Why I Want to Move to Hawaii

So I want to move to Hawaii. Who doesn't, right? Actually, I am sure many people don't. But many of us dream of having 808 as our area code.

It's hard to put into words why I want to live in Hawaii so much. In some ways it's quite simple and in others it's so complex (deep) I don't know I can put words to the emotions it sirs up in me.

Simply: I love how stunningly beautiful Hawaii is. I love how amazing the water is and warm!!! I actually never liked the beach until I honeymooned in Hawaii. I could have hung out on the beach the entire time we were there. But thankfully we did do a lot more than just play in the water and layout on the sand. We went snorkeling and to a Luau and horse back riding. We drove around the island of Oahu and had an absolute blast.

I've been to Hawaii in the months of September, October and December and the weather was fantastic. Even when it was extremely humid it was wonderful! I've spent summers in Mississippi and that kind of humidity was annoying in comparison.
So simply put Hawaii is beautiful, and the opportunities for out door adventures is nearly endless. So why not just vacation there?

Complexly: I have a connection with Hawaii I cannot explain. On my first trip, our honeymoon, we went on a day outing to the Kualoa Ranch (where they film a lot of scenes in LOST) and part of our day there we spent our time on a private island. Wow! What an experience! One of the best things was talking to the people working there.

I met a young man who grew up on the islands. He left after high school to "make it" on the mainland (I think he said he moved to Oregon) and though he was making good money he was miserable. He said that he would rather be poor all his life in Hawaii than rich and comfortable on the mainland -just visiting Hawaii for vacation.

By this point I had the Hawaii bug (It was almost the end of our vacation) and I was trying to figure out how in the world I could move! So I asked him lots of questions and he was so kind to take the time and chat with me. He told me a lot about the culture and how people really take care of each other there. He told me about the hardships and issues of the islands too, but he spoke of his Hawaii like a man in love with his bride!

We have been back together two more times. And honestly, each time I go back I fall more in love with Hawaii. I love the Aloha spirit -being called "Cousin" with affection and a very spiritual feeling I have there. I have never felt more "at home" than when I am in Hawaii. Some times when I wake up and before I open my eyes I imagine I am in Hawaii. And when the weather is awesome here and I sit outside and close my eyes I imagine I am on my lanai in Hawaii.

On our 3 trips we've visited Oahu, Maui and the Big Island. Our second trip was about 2 weeks long and we were on all three islands. I loved the Big Island. I loved that when we landed at the airport it was the smallest air port I had ever seen and that it felt like we were totally in another world. I loved the black lava rock everywhere and I loved exploring that island! We sadly weren't there for very long, but it was amazing. I loved going through the rain forest to get to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The feeling was surreal and I still enjoy that car ride just thinking back on it.

When we were in Maui on that trip and our last trip we loved driving around the island and enjoying the spectacular landscape and diverse environments (from the top of Mt Haleakala) to the extremely tropical side of Maui (on the road to Hana). If we could live anywhere we've been so far I think it would be Maui -though it appears to be the most expensive so I doubt we'll live there.


View from car while driving to our hotel on our fist day in Maui -I was so taken by the lush green and dramatic peaks of these mountains and who doesn't love a rainbow?



On our last trip to Maui we stopped on the road to Hana a few times to buy fruit and to take pictures, etc. On one stop I spent a while chatting with a young woman running a fruit stand. I was almost jealous of her. She was living where I wanted to live. She was probably quite poor by monetary standards, but Paradise was her backyard and she was living her dream.

Me looking out over the water around Maui. This was taken during a stop along the road to Hana.


Looking over what I wrote, I can say that I am not even touching what Hawaii means to me. And I doubt I actually can. Like my passion for Christ -I cannot use words to describe it. There are no words I have, no matter how I arrange them, to describe Him and probably only a few for Hawaii.

I had an amazing experience while snorkeling in Maui (on my last trip). I saw a huge sea turtle. I could have touched it (though I wouldn't dare!). We looked at each other. Time stood still. I will cherish that forever. But it went beyond a "cool experience" it was amazing! Sure I could vacation there every few years and go snorkeling again, but I want access to that year round. Really, I do. I want my children to have the ocean as their playground. (As much as that terrifies me -I still want it for them.)

But here's how I can maybe best describe this unbelievable desire. I cry about Hawaii. I am not one to cry easily or just over anything. But certain things touch me in such a deep way tears are my immediate response. There are certain songs I cannot sing. I can never finish them without weeping too much to utter the words. This happens a lot in church. I just sway to the beautiful melody and hear the words and sing them in my heart for Jesus while tears stream down my cheeks. It's annoying sometimes, but it is the way He made me. And I cry for Hawaii. It's often a happy cry. Like when my daughters are adorable, or do something new for the first time or I catch them just enjoying their life. It moves me to tears. That painful notch in my throat instantly appears and the tears come.

Hawaii comes to me in my dreams and it beckons me to return. I have wanted few things more than I want to live in Hawaii. Just writing that, giving a physical form to this desire is emotional. I am willing to bet that only those of you reading this who are trying to move to Hawaii too can understand what I mean. I assure you that I am a sound minded, well educated, woman with an indescribable love for Hawaii.