A peek into my East Side treehouse, my first home on the island. When I first moved to the island one year ago I moved into a “treehouse style” oceanfront home with the sweetest family. The crazy part is the treehouse was built in the 70s by an eccentric, fun loving artist and surfer named Claude Horan who actually created the Art program at the University of Hawaii.. From the solid Koa wood kitchen island to the hidden tiki bar to the thatch roofed loft, the treehouse was a testament to Claude’s joyful creative spirit, it was a work of art in itself, the most inspiring place for me to create in.

My neighbor next door, our local guardian angel, Uncle Lee grew up for the last fifty years in his A-frame next door to Claude since he was ten. Uncle Lee would tell me about the nights Claude would throw “art parties” and have all his artists friends over and bounce between the kiln his sailboat in the water in the backyard as they drank wine, making whimsical ceramic pieces. Some of them are still on display at the Honolulu museum of art. Claude also had a thing for making “busty mermaids” and I was honored to have one (plus a merman with a trident and a glass of wine in his left hand) adorning the bathroom floor of the treehouse! Living here was a dream and a joy every day, the cool East side sunrises, our chickens, and pua kenikeni flowers overflowing around the entryway- I couldn’t have asked for a better story, a better beginning to my journey here in Hawaii that I thank God every day for. I’m grateful for chapter 1 on the East side and excited for what's to come on the North Shore- my friends have made this more home than anything. One day my talented friend Jesy Lee said she wanted to take an afternoon to photograph me in the treehouse because she knew how special it was to me.  She captured it perfectly. There’s nothing more authentic and beautiful than friends who share their true talent simply out of love. See more of Jesy Lee's photography or read more about Claude Horan's story here.