My Experiences in Hawaii This Summer.
Just the other day, I got home from a five-day Hawaiian vacation with my parents and my younger sister, Holly. I have been to Hawaii well over a dozen times in my thirty-two years, and Kauai still is, and will always be, my very favorite island out of them all. It is colloquially known as “The Garden Isle,” and anyone who knows me well at all knows that I love nature. This is why I always feel drawn to Kauai. The only other two places in the world that I am as drawn to are the city of San Francisco, and my alma mater, Occidental College. My parents booked our airfare for this trip way back in December, so suffice it to say that I was really looking forward to this particular excursion.
I had a very enjoyable and positive experience flying with United out of LAX. Our plane was a relatively new 737 Max, and it was my first time boarding the controversial jet. By the end of the vacation, I ended up deciding that the Max is my new favorite narrow-body aircraft. The windows are large, and the cabin feels very airy and spacious. I also noticed that the noise of the engines is greatly reduced compared to older aircrafts. For those of you who do not know, my late grandfather on my mother’s side used to be a pilot with United, so I always look especially forward to flying with them.
The south shore of Kauai never fails to remind me of my childhood, because many special summers were spent there with my immediate family and friends. Since I last stayed in Poipu when I was a kid, it was interesting to see what had changed, and what has stayed the same. The Kiahuna Plantation resort was the same as ever; however some of the restaurants nearby had been changed out since the days of my youth. It had been years since we last stayed on this part of the island—our last few Hawaiian vacations found us on the north shore in Princeville.
In a way, even more special than the island was the valuable time I got to bond with my family. We did everything together; from relaxing at the local beach and pool to exploring the Allerton Botanical Gardens, which were simply splendid and constituted one of the best experiences in nature I have ever had. Father’s Day and my dad’s 60th birthday made the vacation even more invigorating and unique than it would have otherwise been.
As I write this, I can almost feel the humid island air, energizing me as I breathe it in. Displayed in my bedroom is a small souvenir map of Kauai. I basically have it memorized. I truly feel like, as we flew away, a part of me was left behind on this island. That part of me will always reside there, and will always welcome me back, should I ever decide to visit The Garden Isle again. I am certain that, in the future, I will elect to do so.
Me enjoying a POG smoothie at my dad’s favorite restaurant on the island, Keoki’s Paradise.