Follow Me Everywhere

I find myself in my final days here on the Hawaiian Islands, the most isolated place in the world, looking back on the time spent. The thing that blows my mind the most is the fact that I’m not leaving cause of “island fever” or any displeasure towards Maui, but because I have the travel bug that will not subside. So without further ado, here are my thoughts from the last 8 months spent in the Rainbow state.

• Best Beaches-If you are looking for fantastic beaches of all colors (green, black, powder white) with little to no crowds, then the big island is your ticket. However, get a car first because there is no way around the sheer size of the island and the distances between sites.
• Best Mix-In my opinion, Maui has the best mix of serenity and activities for people of all ages. It doesn’t nearly have the hustle and bustle of Oahu, but has enough activities and nightlife to entertain the younger crowd. Maui also has an awesome mix of beaches, tropical rainforests, and is whale central during the winter months. It also helps if you have a roommate who is a concierge so you get to do all the activities on the island for free!
• Best Nightlife-Oahu is party central. I didn’t spend much time here this go around, but it’s the only island with what most people would call a city. The north shore is heaven for surfers and is a great stop for fun in the sun.
• Most Naturally Beautiful-Kauai takes the cake hands down, it blew my mind! Jagged peaks with lush rainforest dominate the landscape and are a hiker’s mecca. One thing it lacks is hustle and bustle or nightlife. Don’t expect to go out clubbing, but do expect to have a feast for your eyes.
• Best Snorkeling-There isn’t a whole lot going on the island of Lanai, but it does have pristine snorkeling and diving. This is where I also swam with dolphins at Manele Bay, which is fairly common and makes the channel crossing worthwhile.
• Molokai-Molokai has a reputation of not being so friendly and honestly I can’t confirm or deny it. I never stepped foot on the island, but I did take a helicopter ride over to see its sea cliffs, the tallest in the world. The waterfalls cascading over the cliffs are stunning and I highly recommend taking a chopper over.
• Diving-If you come to any of the islands of Hawaii, I would recommend diving the reefs. I just recently got into diving and being able to see Manta Rays in their natural environment among other sea creatures is simply majestic.
• Helicopter Rides-If you can afford it, these trips are fantastic. Seeing the islands from above and delving deep into valleys is spectacular. A guy told me the other day, “You’re never going to remember how much money activities cost, but you will remember the experience for the rest of your life. Money just comes and goes.” With that said, try not to let a budget/money get in your way (I know, easier said than done.) Lets face it, Hawaii is uber expensive no matter which way you look at it so you might as well enjoy it bountiful offerings while your there.
• Surf-I’m no Kelly Slater, but learning to surf and riding a wave is wicked fun. You learn to be at peace with the ocean and it’s truly a blast. Remember to give it some time too cause there is definitely a learning curve to it. Take it from someone who was shown up by a little 8 year old girl!
• Hike-Hawaiians have been making trails on these islands for thousands of years, take advantage of them! There are countless trails criss-crossing the islands to almost every vista possible between gorgeous shorelines, lush rainforest, volcanoes, moonscapes, and the list goes on. Plus, it will help you work off those extra calories from the pork, rice, and poi you will be eating while there.
• Relax-Live in the spirit of Aloha and take it all in. In Hawaii, life slows down so embrace it. It’s a fantastic place the recharge the batteries. Heck, I feel like I have been on permanent vacation for the last 8 months. Trust me, its quite nice.

Live I’ve said before, I’m not leaving Hawaii because I can’t stand it. It’s more about starting a new chapter in my life. If you have the opportunity, check it out yourself if only for a week. My guess is that this island paradise may beat the heck out of someplace cold and hectic on the mainland.

NOTE: If you have any questions about Hawaii, feel free to leave a comment or send an email. I’d be happy to help in any way that I can. Aloha.