Two things.

First: We’re moving.

The second thing is related to the first: Our house in Kaaawa will be for sale soon. (**See the note at the bottom of this post.)

There. I’ve said it.

After 27 wonderful years in Kaaawa–including 19 years during which nearly every day has started with a walk to the beach at dawn, visiting dogs throughout the neighborhood (and sometimes their people)– we’re in the process of moving back into Honolulu.

To be more specific, we’re moving back to the house in Kahala that my parents bought in about 1942 and lived for 70 years, where my sister and I grew up, and where we regularly returned to visit my parents during their long lives. Well, not exactly the same house, as we’re just finishing extensive renovations to 1940-era structure, mostly within the original footprint.

We’ve actually been slowly moving for a while, mentally and physically, taking small steps as the renovations were being done, but the big move–when the furniture and, most importantly, the cats, shift locations–is coming soon.

It’s a small move in terms of distance, only about 26 miles, but in many other ways it’s a very big move, from the relative country to the city.

It’s the difference between a 15 or 20-minute drive to the nearest supermarket, to having two supermarkets just a half-mile or so up the street. But it’s also the difference between a mixed neighborhood with a sense of community, and a far less diverse area where walls are more common than neighborly bonds.

Our friends and neighbors in Kaaawa have known for a while, but we didn’t share the fact more widely, in part because although we made our decision nearly two years ago, it’s taken time to emotionally adjust to the prospect.

Many of you have helped us along the way with your suggestions on everything from renovating an old wood floor to the choice of appliances, and your input was much appreciated. And, yes, we did rescue the original floor, which came out looking far better than an we ever expected!

But leaving Kaaawa is difficult, and the prospect still gives rise to very mixed emotions.

We have close friends who have moved many times in their adult lives, and we salute you. This has, quite obviously, not been our pattern, and we’re finding the move quite daunting.

Here are before and after (almost done) views of the Kahala house, before (probably late 1950s) and this year. You’ll notice that in the 50’s, the house was surrounded by coconut trees. But as the trees got taller and it got more expensive to trim and care for them, my parents removed them. Not visible in the recent photo are the large back yard and the two big mango trees that still shade the back of the house, one planted when my sister was born and the other when I was born.

Before

After

**(NOTE: That’s a very broad hint. If you know of anyone who might be interested in buying in Kaaawa, with over 20,000 feet of land located well above the flood and tsunami zones, let me know. Money can be saved all around with a deal before we list the house on the open market.)