My Mike Love Experience

The first time I ever heard/saw Mike Love was on a YouTube feed playing in the background of my home while I cleaned. I had to stop and watch; I was immediately impressed with his musical talent, moved by his message, & inspired to be a better human! I watched other videos and soon Mike Love & The Full Circle quickly made it on my list of favorite/influential bands!

One and a half months later I was sent to Waikiki, HI for work. I went to Hono for work but I also went with personal intentions of soaking up Oahu’s earth magic, using it to heal and break out of winter’s hibernation. One evening I walked about 3miles from the hotel to a sunset beach yoga session at Ala Moana Park; I think to myself, “I wish I brought my headphones because I really want to listen to Mike Love right now.” I don’t dwell on the thought and instead hum some of what I know and continue my stroll.

After yoga I had planned on meeting up with a dear friend whom happened to be there on his Honeymoon, and so I started my walk to his hotel. While en route, once more I wish in my head to listen to Mike Love and I tell myself, “Next time I’m bringing my headphones!” Again I let the thought pass and continue my stroll.

I met my friend and his new bride in the lobby of the Hale Koa Hotel and there we decide to take an Uber to go dine instead of walking just a few blocks. Upon entering the Uber, I hear what I think is Mike Love on the radio. I kinda freak out and I ask the driver, “Umm excuse me Sir, are you listening to Mike Love?” He responds, “Yeah, I have all of his CD’s.” with enthusiasm in my voice I tell him, “You don’t even know, for the last 2 hours I have been putting out to the universe that I want to hear Mike Love, and here you are listening to Mike Love!” He says, “I’m glad you like him so much, cos that’s my nephew.” I quickly escalate from kinda freaked out to shit has just been lost! My friend & his bride absorb the energy and are now just as shocked and excited as I am! I begin to spill my heart to him and rattle off how influential and inspiring his music and his message are to me. I say “His music is so new to me I don’t even know where he is from.” He responds “He’s Local, he lives right over… “and says a Hawaiian word I don’t understand” At that moment the second level of shit loss was achieved and the car was now hopping! I expressed how I wish I could see/hear him play but nothing came up in my “Bands In Town” app and he responds real nonchalant “He plays at Hawaiian Brian’s every Monday solo and every Wednesday with the band.” A whole other level of astonishment was reached, mainly because I was completely out of shit to lose. I was fortunate enough to be on the island long enough to be able to see both shows.

The solo show was AMAZING, a small intimate setting with me sitting right next to the stage with my friend and co-instructor. I even put my foot on the stage so I can say “Mike Love & I shared the same stage!” The environment was perfect for me to really hear the words of his message and I was moved to my feet and my body expressed its happiness in dance. Once my friend and I got up to dance we didn’t stop until the end. After the show I was able to meet Mike Love and share the above story with him. He laughed and said “Yeah, my uncle drives Uber.” I said “F@*kin’ your uncle is the man and pushes your music and I’m SUPER glad to have rode with him!” Manifesting meeting Mike Love and skankin’ to his music was just what my soul needed, I thought that night would be my best night in Hono, little did I know my Hawaiian blessings had just begun.