Adventure to Hawaii

Recently, I was fortunate enough to travel Hawaii for the first time. To say that I was a bit nervous about the trip would be an understatement. In the weeks leading up to my flight, I felt as if I were going stir crazy. There was just so much to think about and prepare for. Not to mention the fact that it it was a 10 hour flight from Dulles to Honolulu. 10 hours on a plane is daunting for even the most well-travelled person. There was an initial anticipation and excitement that can be attributed to getting to see an old college friend for the first time in nearly eight years. Add that feeling with the realization that I was about to see all the wonderful things those beautiful islands had to offer and you can get a sense of the waves of emotion I was dealing with.

The first night there I was immediately introduced to the Polynesian culture and Hawaiian culture by going to a luau. Needless to say, the Luau was awesome!

They were several fire dancers, hula girls, and that smoked pig that they smoke in a hole in the ground in their traditional way. It was a feast for my senses.

Day Two: We headed down the Waikiki beach and pretty much laid there the whole day. Much needed R&R! Lol.

At the Beach 

Day Three: We jumped on to a Hawaiian Airlines plane and flew over to ‘The Big Island’. I was told that this island was much different from the others and the people there operated under a unique pace of life. I distinctly remember thinking to myself just how different it could possibly be. But, the very moment the sun cracked the horizon I could see the landscape, I seen exactly what the natives meant by The Big Island.

I remember it looking much more rural, and less urban than what we’re used to seeing in cities back home. The landscaping itself was slightly different. We then landed at Hilo airport and decided to venture over to the Kona District (because it seemed to be closer to some of the things I wanted to see) such as the volcanic, black sand beaches, lava tubes and a good distance away from the typical tourist locations. When I visit a place, I really want to immerse myself in the culture. I want to be around the locals – not the built-up Americanized part that’s specifically designed to remind me of being at home.

I stayed at the Hilo Sea Side Hotel that had received some mediocre reviews on the web, but it was the only one available that looked decent from the pictures viewable online. Being a hotel photographer, it’s usually easy for me to spot a decent hotel. After I arrived, I found the hotel to be amazing, despite the negative reviews. To be clear, it was no Hilton, but it was nice and quaint. People say that everything was old, but old isn't the word – it was antique. I have no problem with antique furniture. Needless to say, I enjoyed my stay. Breakfast was amazing and they had phenomenal pancakes, eggs and hash browns every morning. All of that comes with the price of the stay (with the exception of the hash browns), which was an added bonus. There was a nice quiet pond outside of our window.

Now, if and when you plan to travel to Hawaii during the winter months, you should definitely keep in mind that all of continental America is on winter break. These little islands are packed full of people. With the travel season already months out, it was quite difficult for me to get a rental car, so when I arrived there were no cars readily available. I tried finding a car by using Kayak. I knew that the closest places were all out of cars. I figured it was their problem and that they would have to make something work for me (Wink, wink). Upon arrival, I showed up to Alamo Rental to pick up my car with the confirmation number, and as expected they were out of vehicles. However, they did have a cargo van that they are willing to give me. I wasn't riding in style, but at least I was riding.

Over the next couple of days I explored many of Hawaii’s islands. I drove over to Kona, Hawaii, more popularly know as “The Big Island”. Day 4: It was just pretty amazing driving over the mountain. It's a straight shot from Hilo. You drive past the base of the observatory which is also on top of Mauna Loa, one of the top five volcanoes in Hawaii.

Altogether, this made for an unforgettable trip and I definitely look forward to going back to Hawaii in the future. Till next time!

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