calling me

Feeling the itch. For the past 3 years I've been back to NYC for the summer. Feels legit weird to not have a ticket booked. I have to wait until September before I run away again but I'm heading in another direction. I've been getting my USA fix through my friends Hayden & Rhi who are driving across the States and are currently in New Orleans. I die. See a few of their images below but be sure to follow their travel blog Nostalgic Velocity for more of these beautiful images.

These images belong to Hayden & Rhi of Nostalgic Velocity

Big love,

Falala Mele.

Beautiful places: Oahu, Hawaii

Aloha Falalas,

I hope the new year is treating you well. So far my trip to Oahu Hawaii has been surprisingly beautiful. Cliche perhaps, but I've been told by many that it's so built up and commercial; you can be forgiven for believing that you haven't left the mainland.

I however, feel as though Oahu has managed to preserve that 'local' feel even with the influx of tourists and their unapologetic aloha shirts. I love that shit, people flock here to relax and kick back with that 'aloha flow'.

I've been feasting on Hawaiian barbecue as well as those convenient ABC sambos when we are on the run. As soon as I left town, it felt like I was really in the islands. The coast, the surfers, front yard barbecues and sweet melodies decorating the air from those big ass trucks. Man, I love Hawaii. It really is a beautiful place and it's not just cause of the hypnotic blue waters but more so because I've felt so much aloha (love/heart) from the locals.

Our circle island tour guide Hanalei shared his sweet and spicy dried fish with this curious food-obsessed tourist (yeah man it was yummy....kinda like a fish jerky sad the Korean sauce made it!), we've had people get off the bus and physically lead us in the tight direction and today we bused it out to the west side to go visit Uncle George in a notorious part of town. A local man came up and asked my friends if they were tourists. 'Yes' they replied. 'Are you safe?' He questioned. 'Yes' replied my sister. They wandered over to the bus stop together and the man waited until the bus arrived. 'Bye' he waved as we piled onto the bus and off he went. He wasn't catching our bus like we originally thought, he was dropping the girls off to make sure they were okay.

Stuff like that is truly beautiful. Strangers chat and the younger always address older people with respect and love. 'Yes Aunty, that's what happened' she stated. Interactions so beautiful and honest, it just made me really happy and I was almost overwhelmed with respect for the cultural teachings and the emphasis on respect and family in my Polynesian culture.

Today is Saturday, my Sabbath. We had planned to visit Uncle George for our free Stand Up Paddle Boarding lessons, and then walk around to the local SDA church to fellowship with the locals, but fellowship found up. God's message was shared through the people he sent our way. It was a very special day today and it needs a post of it's own but it just made my aloha grow. I mean, I believe people are good but when it occurs consistently I'm still surprised.

I'll share a few photos from my phone but you can see most of my daily happenings on my Instagram account @mele2541

Iolani Palace

NYE feed BBQChicken 

Big aloha,

Falala Mele.

Let's catch up

Hi friends,

I wanted to just come and say hello because I haven't been on here half as much as I would like to. I haven't had time to read all my fave blogs and that makes me feel disconnected and out of the loop. I used to be good at sharing what I've been up to. I know I've been a good blogger when my friends are like "yeah I saw it on the blog" and I haven't even kept them in the loop with my life. SMH. It's the same old "I'm just so busy drill" but I know that EVERYONE is busy these days so I'm here trying to catch up with you all.

How are you?


What's new?

I've been spending my mornings in the gym, days at school and evenings watching Bomb Girls, Supernatural, Pan Am, The Carrie Diaries, Freaks and Geeks and Grey's Anatomy. Don't judge. It's officially winter.

The kids at school keep me laughing and my sister and niece who also double as my housemates have kept the good times rolling at home. Just the regular teasing, eating, dancing and laughing routine.

I've been eating Laksa and grilled cheese once a week because they are the faves atm and I spent last Saturday night going through all my thrifted finds deciding what to take to New York.

It is now officially two weeks to go. I'm cutting out on school 2 weeks early because I was supposed to be going to Spain, Italy and France. But lack of funds (and perhaps the added trip to the Philippines) left me saying "Well I plan to live there next year so why spend thousands of dollars on a little holiday now when I can save it for next year?".

So New York was the fabulous booby prize :D I get to catch up with my New York sisters Gabby, Candice and Deja. I get to meet up with my awesome Aussie blogger ladies in another country and I get to spend quality-non work-no stress time with my sissys Bullu and Sia.

So instead of getting up and going to my 8:30am boxing class today I decided to stay home, enjoy the rain and write to you all. I am blessed and thankful.

I hope that you are happy and well. I hope your joys outweigh your sorrows and that there is something exciting on your horizon. If there's nothing that comes to mind then why not plan a little something. It doesn't have to be huge but something to look forward to is so important amongst work and life and responsibilities.

It's a thrifted-op-shopped-vintage life <3

Waiting to hit USA again.  1. Vegas tattooing 2. Slots 3. Buffet 4. Esa-bagel Photos by @sikilou

1) Guy Sebastian concert 2) 51 ST NY 3) Katz's Deli 4) Brooklyn repping our own

1. Brooklyn Bridge 2. Grimaldi's DUMBO 3. Subway heat 4. Miss New Booty in Harlem

Best way to keep up with me lately is to follow me on instagram @mele2541 it's where I'm usually at.



Happy Sabbath xo


Falala Mele