The Island Compromise

I got to

Maui Prep at 6:30 a.m. No one was there and the fence gate was locked. So, I parked and waited, and like all parking spots in Maui, I had an expansive view of the ocean. No rainbow though. Not yet anyway. I knew someone would arrive shortly, after all, I was there for the “7 a.m. Band” rehearsal. They have a big concert for May Day next week, an occasion celebrated enthusiastically here in Hawaii. Back in Seattle, I dreaded May Day. That meant protests and occasional anarchy in downtown. Point goes to Maui.

The 7 a.m. Band follows instructions from the music teacher, who commands respect and organizes the group harmoniously. The Head of School, a guitarist in the band, would often play funky riffs and chord patterns, then make eye contact with me to make sure I observed the levels of radness going on in the music space.

Cluttered with instruments, audio equipment, old student performance videos and warm bodies up at the crack of dawn, the music began to the tune of Hanohano Olinda, and I did my best to hum along. Between songs, the Head once again glanced in my direction as he began to play chords to Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me,” a song I’ll be singing at an all school assembly on Friday to initiate – err introduce – myself. I smiled. It’s been a while since I sang that song. Gotta work on the octave jump.

After band practice, I had heard that a teacher was running mock job interviews with freshmen, but some of the interviewers dropped out at the last second. Some of the school staff rallied to help out. I joined in. Five interviews, cover letters, resumes and rubrics later, I felt far too bleary for Humpday of Easter break. It was barely 10 a.m. I spent the next hundred minutes camping out in classrooms — two social studies classes — before lunch. In the cafeteria, fried rice and tuna casserole steamed on lunch trays. The Head of School and I went to get poke bowls at Napili Market instead.

Next stop was my new home — the Boarding House. If I’m being honest, I’m throwing myself to the wolves here, hoping that the wolves are in fact kind pups who will respect my privacy and let me sleep at night. But we’re talking high school boarders. We’re talking zero Santos experience (thank God we have seasoned residential directors). On the positive, I said ‘yes’ to this, which means I believe I can be successful. That’s half the battle, right? I just don’t expect it to be the island dream. No, in fact, it is the island compromise. The room is in a quiet corner of the house with windows on adjacent walls. It’s not as big as my bedroom now, but… okay I need to stop writing about this. I already miss Casa Bataan. The BH is newly renovated, though, and the granite entry steps to the house are gorgeous. Oh, and there’s a beach across the street. Like I said — compromise.

Back at Maui Prep, I had a brief pow wow with the principal to discuss the format of next year. Made my head spin a little, in a good way, I suppose. On the plus side, I get to tap into my imagination. I just wish I had time to meet with my team beforehand so we can make plans together.

Immediately following, I attended the staff meeting. Let me tell you. Best. Staff meeting. EVER. So this is what we did, and what I assume we do each week to some degree. We convened at Lahaina pier where PTSO was waiting with a buffet. They loaded a cruiser with said buffet (adult bevs included), and the staff – including all new signees – boarded for an afternoon of whale-watching and birthday cake eating. I spent a good deal of the excursion socializing with my new colleagues, no doubt with a stupid enamored grin plastered on my face as I looked through the vog past Kaho’olawe for Big Island, my geological soulmate. Later on the three hour tour, I was shooting pictures of the island from the lower deck, when suddenly, two teachers dove off the boat right past my viewing window and into the ocean, splashing salt water on my beef lettuce wrap and blueberries. I mean, what the heck people! Ocean water on my lettuce wrap! I don’t know about this. I can only hope next week’s meeting turns out better.

I rode home with two lovely ladies – business and development – cheeks still cramping from all my helpless smiling. With the sun still hovering over the horizon, I made a beeline for the beach, and showed up in time for my evening bath and the 7 o’clock sunset. Then, I crashed at last in front of a bowl of tako. The life.

Coming to such an idyllic place to live and work has been the most challenging and soul-shocking decision of my life. It has forced me to realize what I value most, and believe it or not, it’s not the beach. It’s not the whale watching. It’s not even the ocean. If anything, this choice has shown me the two most important parts of my life are the people I love and my capacity to grow and consequently make a difference in the lives of others. Moving to Maui was the product of those two areas of my life demanding two different outcomes. For once, in 37 years, I sided with the latter. I hope it means the best for all parties involved.

Love and aloha from Maui.

Jace
Son, Uncle, Brother, Nephew, Friend