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Payton Calderon

@paytonwanders

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🏳️‍🌈Aloha 🤙🏽from Hawai’i🌴🌺 Person of passion💕
Lover of Dreamers&Explorers
Japanese art, history and culture nerd❤️👘
@paytonloveskyoto 🙇🏻‍♀️

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A very delayed post, but—I’m officially a master’s graduate! 🙌🏽🎓

I received my official degree a few months ago, and I finally got to color in the right eye of my daruma! 🥹✨ I filled in the left eye when I started my master’s program full-time on August 8, 2022, and now, after all these years, I’ve finally completed my goal.

For those who aren’t familiar, the daruma doll is inspired by Bodhidharma, a monk traditionally credited with founding Zen Buddhism. Daruma symbolizes perseverance, good luck, and goal-setting. When you get a daruma, both eyes are blank. You fill in the left eye when setting a goal or intention, then place the doll somewhere you’ll see it often as a reminder to stay focused and keep going. Once you’ve achieved your goal, you fill in the right eye! ❤️

It feels so special to finally complete this little tradition and reflect on how far I’ve come. This journey took years of hard work, patience, and perseverance, and I’m so proud of myself for seeing it through. 💕✨

Special shout out to my amazing wife @eyeconic_hi and loving mother for all your encouragement and support. 🙏🏽💕 by @paytonwanders

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3 days ago

Happy New Year everyone ! 🎉
Wishing 2026 brings joy, health and peace—from our family to yours ❤️❤️ by @paytonwanders

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10 months ago

Another run down 💪🏽 11/23/2025
This time was the Kaiwi Coast Run, a 4-mile run at sunrise - it was breathtaking.

I pushed through swollen eyes from all the tears the night before. I will miss Austin, but gratitude for our time together kept me going.

Physical therapy in every step. I’m truly thankful for his friendship. by @paytonwanders

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a year ago

Austin! I’m still in shock 😭

Just earlier this month we spent an amazing evening watching Leisure together. I’m so glad we shared that special time. You were full of love, kindness, creativity, empathy, silliness, laughter-an all around great guy. You were my really good friend and I cared for you so much and saw you as a little brother.

I’ll never forget our fun jam sessions with @shanetravis_, supporting you and your art (I still have a piece that I’m going to frame) going on hikes, celebrating each others birthdays, seeing Illana Glazer and the Eric Andre show (where a guy literally flashed the crowd 😅) being your bar-back for a white party, going to Charlie’s, etc.
I am so fortunate to have had you as a close friend for when I did.

You will be so very missed. I love you dude.
Rest in Peace.
💔 by @paytonwanders

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a year ago

Fun life update! I’m a runner 🏃🏽‍♀️

Anyone who really knows me, would know that since childhood I hated running. I dreaded doing the mile for PE in school, and conditioning for soccer/football was my own hell.

In the past few months I decided that I needed to challenge myself and what better way then push myself to run. Learn to love the thing you hate.

July I ran to break myself in.
August I ran to build routine.
September I ran to be consistent.
This month/October I’m running slower to challenge myself to go farther.

I’m a person who intensely goes all out. Being as I’m more of a sprinter the practice of going slower to then run farther is difficult for me.

But I’m doing it! 💪🏽

And what a more beautiful/perfect place to train than Hawai’i! I am beyond blessed and thankful, also Myranda has been my supportive rock through it all. ❤️

I’m so proud of myself and will continue to be. I am proving to myself— I can do hard things. If I can, you can too 🤙🏽 by @paytonwanders

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a year ago

Japan 2025
Food Photo Dump by @paytonwanders

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a year ago

Kyoto, Japan
March 2025
3rd Wedding Anniversary
Highlight Photo Dump

Thankful for my amazing wife @eyeconic_hi
Can’t wait for more adventures together 😘 by @paytonwanders

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a year ago

Happy Holidays Everyone!✨

What a year it’s been! We made the big move to Hawaii back in July (I can’t believe we’ve been here that long already 😅) It’s been fun getting used to island life and being able to enjoy the great outdoors anytime.

We frequently take Marshall and Tobi (aka da boys) out on walks in their stroller to hang in the park and catch sunsets as a family. 🌅

Next year we have a three year wedding anniversary trip planned for Japan! It will be Myranda’s first time, I cannot wait to explore during cherry blossom season together🌸💕

Here’s to many more adventure to come 🤗 taken in Honolulu Wakiki--Hawaii by @paytonwanders

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2 years ago

Aloha everyone! 🌺🌈
Myranda and I have a BIG announcement…

WE ARE MOVING TO HAWAI’I‼️
My amazing, smart, & loving wife received an amazing job offer a few months ago, and I am so proud ☺️

We will be trading the desert dry heat of Phoenix with the tropical island of Oahu beginning of this summer! ☀️

We can’t wait to start this fresh new chapter of our lives together. 🥰
I’m super excited as the opportunities for me personally will be huge because there is a large Japanese population/presence on island. I plan on taking up dance lessons again and improving my Japanese language skills. 🙌🏽

Please enjoy these photos of our trips to Hawaii in the past from the most recent
March 2024
June 2022 &
February 2021

Truthfully Hawai’i was calling us before we knew it could be a reality.

So truly blessed with life 😇
Much love XOXO ❤️ by @paytonwanders

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2 years ago

Finally made it to the Team Labs Planet multi sensory exhibit! Such a fun experience ✨ taken in teamLab Planets TOKYO / チームラボプラネッツ by @paytonwanders

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3 years ago

Tokyo beginnings
May 2023

•Yoshiwara shrine⛩️
•Gold Finger lesbian/queer bar in Shinjuku’s Ni-chome 🏳️‍🌈
•Asakusa’s Sanja Matsuri(Festival)
•Tokyo SkyTree and Asahi’s “Golden Flame”🗼
•Asakusa’s Senso-ji (temple)🏮
•Kakigori かき氷(shaved ice)🍧
•Asakusa’s geisha Kumi Odori dance performance 💕

My first reel 🤗 by @paytonwanders

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3 years ago

Kamakura, Japan-part two
May 2023
Bamboo forest of Hokoku-ji
Cafe Kaeru (frog)
Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine &
Hydrangea and rock garden of Meigetsu-in (temple) taken in Kamakura by @paytonwanders

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3 years ago