Oct 9th, 2008
Beware: Hawaii is addictive!
When I hear that friends and family are planning their first vacation to Hawaii, I usually warn them that Hawaii is addictive. I have to admit that I’m an addict. I do travel to other destinations, though. Since I first traveled to Hawaii in 2003, I’ve been to Australia, French Polynesia, England, Canada, Mexico and a handful of US vacation spots, but it’s beautiful Hawaii that keeps calling me back.
To prove my point of how addictive Hawaii is, I feel like I need to make a confession here. Would you believe I never wanted to go to Hawaii in the first place? It’s true. Back in the winter of 2003, my husband, Andy, and a couple of dear friends of ours were brainstorming where to go on vacation together. Italy was my choice. I had been buying Italy guidebooks and listening to Italian language lessons on my way to and from work. (Even today I still know how to ask how much something costs and where is the restroom in Italian. 
Two very important phrases, right?)
So I was pushing Italy while Andy and my friend Sheryl were pushing Hawaii. I had been to several Caribbean Islands and I thought that Hawaii was just the same as the Caribbean, but with a much further plane journey from the East Coast. Since then, I’ve learned how very wrong I was! (See my comparison of Hawaii versus the Caribbean.)
Since Andy and Sheryl said that Hawaii was a dream destination for them, I sacrificed my desire to go to Italy so that I could go on a long plane ride to what I then thought would be another boring island, Maui (with a day trip to Oahu), out in the middle of the Pacific. As I’m writing this post, I’m laughing at how ignorant I was.
Out of my compromise came such a great blessing! From the moment we landed at the airport in Maui, I became infected with the sweet addiction of Hawaii. The smell of the air, the tradewinds, the velvet green cliffs, the lava rocks, the amazing blue water, and the Aloha spirit that permeates the soul all began to rock my world. I tried to transform myself into a sponge and absorb all the sights, smells, and sounds that I could.
I can’t remember if I cried or not when I left Maui, but I do remember being really sad about leaving. I thought that I had taken my once in a lifetime trip to Hawaii and that it was all over. I don’t recall how long it was after we returned home that we started thinking of how we could get back to Hawaii. Oh, we plotted and schemed and did our best to find a way back to feed our new found addiction. Six months later, we said Aloha to Kauai. Another six months past and we find ourselves on the Big Island. Since then we’ve vacationed on all the islands and doubled and tripled back on a few.
Out of my love and enthusiasm for Hawaii, I began independently blogging about Hawaii travel in March 2007. I’ve written 717 articles focused on Hawaii travel news, deals, and tips. (This one makes 718, actually.) How is that for proving my point that Hawaii is addictive? I rest my case!
Have you been infected with a love of Hawaii? Please share your story in the comments. Begin by saying, “Hello, my name is ________, and I’m addicted to Hawaii.”
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11 Responses to “Beware: Hawaii is addictive!”
Hello, my name is Andy, and I’m addicted to Hawaii!
A warning to anyone that hasn’t yet been to Hawaii - once you go, you won’t ever be satisfied by any other tropical destination. Sure, they’ll tempt you with sandy beaches, tropical drinks, and ocean breezes, but there’s only one Hawaii and it gets in your blood!
Hallo !! My name is laura and I’m addicted to Hawaii !!!
This Summer we visited Oahu and Big Island : 16 days in PARADISE !!!!!
We came all the way from ………….. YES !!! ……………… ITALY !!!! a long trip , with stops in Chicago and Los Angeles - but well worth it !!!
Still now the ALOHA spirit is all around us - back home in Italy ( we ARE Italians ); this was our fourth trip to the islands - one we have been dreaming about for a whole year : I’ve gone through a very hard treatment ( and I’m not well even now ) … but HAWAII helped me to go through very rough days , and I always kept smiling and dreaming about Waikiki and Keauhou !!!
The hula shows, those fragrant leis , the cute turtles I could see each day while in Big Island , the kindness of Hawaii people … all these are precious memories of a life time !!! THANK YOU also to your blog - I’ve learned a lot from it !!!
We are already saving money … to go back to Hawaii as soon as we can !!!
CIAO !! laura from Italy
Hello, my name is David, and I’m addicted to Hawaii.
I’ve always wanted to visit Hawaii ever since I was a little kid. I grew up in the middle of the desert in Roswell New Mexico of all places. Living in the desert has a strange way of making people like me fantasize about visiting tropical islands.
Then I moved to Denver after High School. While living in Denver, most of my friends visited Hawaii and everybody had the exact same reaction. Everybody immediately started planning the next visit or started fantasizing about moving there.
So… Since everybody I knew who went to Hawaii wanted to go right back or stay forever… and I had a strong feeling that I would have the same type of reaction… I decided to go for broke and buy a one-way ticket.
That was 10 years ago. I’m still here & I still feel like I’m on vacation. :^)
Hello, my name is Nathan, and I’m addicted to Hawaii. Through I need to disclose I was born and raised here.
But to your point about Hawaii being addictive, I’ve heard this many times over in dealing with colleagues and friends that have visited. I work in public relations and have met numerous travel journalists on assignment covering Hawaii. Most agree that there is an unspoken “something” that exists here and no place else in the world. Local call it the Aloha Spirit.
I’ve had journalists cry on press trips after meeting with the locals, listening to the history of these islands, growing up and living in the islands. They’ve also told me they’ve been able to reconnect with themselves after a visit.
If you break down the meaning of the word “Hawaii” itself its very clear why people feel this way about the island. This website does a good job explaining:
http://www.kaleoaloha.com/hawaii.html
HA - Means the “breathe of life”.
WAI - In literal English means, “fresh water.” In it’s metaphoric use means, “The water of life” or the”living waters”
I - This word is literally, the word/ or tone denoting or implying the concept of a supreme God, original consciousness. Hawaiians would as a culture, refrain from speaking directly about the supreme.
Looking forward to finding you in our islands again soon. Aloha and a hui hou!
“Hello, my name is Heike, and I’m addicted to Hawaii.” Kind of strange for a girl, born and raised in Germany and now living in North Carolina. I grew up with lot’s of music in my home, flowers in the hair, lot’s of german luau’s, and family was very important.
After moving to the states a big part of me was missing. I began to listen to old Hawaiian music my mama and papa listened to and began to love the islands of Hawaii. Ever since that day, I have been going completely crazy over it. I began to teach Yoga with a Aloha spirit and called it “Aloha Yoga”. The workshops are still going on right now. But that was not enough, I began a web-site called alohawilmington.com to share the spirit of Aloha. Wow! It spilled over to so many people. There is a magical, special feeling living the Aloha spirit, it is an essential part of life-like breathing. Living Aloha is giving back to the ‘ohana (community) and it makes your heart feel good. And best of all, it’s contagious.
Wow, I am blown away from all your great responses.
@ Andy - your statement, “there’s only one Hawaii and it gets in your blood!” is too true.
@ marco/laura - I thought I had a long journey to travel to Hawaii from North Carolina, but you have an even longer one. Wow…all the way from Italy. I hope you get well soon and get back to Hawaii sooner rather than later!
@ Dave - what a bold step to buy a one-way ticket. You are very blessed to feel like you are always on vacation. How cool!
@ Nathan - I can relate to this “unspoken something” that you mentioned. I think it’s something in the air. Thanks so much for sharing the meaning of the word Hawai’i. That would make a great blog post!
@ Heike - Aloha fellow North Carolinian! What a neat story of your connection to Hawaii via Germany! What a blessing you must be to the Wilmington area by sharing and teaching the Aloha Spirit. That’s simply amazing!
So, Sheila - How many trips exactly have you made to Hawaii from your continental-U.S. home?
Hi, I’m Kara and I’m addicted to Hawaii!
I’ve been to Hawaii 5 times:
- when I worked at a NYC-based magazine and took a press trip to check out the brand-new Kea Lani resort hotel (now a Fairmont) on Maui
- on a Globus tour of 4 islands (I worked for the tour company; I think an escorted tour is a great way to get a taste of many islands)
- with my then-8-month-old daughter, hubby, and assorted family for a condo stay on Maui
- on a family vacation to Kauai, just last year when kids were 5 & 7 (that ROCKED)
- and most recently, this year with my fellow Traveling Mamas, where we spent 3 nights on Maui, and then split up to explore other islands — I got Lanai & Molokai. I *cannot wait* to go back to those two remote islands and bring my family next time.
Eesh… now I want to research airfares…
Me, too! Me, too! Me, too!
I’ve been to Hawaii twice — both for work — and I am dying to just go without an agenda someday. But I’d go on assignment again, too! Wanna send me??
@ Kara/MountainMama - Sounds like you’ve seen quite a bit of Hawaii! Isn’t it nice to get off the beaten path onto Lanai and Molokai? Ah, Lanai reminds me of total pampering and relaxation - two activities I love!
I just counted up my trips and I’ve only been to Hawaii 8 times roundtrip. Since we travel from North Carolina, we try to go for more than a week and sometimes two each time. We also try to go to two islands each trip. On one trip, we were went to 3 different islands. The funny thing is every time I go to Hawaii, I think my to do list for my next visit gets even longer. There’s so much to do and see and experience!
Do check out the fares! I think there’s a good chance you may find some pleasant surprises. I’ll cross my fingers for you!
@ Angela - Haha! If I could send you I would. I hope you get back to Hawaii without an agenda soon! There are some great hotel deals this fall!
Hello, my name is Pam. I have gone without Hawaii for almost a year now, and it’s been a struggle every single day.
The first time I tasted sweet sweet Hawaii, we flew thousands of miles, from our expat home in Austria to land in Kona. When we stepped off the plane into the open air, I smelled the plumeria and I knew I was in big, big trouble.
Things have only gotten worse. Never mind the closet full of Hawaiian shirts. Never mind the ukulele collection. Never mind the guide books, the slide show that I play over and over and over again, especially on days like today’s gray cold October morning. Never mind our beach wedding on Maui. Never mind all that.
Not a day goes by that we don’t wake up and think, “WHY ARE WE NOT IN HAWAII?!? WHY?!”
A-hem. Hello, my name is Pam and I am a Hawaii addict.
Oh, Pam, I had to smile at your last line! Sounds like we are kindred spirits who will probably live (willingly) with this addiction for the rest of our lives!
Now did I see that you’ve written a guide book? What’s the name of it? Do you have a link for it? I’d love to check it out!