle of a store on Sunset Blvd. with peonies and sunflowers and eucalyptus leaves in extravagant bouquets, with six kinds of exotic mushrooms and every kind of fresh sushi and nut milk ever made - a place where a protein drink is named after Hailey Bieber -

he blessed me - and everyone on Maui.

I felt a warmth rush through me, and all of humanity between us - the women buying the $300 t-shirts next door and the homeless man with the matted hair being followed by security last night.

The American Indians who have so much suffering in their DNA, they know what a Land Grab is, they know how the government conspires to take and not serve the people...

His name was Joseph and he blessed me, and in blessing me and the people of Maui, he also blessed you - you who are reading this. Whatever illness you are healing from, whatever pain you have endured, whatever laughter and joy you grab when you can and savor....

his blessing was also meant for you.

I'm helping a dear friend heal from an injury and teaching and hiking and weeping and writing and listening to stories about home, because that's our topic in the writing group - love of home.

Los Angeles is not my home anymore - Hawaii has been for fifteen years, but the Santa Monica canyon and Will Rogers park live inside of me, and always will.

Each morning I walk the dogs and take in the morning sage.

Each night I walk the dogs again and listen to the owls talk to each other across the canyon.

Each night I stay up late on my computer learning what I can do to help Maui.

[...]

I'm sure somebody close to you needs help. Sometimes all we need to do is cook for someone and share a meal and pick up groceries, or share a story.

Even take out their trash.

Let's give and give to each other until it's a way of life again. I promise you it will create a ripple wave that will reach as far as Maui, and create the feeling of Ohana all over the world.

Yesterday on Abbott Kinney, I stood in front of a gallery window staring at this painting of The Last Supper by Johan Andersson. I took a photo of it, when a family walked in between me and the painting - they paused.

We all discussed what it meant. At the table is someone snorting drugs, an exhausted mother not paying attention to her baby, a prison inmate, two people making out - someone with a machine gun.

Finally, the mother in the group looked at me and sighed.

It means Jesus loves all of us, she said.

Yep - All of us, I echoed.

Take someone's hands today you love and pass the blessing on.

[...]

To honor all the houseless people on Maui today, and all over the world, I give you this last stanza of a Mary Oliver poem - "On Losing a House."

Goodbye, house. Goodbye, sweet and beautiful house, we shouted, and it shouted back, goodbye to you, and lifted itselfdown from the town, and set offlike a packet of clouds acrossthe harbor’s sandy ring, the tossing bell, the untowned point— and turned lightly, wordlessly, into the keep of the wind where it floats still— where it plunges and rises still  on the black and dreamy sea.

-Laura Lentz

[kingrosalani]

On Thursday I got my mama’s finger print tatted as the shell of a sea turtle.

My mother ADORED sea turtles so so much. We have little sea turtle things all around the house because every Christmas I made sure to gift her something with a sea turtle involved.

My mom loved honu for many reasons.

It reminded her of the beach, of her home Maui, but it also reminded her of her late brother, my uncle Robert, who passed in 2009. He had this huge honu tattooed on his back. It was a beautiful tattoo. They would talk on the phone all the time, late at night over here for our Iowa time, for hours. Losing a sibling is hard and I know that personally.

The honu represents so much in Hawaiian culture to luck, guardian, protection and wisdom.

My mother was my comfort and my guide through life. My plus one. My number one. She will always be my guide and it doesn’t feel like she’s truly gone.

There are moments where I just know what she’d say or do. It’s really bittersweet.

Thank you so so much Amberly and Warrior Tattoo for giving me this tattoo. I love it more and more everyday and it’s so special. Can’t wait for warmer weather so I can show it off more.

[kaimukiwahine]

Donations at the state Capitol. Though it doesnt look like a lot, this is just a small percent. Three floors plus the basement was packed room to room with donations. The Chamber had a wall full of boxes by volunteers who worked the late night shift last night.

So many donations came in yesterday they had to halt accepting more and now the cost to ship them is more than the goods themselves.

Please still continue to donate or support to the Maui community. The fire is still burning out there. People are still missing. Survivors still haven't set foot back at what was and still is their home to start the grieving to healing process.

[kmp78]

JL over worked. All those festivals, jet lag, tour launch, stunt and interviews. He just doesn’t wanna touch ig these days. I’m not sarcastic btw, he did work lately

If this was the 1st time he went conveniently mute, your argument might be slightly more believable. 😉

Kinda like when he and VK went to Maui and he foolishly posted that selfie from their suite...

...but unfortunately didn't realize it was way too easy for Yours Truly to break the code... 🧐

... so the very next day he switched on his panicky but adorable "MAYDAY MAYDAY SOS!!!" damage control initiative. ⚠️😂

And for some reason he never posted a dang thing from Maui again. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Lucky for us his girlfriend constantly did tho. 😂

Mmmmmm... brekkieeeeee... ☕️🍌🥭🥯🥞🧀🧈

It's important to fuel up after an activity-filled night. 🫠

[ppangjae]

omg hi akskkskjskskks how have you been, alex? sooo, i've re read ALL of your works for the 127th time in the last three days, as the mentally insane person that i am aaaand i found it cute that you've inserted cute lil things like ice cream (ah yes the good old pistachio and cookies & cream), long eyelashes, jungwoo being the best cupid (and a few like that but honestly i can't even remember rn TT i was giggling while listing out all of those lil things @ 3 am last night tho) have a as snippets in almost all your works TT

nostalgia hit hard when i was reading the older fics 🥲 i can't quite remember but the first one that i've read of yours was either planet girl/seven letters, and you've written alot of masterpieces since then and i'm so proud of you TT you're my favorite writer in the whole damn universe ngl (that was cheesy but i mean it) aaaand ily akskkakalakjska do you have any book recommendations?? i'm aching to find good books but the modern romance books that i've come across make me feel like i hate romance (when i'm a literally a hopeless romantic) 😩

aaaand i really hope that you're doing great! (would love to hear about what's going on in your life cause i'm nosy) and how's your dog (...i forgot his name but what i didn't forgot is, how cute he was! i feel like the name starts with m...) and sorry for going on and on 🤡 i just felt like it wouldn't be fair not rambling about how much i love your works after re reading all of those masterpieces. have a good day!

hi love! i've been doing well! just super busy with life lol how have you been?

yes i love having cute little details. i'm not sure why but i always pick jungwoo as the cupid—there's just something about him that's giving cupid or like the matchmaker friend kjsdhdf and yes! jaehyun's long eyelashes! they are honestly my favourite little thing about him.

hehe yeah, i read my old fics from time to time. it was the time during covid and i had nothing to do with all the free time i had jkshfdf honestly, i look back and reminisce those times because i was so motivated and i was always writing when i had the time. but nowadays i've been struggling to find the time to write, which is kind of sad lol because there are so many ideas i have occupying my brain but i just don't have the time to sit down and write it :(

book recommendations! i haven't been reading lately but my all time favourite romance books are from emily henry hehe 'people we meet on vacation' is hands down my favourite romance book I WOULD HONESTLY RE-READ IT that's just how much i love it

and my dog! you remembered! his name is maui hehe, he turned three last month! he's a spoiled kid because my parents and i love him so much lol.

in regards to what's going on in my life, there's not much LOL. my boyfriend and i are reaching our first anniversary next month! i'm super happy and excited.. i already got my gifts for him :') also it's weird how we're only reaching one year of being together when we've known of and danced around each other for years (literally since i was still in high school.. but that's another story for next time if you're interested lol) but that's my life update! lol my life is so boring sjkdhf

thank you for dropping by love! i love getting asks from yall because i genuinely love catching up and seeing if everyone's keeping well hehe

[lehuablossom]

“On the fateful morning of December 8, 1941, the future of the island of Kaho’olawe would be forever changed. The day prior, when Japanese bombers emptied their payloads on the warships stationed at Pearl Harbor, they set in motion a chain of events that would eventually lead to Martial Law being declared in all of Hawaii.

One of the acts of that Martial Law was that Kaho’olawe was immediately controlled as a target island for bombing. The location, it’s said, was perfect for a military training to fight a new kind of enemy in the Pacific. Over the course of World War II—and 45 years that would follow—thousands of bullets, mortars and bombs would deplete the little topsoil remaining on the already eroded island.

Of all the bombing on Kaho’olawe, none is more infamous than the series of bombings in 1965. Collectively known as “Operation Sailor Hat,” the blasts contained 500 tons of explosives meant to simulate a nuclear bomb. Warships were anchored immediately offshore, and the purpose of the tests was to determine how a blast of a nuclear-strength would affect a U.S. warship. There was no radiation involved in the tests—although the strength of the blasts on the island’s coast resulted in a crater over 280 feet in diameter.

Known today as the “Sailor Hat Crater,” the crater now houses an anchialine pool that’s home to ‘opae’ulashrimp found mainly in brackish ponds.Throughout the bombing of Kaho’olawe, it’s safe to say that not everyone was pleased with what was taking place on the island. For many of Hawaii’s Native Hawaiians, the bombing of such an historic and sacred place was a desecration of Hawaiian culture. In addition to the strafing and pillaging of the Earth, 1,000 years of archaeology was literally disappearing from the face of the Earth with every payload dropped.

Which is why, in highly publicized political events meant to draw attention to the island, demonstrators with the Protect Kaho’olawe Ohana placed themselves ashore in 1976. Because the island was Federal property and the site of unexploded ordnance, no civilians were allowed to access the island at any time. On the morning of January 5th, however, nearly 100 protesters departed from Ma’alaea harbor en route to Kaho’olawe. It didn’t take long for U.S. Coast Guard boats to intercept the majority of protestors, but one boat carrying nine of the protesters was able to reach the shore. By afternoon, seven of the protestors were apprehended and released back on Maui, although two were able to survive for two nights before eventually turning themselves in.

A year later, in 1977, the political battle for Kaho’olawe would take a deadly turn. While en route to pick up two protestors who had been ashore for 35 days, three protestors by the names of George Helm, Kimo Mitchell, and unrelated Billy Mitchell, were stranded on the island when their rescue boat was mysteriously damaged on Maui. With only two surfboards between the three of them, Billy Mitchell turned back for help when he realized the currents were too strong. Tragically, the plea for help would come too late, and George Helm and Kimo Mitchell were never seen again.”

[sadiri-castillo30]

Haunted Hawaii

Finally reached Maui where I've found what I consider the most intriguing stories to write about in my quest to find first hand experiences in paranormal activities, being a foreigner (Hao'le) in these islands, getting the locals to talk you is a bit challenging, especially if it’s about beliefs and culture of these sacred islands, but my listings in the ads in local newspaper with the promise of cash incentive for their story got me some promising leads my name is Richard Jameson writer and author of many books of the paranormal but this will be my first which I will entitle "Haunted Hawaii".

Walking up Keoki's unpaved driveway in a place called Happy Valley felt eerie maybe it was my mixed emotions towards my phone call with before planning my visit, it was in his voice being that Keoki was a bit shaken up still from his encounter which was few weeks earlier. "White lady” he said it was name given by people who encountered her but it never restricted to Maui alone but throughout the Hawaiian island chain, she was never thought of a threat or harm to those met her but she gave a lasting impression to her stooges. It was a night no different from any other Keoki was driving home alone from Iao Valley around 11pm after dropping off a friend it was the usual being that he has done this countless times, till he saw her standing on the side of the road, kind of odd for a woman being out so late at night on a lonely road wearing a white dress or gown of all things with white hair and few strands of black mixed in, Keoki couldn't really see her face being her hair covered most of it, he slowly passed at first but being taught at young age to lend help to anyone who might need a hand especially a Kūpuna (elder) so he stop and circled back to asked if she was ok or needed a ride home, the nearest house in the area she was at least a ½ a mile away so it the logical thing to do for any concern citizen to another to give assistance. She got in the passenger seat, he tried to look at her face in subtle way maybe he would recognize her being that Maui is a small Island where locals tend to know one another, but to no avail so he tried to just focus on his driving, but she did ask for a cigarette which he gladly handed her one. The old lady lit her cigarette and began smoking but kept silent as if she savored every puff , Keoki tried to make small talk asking her name, family name , where she going? but still no answer, as Keoki paid more attention to road contemplating where to drop off his mysterious passenger, smoked filled the whole car she didn’t even bother in rolling her windows down and he was afraid of asking her to he didn’t want to offend her. But rolled the driver window side instead but as the smoke rushed out from the smoke filled car Keoki had felt a cold chill pass through him giving him (chicken skin) Goosebumps and as he thought to look back to talk more to her she was gone, vanished in thin air, she was gone! Keoiki tried to gather himself didn't know what to think of what he just experienced, was it a dream? Was she a figment of his imagination? Ghost? But one thing for sure he sped done out of there doing 90 miles per hour and he wished he could’ve gone faster if not for the winding roads. The following morning he tried to forget what happened the night before but can't seem to let it pass so he said told some of his friends and most of them laughed made fun of him saying he was lucky, and best explanation of it all had a familiar tone to it all he encounter madam Pelé (Hawaiian Fire Goddess, White Lady, Old Lady) and he was fortunate he took the time to entertain her because those who didn't met some unfortunate demise like an accident, sickness or death. I thank Keoki for taking the time to tell me his story of the infamous character giving me my first entry to my book, and asked if he had any other scary stories to tell beside the one he had just given but ended it, he left me hanging out to dry and I wanted more. I reluctantly walked down the driveway but I felt hopeful that I will get to listen and write about more stories on my short stay here, I say short because it’s costing me a fortune being in paradise.

Two days went by without a hitch mainly because the next story I was getting was coming from a group of teenagers and they weren't allowed by their parents to meet me unless it's over the weekend, because they didn’t want my interview to interfere with school work, it was ironic because these boys didn’t look the type of students who made the honor roll. The incident happened on a school night while these boys took a short cut at a Heiau(sacred temple/site) above a community called Hawaiian homes and the only reason they put themselves it that predicament was they were somewhat delinquents so I was told by one of their hanai(foster) parent, I'll disclose giving out their names simply acknowledging them as the boys( Hawaiian names are long anyway). Well they finally made it to our meeting which was at a park right across from the home of one of the boys, with the watchful eye of some neighbors. The story goes, It began with a late afternoon walk going home after playing hookie (truancy) all day which they often did as a group and losing track of time and seeing street lights come on was a bad sign of being in trouble they were already late and due for lickens( spanking) in Hawaiian. Well someone had the brilliant idea of instead of walking the normal route suggested they do a short cut through the Heiau(sacred area) in which everyone reluctantly agreed, even though it was forbidden to do so and that it’s the worst place to be at night mainly because out of respect of Hawaiian culture don’t ever walk in sacred areas, you might trample or stumble on sacred bones of kings that might has been buried in that area. They weren't even in 100 yards into this place till they heard it, beating drums, than they saw it, what looked like fire torches cared by above average sized human figures, which stopped all of them in their tracks each boy froze because they heard about it before but never in a million dreams they thought they would encounter the Hawaiian Night Marchers and they all knew what to do. Lie down and not look upon their faces and stay still till they pass because to look at these warriors who protect sacred land meant death it seemed like hours pass till their ordeal was over, they laughed at the incident mainly because most of them peed in their pants. I'm glad these boys made it home safely to give account of their experience but repeating their actions to cross through sacred land is no more, lesson learned the hard way. I asked if they had nightmares because of the incident but they said “not da kine that would you shi-shi your pants” (wet) and the laughed some more. Well I thank them and off I went to find my next story, it’s hard to believe the story leaving me a little skeptical the account but because my respect towards culture and beliefs of this sacred island maybe just maybe it did really happened but its good writing material I plan to still used it in my book anyways.

The next day I met Dave, not a local but a (Haole) foreigner like me, he contacted me through a friend of a friend with have them in common, and we are both from the Bay area, San Francisco to be exact. We agreed to meet over coffee and I can say MacDonald’s has better drinks than the over price coffee shops around and near my hotel. Dave sat across me and we had a quick introduction before we got started and it all did when he placed a shoe size box on the table. I didn’t know what to think at first, I began to ask myself what’s with the box? Is there bones in it? Is it some kind of old relic? I gave him that impression of being little frustrated guessing what is in it talking to myself so he blurted out “it’s a lava rock” but not just any other rock this one was cursed he explained. Where did you get? “On a tour up Haleaakala” he said as He began to give an account of where and how it came to in his possession. Dave and his wife Brenda signed up to watch the sunrise above the largest (sea level wise) longest dormant volcano in Hawaii or world, and their experience was breathtaking to see the sunrise was one of highlights on their trip. They were also allowed to take some pictures along the crater of the volcano walking around the area Brenda picked up a lava rock with a lots of holes running through it, the natural formation of the rock designed by nature made it alluring to her and she wanted it, then she remembered the rules given by their guide before there tour and that was not take anything rocks, flowers or anything that the stumble upon on the Volcano because its considered sacred to the Hawaiians, so basically you can look but no touching for that matter. Going down the mountain and back to hotel is where she confessed what she did and to Dave he admitted at that time it was no big deal it’s just a rock and it made a decorative paper weight for her home office, but boy was they wrong. The following day the couple got into a freak accident with the rental car when it slammed into a guardrail on the Pali road and the cause according to Dave is it simply ran out brakes, he couldn’t stop so he ran the car through the rail. Because of the accident their vacation was cut short and they went back home. Back in San Francisco Brenda was home a lot her office was there which she placed her precious as an addition to decorate her desk area and immediately weird things started happening she hear strange noises like chanting of some sorts language she couldn’t understand, books would fall from the selves, she felt like someone is in the room with her, it happened so often that every time she’d tell Dave about he would just tease her about it saying her mind is playing tricks on her. Brenda was so traumatized that it drove mad even to the point her health deteriorated lack of sleep, not eating and depressed because no one believed her, than it went after Dave next he said one night he stayed up late and saw the light in his wife’s office flickering so he went to see what was going on and the moment he stepped near her desk some kind of entity picked him up by throat and threw him across the floor and he realized none of this happened before until that rock came into their lives.

The next morning he called the tour company and confessed to their sin about taking the rock when forbidden to do so and asked what to do and they advised to bring the lava rock back because maybe Madam Pele (fire goddess) wants it back. At that’s the reason he is sitting across me that day he flew thousand miles to bring the rock back with an offering so that the curse would be lifted, but Dave said the moment he took the rock out from his home it’s like something was lifted no more voices or weird events it all stopped since. I think this was the first story sent chills down my back and I hope my readers will have the same experience reading it, but the downside it came from a haole (foreigner) it might lose credibility I wish it came from a local, again with all I gathered so far none really stood out except Dave’s story because it’s the only story that someone actually got hurt, maybe Hawaii paranormal are friendly if you play by their rules, do this or don’t do this you’ll live, I’m becoming a little skeptical if I should write this book based on Hawaii ghosts let alone giving it the title “Haunted Hawaii” if there is no real haunting not just friendly who hitch rides and beat drums.

That night I went back to my room tired hoping there were more real stories like Dave’s, so I laid down slept early, than I woke up to the hotel room door opening I opened my eyes to look seeing it a jarred I told myself maybe I forgot close it and I’ll shut it later, but then I saw her silhouette a dark shadowy figure and what seems like she was floating towards me, I wanted to shout but I couldn’t, I wanted to get up and run but I couldn’t, I couldn’t even move, trying my best move an inch but it felt like I was pinned by a strong entity I was desperate and I didn’t where she went my eyes scanned the room it was the only thing that could move looking for her she was gone, (so I thought) till I look towards the ceiling there she was hovering over me, eyes bloody red, mouth opened and not only couldn’t I not move this time I felt like she was sucking the life out of me I was having a hard time breathing I asked myself is this how I’m going to die? Killed by a entity? Did I ask for this? Was it because I said I don’t believe in Hawaiian ghost? Was she here to make herself real to me? I screamed in my mind okay I believe now please let me live! And suddenly just when I was about to give in to my demise, she vanished and whatever feeling had before like being tied down by a supernatural force was a all gone, I didn't sleep well after my trauma I couldn't wait till the sun came up to haul my ass out of my hotel room, jump on a plane and go back home, which it did.

My conclusion to my whole trip was this, I believe when you go chasing after the supernatural looking for ways to entertain your readers be careful! not only are inviting them into your presence but its like you've become their connection to our world, door way so to speak and have then you have audacity to deny they even exist, well your asking for trouble. What happened to me in my last night in Maui is as example of just that, all the demons i made connection with came to my room to make it clear they do exit and they are not to be messed with.

#ghoststories #goosebumps #chickenskin #nightmarchers #whitelady #madampele