The best day in Hawaii was definitely our Rappel day in Maui. It was our only alone time together during our family vacation. We spent the day laughing and pushing our limits in the Forest. It was a very peaceful day with the boys. By far this quiet and adventurous day in Maui was a bonding experience for all of us. It was just us and two other guests on the tour that day. The Rappel venue was in a picturesque and peaceful landscape in Maui. It was a an amazing picturesque drive through the windy two lane highway up the mountain coast towards Hana. We enjoyed ourselves learning about the history of Maui during the car ride up to the venue. The road was impressive with only two lanes following the twists and turns of the mountain side. The views were spectacular with beautiful scenery all the way to the Rappel site. We enjoyed the conversations and adventures with our tour guides and fellow guests. This spectacular adventure with Rappel Maui was an enlightening experience. It was a quiet day of bonding and adventure for our little family. We enjoyed quiet time in the lush landscapes of Maui. Kate and Chris were very knowledgeable and experienced tour guides. We felt safe the entire time we walked through the forest and Rappel down the waterfalls. Lucas is a rock climber here in Miami and the Rappel tour was an adventure aligned with his passion. Gabriel enjoyed the experience too. It wasn’t any easy task to maneuver. It tests you physically and mentally to put all your trust your skills in such an intense environment. I have never tried an adventure like this before. I rock climb occasionally in Miami but it isn’t the easiest task for me. It can be scary to trust the safety equipment and let go of your fears. Standing at the top of the cliffs is an enlightening and scary experience. Standing at the edge of the cliff looking down tests your mind and body. Fear can easily set in if you allow it to take over. Thankfully my sense of adventure and resilience kept me calm and relaxed. I was excited to push my own limits because the old me never would have been able to accomplish this physically and mentally intense adventure. The old me never would have attempted such a challenging tour because chronic pain and illness had left me with limited strength and physical abilities. I knew this tour was a test of my physical and mental resilience from the moment I booked it. I worked hard to regain my physical strength over the past 6 years to push my limits in Hawaii. Before the first climb I was talking to Luis one of the guests about the significance of this tour for me. I told him the old me 6 years ago would never have been able to physically deal with the challenges of this tour. I worked hard to regain my mobility, flexibility and overcome my chronic pain. It was a huge accomplishment in my life and this tour was truly going to tackle those last little fears I was holding. Hawaii had a bunch of adventurous tours and my journey had brought me here to finally prove to my subconscious that I am strong, powerful and ready for anything. I was truly ready for it all. Ready to tackle the physical and mental tasks the tour would bring. The first fear was trusting the equipment and allowing myself to lean into it. My first Rappel landed me on my stomach on a cushion as I mastered this little task. But I got up quickly and climbed down ready to tackle the waterfalls. The equipment was all set up and everyone was securely tied throughout our walk and Rappel through the forest. When we arrived at the first waterfall things really started to get real. It was a spectacular view of the forest and top of the waterfall. We each took our turns slowly Rappelling down the cliff. I was super calm and relaxed as I watched Gabriel begin his first waterfall. I didn’t expect what happened next but I knew that he was safe. I also knew that I was strong and capable of keeping calm and relaxed through it all. Gabriel slipped at the top of the waterfall briefly. He was tied up laying on top of the waterfall with his feet dangling of the cliffs edge. I knew the equipment was safe and secure. Chris was next to him the entire time talking and guiding him through it. I trusted his expertise to get Gabriel (my baby) out of his predicament. None the less it was still a scary experience watching Gabriel dangle at the edge of the waterfall. I took a deep breath and focused on my inner calm as I watched Gabriel get back up and secure his stance again. I continued to breath as he Rappelled down the waterfall. My heart was racing as I watched Gabriel regain his footing and push his limits safely down the cliff. I kept myself calm and centered through the experience but I’m sure the fear was evident in my face. Once he was safely at the bottom it was time for Lucas to follow in his path. My little Lucas had waited months for this little adventure. I could see the excitement in his eyes as he began his descent down the waterfall. He is a tiny little guy but strong and adventurous. He enjoyed every moment of the tour to the fullest. It was equally scary watching my little bundle of joy Rappel down the mountain but he did it effortlessly with a huge smile. Then it was my turn. It was time to test my physical and mental resilience to the fullest. My first cliff Rappel experience wasn’t easy but I was determined to go down the waterfall safely and efficiently. I used my own breathing and centering techniques while I pushed my physical limits. I slowly and meticulously pushed my butt back secured my stance and climbed slowly down the watery rocks. It was intense and I didn’t want to look down. Looking up at the photographer was scary too but I rocked it!!! The tour guides actually told me that I smoothly Rappelled down the waterfalls better than the boys did. Kate and Chris could hear my breathing and told me they liked it. I was actually using self-hypnosis, positive self-talk and breath work throughout the whole descent down the cliff. I’ve become comfortable with my weird breathing patterns and don’t worry what others think about it. It didn’t matter to me if others were listening or thought I was weird. The slow deep breaths kept me focused and calm during the adventurous tour. I used different techniques throughout the day. Sometimes people can notice and sometimes they can’t. I’ve learned to honor the way I feel and do what I need regardless of the views the world may have of me. Honestly most of the time people don’t notice or care much about what you do. We tend to worry about these things excessively for no reason. It was a spectacular day immersed in the forest of Maui. We enjoyed the peace and quiet as we watched each other Rappel. We jumped into the cool spring water after each waterfall. The boys saw crayfish and shrimp in the water pools. It was by far the best day in Hawaii. We experienced thrills and excitement while be bonded together. It was amazing to spend a quiet day alone in nature with my boys. I will remember Maui forever.
