Why We Are Leaving Hawaii

As many of you have by now learned, the Gray Ohana is leaving Hawaii. So many emotions! I have been here 12 years but that's nothing compared to my husband who mostly grew up here around his family. I came here after college graduation, planning to help out at a local church and just live here for 6 months. Well, that's been a long 6 months...haha!


Here is Samuel's breaking news report about "Satellite" WA if you missed it on FB!

Funny how 'our' plans are sometimes superseded by HIS plans. And if you are a son/daughter of the Heavenly Father, then that is OK! His plans are higher than ours!

I got to know a college friend a little better once I moved here....he winked at me once when we were standing on the platform in a choir practice...and my heart just flipped over like it never had before. We fell in love and got married. While living here in Hawaii, we've moved together 4 times, had 2 miscarriages, experienced 5 jobs, rejoiced in the healthy birth of 4 crazy but amazing kids, only taken 2 trips to the mainland together, sat at each others bedsides through surgeries and illnesses (thankfully nothing serious), learned about autism and the rocky road that our son faces, and many, many other life experiences. Next month is just our 10 year anniversary and looking back, our life has been pretty wonderful. But that will be a blog for a later date.

For the last two years, we've had a strong feeling that we would be leaving Hawaii and we began researching areas of the US Mainland. The funny thing is, way back then, we did a long survey online through findyourspot.com  and one of the top places it recommended for us, based on our survey answers, was Kent, Washington. We laughed because we didn't know anything about that area and brushed it off. We proceeded to research over the next two years, all the places that WE thought we should consider moving to; different cities in Missouri, Colorado, Texas, California, Oregon, Tennessee, other Hawaii islands, North and South Carolina, and so on. Our research was pretty exhausting, looking at weather, politics, churches, economy, cost of living, schools, culture, pollen count, and so on. We have spread sheets in tiny fonts with many little boxes of info and web links. Many other places made sense to us and yet....we never felt peace. We never felt "YES".

After two years of this, our research meandered around and kept going back to the Pacific Northwest and finally, we zeroed in on the Seattle area (of which Kent, WA is a suburb!) and bingo. Peace. A "yes".

We love Hawaii, always will, and hope to one day come back to retire once the kiddos are independent. But for now, we just can't stay. As people here are painfully aware of, the economy is unstable and is rapidly squeezing the middle class out, leaving only the very wealthy, the poor, and the tourists. With 4 kids, we just can't make it here. You've seen my posts about $7 milk!

The traffic is bone weary; we spend more time in the van coming/going to church than we actually spend in service at church. The air quality is compromised by the vog and while it may not affect everyone, it's choking my husband who has allergies, and now I'm bothered greatly by it and I don't have allergies. It's like living with a sinus headache or bronchitis every day there's no tradewinds.

I could go on, but I don't like pointing out any negatives about Hawaii because honestly, there is just so much good and positive about Hawaii. The people who genuinely display the ALOHA spirit...the ono food....the views and beaches and warm breezes and so much more. If you have family/friends here who love you, they love you with every ounce of their bodies, even while you change as a person or make decisions that they may not understand. THOSE friends are amazing and their love is real.

So, it's time to go. We have many things to look forward to; being halfway the former distance to my family! Different sights, different food, new experiences and friends to make and paths to explore. Clearer air, different jobs and houses and things for my kids to learn about that they haven't seen here in Hawaii; like squirrels jumping in the back yard trees, skunks, catching lightening bugs at twilight and having to wait while a train goes by, counting the cars. Billboards. Road trips. Snow.

And to clarify some things; yes we know the area we are going to is much cooler and rainer. We are actually looking forward to that! No I do NOT plan to be a Seahawks fan, are you kidding me? WHO DAT!

Anyway for all of you who are wondering about the reasons for our new adventure, here they are. I hope to be able to blog more consistently and keep everyone updated about this crazy new road we are setting out upon!

Love to you all and thank you to everyone who has called, texted, messaged and emailed us, offering your love, support, and well-wishes. We feel a total peace from God about where He is leading us and we know that we are safe in His Hands.

Blessings and ALOHA to you!