Yuki's Space

Being pressured by my upcoming graduation, a hectic job search, and the urgency of my future plans, I finally decided last month that I needed to breathe some fresh air—so I chose Hawaii.

And it turned out to be the perfect idea.

Almost crushed by the weight of life, I somehow managed to squeeze in a few hours to pack before setting off. Though completely drained, I still had to face a 12-hour flight from DC to Hawaii.

Am I ready?
Yeah… or maybe not.

The moment I got off the plane—hey! This is so great. It felt like the magic field was right here. But wait… my body? Still completely dead. Never mind, I’m just gonna head to the hotel. I need a shower and a nap—desperately.

I spent an entire day recovering from that brutal 12-hour flight. The next morning, I found out they have my favorite gym right here on Oahu Island—with a full-length window facing the ocean. Like, an actual ocean view while working out?! I was so hyped, I went to bed at 11 p.m. just to make sure I could hit the 8 a.m. class and enjoy the fresh morning air and a workout.

And let me tell you—it was the best decision ever. While working out, I could literally see people kayaking across the water, birds flying just above the waves, and everyone in the gym was smiling. (Not gonna lie—this is not what I’m used to at my gym back in DC 😂.)

After the workout, I felt amazing. Like, seriously refreshed and alive. I couldn’t stop chatting with my Uber driver on the way back—just full-on talking the whole ride.

He was genuinely shocked when he found out I wasn’t a local. Apparently, according to him, “Chinese and Japanese people usually don’t talk this much to their Uber drivers—they’re mute.”

I laughed and told him, “Nah, I’m just way too happy—I just worked out in paradise.”

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From that moment on, my whole mindset shifted. I felt vibrant, exhilarated—I was ready.

That same day, we rented a convertible (because come on, we’re gonna make this trip worth it), and we drove along the ocean with the windows down, soaking in the breeze and breathing in that salty, tropical air.

Okay… and that basically became our everyday routine. Nothing super fancy, but so healing. Let me walk you through it.

I’d wake up early and hit the gym while my friend Edith was still snoozing away—zzz…

I’d come back, take a quick shower, and we’d do our makeup together, chatting and laughing.

Then we’d head out, grab some musubi (a must if you’re in Hawaii), and have it for lunch.

We’d drive along the coast or through lush forests—sometimes for hours—just enjoying the scenery, windows down, music on.

We picked up fresh papayas from local fruit stands and, yes, got musubi again for dinner (no regrets).

To wrap up the night, we’d sip on Japanese drinks we bought from the convenience store, watching the sky shift into night.

Simple. Peaceful. Healing.