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 Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2024 5:11 pm
It had been years since Nanami had stepped foot on Kahi sands. The islands were just as beautiful as she remembered, the pearly white beaches glistening in the sunlight while the crystal clear waters showed all of the vibrant reefs stretching out towards the horizon. While she had been raised in the deeper caves the beaches of the Hapuna were ones that she was familiar with thanks to her childhood visits to her friend, Mina. It was these beaches that she wanted to explore with her children while they waited for Noelani’s return from visiting Kiros with her mother, the farewell to her grandmother being the main reason that they had finally ventured so far away from Matori after so many years away.
“Well…what should we do today?” They had already spent a couple of days at a smaller inn along the port city, the rooms thankfully spacious to hold all of the family. Noelani’s father was taking a break from watching over the children, the Matori resting in a room while Nanami stayed behind today to keep an eye on everyone while the others gathered together in Kiros to spend a final day together with Quiana. After today they would be going further into Kahi, to see the area where the Kawena lived and finally see Nanami’s own family….as terrifying as that thought was.
[Nanami 1]
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2024 5:11 pm
“There’s always the restaurant or just playing on the beach.” Mused Zoicite, the teen walking alongside of his mother as he kept an eye on all of the sights while peeking towards his siblings at random. Since his grandfather was resting the young teen felt like it was his responsibility to try and keep his younger siblings in line even though they truly weren’t that far apart in age. The younglings were almost preteens now, fully capable of fending for themselves even though the family worried over them. It was hard not to with Kailani at least because of how shy and backwards she was, even now she was clinging to her Zoicite’s hand and scurrying to catch up whenever she did get distracted by all of the vibrant colors surrounding them. Matori was an ocean country, but this place somehow was so much brighter with an ocean that was so clear it was hard to believe it was truly water! Even Zoicite couldn’t blame her for being so easily distracted for once.
[Zoicite 1]
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2024 5:12 pm
Kailani held onto her brother’s hand, a lifeline in this strange place with so many things that she had never seen before. Her rainbow skirts rustled as she walked, the ruffles floating as the ocean breeze picked up at random to brush past them and even it was different since the air felt warm instead of chilly like the one in Matori. Matori was normally warm but even the ocean breeze was a bit cool unlike the warm air that continued to cling to her skin and tempt her into the water. Surely the water was a lot cooler, right? Her own stomach was a knot of nerves so that the idea of eating was not her first pick, the girl actually making a face at the idea before blushing as she realized her expression slipped. “Maybe…playing first?” She whispered quietly, glancing around her siblings before pressing closer to Zoicite’s side. “The water is really pretty here.” Kailani managed to explain in her soft voice before hiding once more.
[Kailani 1]
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Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2024 8:24 pm
Raffrdeigh was star struck as she walked with her family. The islands were so bright and lush, and the water was so clear! She couldn't get enough of the view. The moment she had stepped foot off of the boat at port, the teen had felt like she was home... She'd begged off to explore on her own every chance she'd gotten, but had promised that she would spend more time with the family today. It wasn't that she disliked spending time with the group, of course. She just liked doing things on her own more.
"I'm always good to see the beach," she offered. Exploring the reefs and shallow caves was an unending delight for her. Of course, she tossed a look back at her little siblings and sighed. The smaller twins were such opposites from their older counterparts. It wouldn't matter what they did; the littles would remain terrified. "Maybe we could fit in some shopping, too? I need some souvenirs before we leave."
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Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2024 8:32 pm
Trailing behind Nanami with one hand clutching her clothes, Gin Ae had his eyes down to inspect a rock he had found on their way out of the inn. It was certainly an interesting color... and safer to look at than any passersby. His head ducked even further as Nanami asked for ideas. He clutched tighter to the rock and Nanami's clothes, and was silent for a long moment. Despite his shyness, he really did want to see more of this strange land. "Quiet.." he offered as softly as his twin had spoken. As per usual, his vote involved finding someplace quiet and devoid of anyone outside of the immediate family.
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Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2024 7:06 pm
Nanami listened to her children, the kawena as attentive as usual. Her biggest challenge was trying to find an activity that would allow them to all stay together, the scholar realizing it would be harder to find times like these whenever they returned to Matori and she went back to work. She was just thankful that they finally got to experience her homelands with her. She had partly wondered if such a thing would ever happened together with the whole family and yet here they were, Ami taking her time as she soaked in all the familiar sights and enjoyed the moment. "Since we'll be staying at the inn in town tomorrow there will be some time in the morning to do things. Why not enjoy the beach while the weather is nice? We can wander towards town this afternoon for a bit of shopping and do our final shopping in the morning." They could get food then and see whatever shops or merchant stalls would be ready for them, the once smaller port town having grown over the past decade since more earthlings had started sailing this way for trades and the like. It was the one change that had startled her the most, the previously quiet streets more rambunctious than ever before with the bustle of busy traders as they moved through town and welcomed all travelers who walked the streets. Even the inn that they were staying at was fairly new, the rooms spacious with wide windows revealing an oceanside view built specifically to appeal to travelers who wanted to see the scenery while resting there for a few days. That one she wasn't complaining about as much, it was definitely an upgrade from the musty rooms that she remembered while waiting for the next ship to arrive at the docks before. This time their experience was much different thanks to the many changes in town, even their ship was more comfortable than the one she had taken to Matori so many years ago.
Oh! But that did make her think of the creatures they had barely glimpsed on the way across the inlet when their boat had first arrived here. The brightly colored and striped Paka’kona were always something Nanami enjoyed watching, the creatures skimming across the surface of water with the younger ones even daring to jump through the waves as the group swam past. They hadn't gotten the best glimpse of them while on the ship but if she remembered correctly there was a perfect spot on the nearby cliffs where they could watch for them. "Do you remember the Paka'kona I tried to point out?" Nanami asked the group as she continued along the beach, the kawena navigating closer to the water so that they could play around a bit. "After shopping this afternoon why not pick up some food for a picnic? We can watch the sunset from the nearby cliffs and keep an eye out for some Paka'kona when they emerge for the evening." For now though she glanced over her youngest two, her voice warm as she encouraged them. "It'll be alright even when we shop, I'll be with you." She promised with a small smile. "For now though let's just play along the beach. Look at all the shells over there. Aren't they pretty?"
[Nanami 2]
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Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2024 7:25 pm
So it seemed like they would be spending the morning at the beach. Zoicite nodded, the teen looking across at the sparkling sands before glancing back at his siblings with amusement. They definitely were opposites, weren't they? All he could do was gently release Kailani's hand, urging her towards the shells that their mother pointed out. "If you collect enough pretty ones I'm sure it'll be fun to make some jewelry later. We can find some thread and wires in town when we shop." He knew she loved crafting things, the girl preferring a quiet activity to going anywhere loud and avoiding town as often as she could like Gin Ae did too. Hopefully giving them a goal when they went shopping later could help them from feeling overwhelmed, their focus on locating crafting goods and less on the crowd surrounding them. Still, the fact that Raffrdeigh mentioned shopping made Zoicite grin mischievously towards his sister, poking at her for the idea even though he would like to bring home some pieces as well. "Souvenirs? Is there someone special in mind that we don't know about?"
"Do you think we'll actually see some Paka'kona?" Though his teasing didn't last long as his Makuahine mentioned the ocean creatures. Instead he looked towards Nanami with interest making his gaze brighten. He had only caught a glimpse of their fins as they disappeared beneath the waves last time and Zoicite was eager to see the creatures again. They reminded him of the dolphins that played around in Matori but were much more vibrant and calmer as they glided across the ocean. Though the younger ones apparently jumped at times, playing around in the waves, based on what their Makuahine had told them. "I don't mind climbing some cliffs and watching the ocean if we can see them." That would be such a cool memory, if so!
[Zoicite 2]
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Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2024 7:36 pm
Even though the idea of making jewelry and seeing Paka'kona made Kailani's heart skip a bit with excitement, the girl was still wary of everything. Everything was so bright and beautiful here but eventually they would have to return to town which was crawling with strangers. Just the memory of all those Kahi crowding around them to greet them brought a shiver down her spine, Kailani instinctively moving towards Gin Ae for comfort once Zoicite let go of her hand. They were nice and all, but it was really overwhelming to have so much attention all at once. The beach was a much better option, the only things nearby being a few birds as they hopped up and down across the beach to chase whatever had washed ashore.
Still, her Makuahine and older brother were doing their best to be encouraging and Kailani didn't want to ruin the mood by asking to return to the inn. Even though she could have stayed with her grandfather even Kailani knew how much her Makuahine wanted to spend time with everyone like this. So she held out her hand for Gin Ae, her gaze pleading as she looked towards him for support as usual. "Want...want to gather some shells with me?" She asked quietly, knowing that it would be best to do that while her older siblings probably found something more dangerous to do while they combed the shoreline.
[Kailani 2]
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Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2024 5:04 pm
Yes! DeeDee gave a pleased nod of acceptance. Adventuring and shopping in one day, and then more shopping tomorrow? Cool! This meant she could use today's trip to really look around, and then tomorrow she would be able to buy what she might need a night to think on if she wanted to. She wasn't one to just buy whatever she liked. Picking up trinkets found on their adventuring trips though...
She looked over at Zoicite and rolled her eyes playfully. "What? Am I not special enough to deserve souvenirs for myself?" Seeing her twin's excitement for the creatures, she couldn't help being curious as well. "Would we be able to swim with them or are they too skittish?"
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Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2024 5:18 pm
Gin Ae raised his gaze to peek up at his makuahine at her encouragements. Right. Of course she would be there with them. Makuahine wouldn't leave them to the mercy of the town! It was easier to give a tiny smile when he knew the beach was their destination for now though. Much safer! ..As long as no one else was there. With his gaze already up, he was able to notice his twin's hand reaching for him. His smile widened a little more and he released his grip on Nanami's clothes to take Kailani's hand. "Yeah." The rock he held was tucked into the little pack at his side as he bravely lead the way toward the shells that had been pointed out.
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Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2024 6:12 pm
Nanami just happily watched as her youngest two agreed to go search the beach for seashells and the like. "There's tidepools up ahead that might have more things. Just be careful, okay?" She called out towards them before shaking her head at Raffrdeigh's antics. "I suppose if they get close enough to the shoreline it would be possible. They're large, but gentle creatures...I've seen some swim with them but you must be careful even if they aren't always skittish. They could easily knock you further into the water if they get startled." Thankfully she had faith in her children's ability to swim, both Noelani and Nanami had been adamant about their children learning how to survive in the ocean. Even without Kahi heritage it was still vital to Noelani's family who were full of pearl divers and explorers, adding in Nanami's heritage only helped their children to learn how to swim much easier and quicker than other non-Kahi.
Ami paused as she considered things a bit more, the Kawena a bit wary for her children's safety now that they were actually in Kahi. Despite the colorful reefs and crystal clear waters of this particular area there were still dangers, even if it did feel safer than her childhood home in the caves. "If the Paka'kona linger then maybe I can go with you to the shoreline. I won't make the others tag along, but we'll see how they feel." She glanced towards Zoicite thoughtfully, knowing he would probably tag along without any hesitation. It was mostly the little ones she worried about and Nanami figured they would deal with that if the situation did occur.
[Nanami 3]
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Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2024 6:18 pm
Zoicite let out a chuckle, the teen giving a slight shrug. "I suppose you could just pile up on souvenirs for yourself. Giving them to others is a lot more fun though." He teased with a grin before looking back at their Makuahine. Did they really want to swim with such large creatures? If they were gentle though it could be quite the experience. The very thought made his gaze gleam with interest, Zoicite nodding at the idea. "Why not? I can go along with Raff, if the others don't want to swim." He suggested hopefully. The last thing he wanted to do was be stuck on babysitting duty! Surely their Makuahine could trust the pair of them to be careful in the water. They had grown up swimming in Matori and hadn't encountered too many dangerous situations thus far, so why not trust them here?
"For now though let's go check out the reefs. I'd like to see what's over there before it gets too late." Especially if this was their last day in this particular area, at least on the beach. He knew that any shopping would take up the whole morning and Zoicite wanted to see as much as he could before then. He nudged Raffrdeigh and gestured. "Wanna race and see who can find something the quickest?" Like a special shell or creature or anything interesting really. It was much better than just sitting around on the beach while even the little ones explored!
[Zoicite 3]
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Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2024 6:22 pm
With one last hesitant look towards the others, Kailani squeezed Gin Ae's hand and started forward. The pearly white sands were toasty beneath her bare feet, the youngling having discarded her sandals by the rest of their belongings that were tucked safely away on a nearby rock, but she didn't mind the feeling. If anything it kept her warm especially when she got too close to the water and the tide tickled her toes. "Eep!" She let out a gasp before laughing, the girl watching as the water pulled away again. She should have been paying attention! At least it was just a bit of water and nothing dangerous. Kailani smiled at the thought before she bent down to grab at a shell before the water came to sweep it away again. "I wonder how many we can gather along the way to those tidepools." She mused towards her brother, the girl picking up a slightly broken shell that gleamed like a rainbow in the sunlight.
[Kailani 3]
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Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2024 2:06 pm
Raffrdeigh shrugged innocently. "Hey, I might still get gifts to give. Souvenirs are supposed to be for the person buying them anyway." The idea of swimming with the paka'kona was thrilling! They looked so graceful as they skimmed the surface. She couldn't help a pause with a huff toward her brother. 'Raff' just wasn't cool enough for the teen anymore. "DeeDee," she reminded firmly with a nudge to Zoicite's arm.
It looked like she wouldn't be able to just go right out to the lovely creatures, so exploring the closer reefs would have to do. Oooh, a race? She grinned and nodded eagerly. "You're on. Three, two, go!" She took off running, eyes on the prize.
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Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2024 2:23 pm
Gin Ae held a quiet smile on his lips as his toes sank into the sand. It was so pretty and peaceful here. Perfect for him, and his twin. He looked down with amusement as the cool water brushed his feet and sent a brief chill up his back. That was sure to wake him up! "I'm sure lots of things," he assured confidently. He crouched to pick up a half shell. One side was dark and rough while the other side glimmered in shades of pink. Pretty! "What do you hope you find?"
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