“What? Your dad lives in Hawaii?!” As soon as people find out that my dad and step-mom live in Hawaii, they proceed with two additional questions.
“Are they retired?” Nope. They are full time real estate agents.
“So, you get to stay there for free, right? When will you take me?”
To be honest, I really wish I could hop on a plane to Hawaii right now. The past couple weeks at work have been stressful, and a trip to the sea, where the Aloha spirit makes you feel relaxed, and eating white pineapple out on the lanai replenishes your body, sounds really wonderful right about now. But, who am I kidding? Even if life was care-free, Hawaii would always be a good idea.
For those who have never been, I thought I would share some fun facts, as well as some things that you can do on the island.
1. There are 8 main islands which make up the state of Hawaii. My dad lives on the Big Island in a small town called Kailua-Kona. If you have ever heard of the IronMan, this is where the championship is held every year.
2. No doubt you have been to the grocery store and have spied a label that reads “Kona Coffee” in the coffee section. Since Hawaii is close to the equator, it is the perfect place to harvest coffee (it is also the only state that does so!) P.S. If you really love coffee, then make sure to plan a trip to one of Hawaii’s Coffee Farms. On the Big Island, Greenwell Farms gives free tours, as well as plenty of coffee tasting afterwards!
3. The Big Island is home to 11 of the world’s 13 climate zones. You can go from sunbathing on the beach in the morning to enjoying an afternoon rain storm in the rainforests to enjoying snow at Mauna Kea’s peak.
4. Hawaiian food is delicious! Although, I’m pretty sure those glorious Hawaiian sunsets make it taste all the more fine. A lot of locals prefer to enjoy pupus (appetizers) for dinner, rather than a large meal. Some other notable foods to try when you are in Hawaii are as follows: malasadas, white pineapple (already mentioned…it really is that good), fresh guava juice, kalua(pig), purple sweet potatoes, macadamia nut pancakes, poke, and we would be here all day, so I will stop there.
5. There is a part of the Big Island that does not belong to the United States. In fact, it belongs to Great Britain, and is the very spot that Captain Cook first discovered the islands. Located in Kealakekua Bay, there is a monument dedicated to the captain, and is also one of the most beautiful spots to go snorkeling. Get there early in the morning to avoid the crowds! You can either take a boat to the bay or travel by foot.
6. The Big Island is twice the size of all of the other islands combined. There are so many beautiful hiking trails, including a beach that is completely covered in green sand. Here’s a list of some of my favourite spots:
Green Sands Beach
Mauna Kea
Kua Bay
City of Refuge
Waipio Valley
7. If you are into the outdoors, hiking is one of the best ways to see the island. It is quite magical and makes you feel as though you have entered a Lord of the Rings novel (or whatever fantasy land you may dream of.)
Well, if you aren’t convinced to visit the Big Island after reading this travel post, then I don’t know what else will do it. I promise you won’t regret a trip here, and hey, if we plan it accordingly, maybe we can crash my parents house.
Until next time friends, cheers!
JM Books Co. 