Hawai‘i feels like home—not because of luaus or the postcard sunsets, though I treasure both—but because of the people. The real aloha. The way locals call a cashier “auntie” or “uncle” at the market, with love and deep-rooted respect. That small gesture says everything about who they are. It reminds me of how I grew up—with values that saw people, honored elders, and treated land as sacred.
I don’t love Hawai‘i for the resorts or curated tourist experiences. In fact, what breaks my heart is seeing how parts of the culture are packaged for mainland profit while the spirit of the people gets overlooked. Hawai‘i isn’t a backdrop for your vacation selfies—it’s a living, breathing place with a soul. A holy land.
If you visit, come with humility. Leave your judgments and expectations behind. Don’t just stay—immerse. Eat with the locals. Go where the locals go. Listen to their stories. Respect their ocean. Honor their land.
Hawai‘i doesn’t welcome everyone. It welcomes those who want to know her, not just consume her.
For me, being there is a full-circle moment—because in Hawai‘i, I found something rare: a place where soul meets soil. And I’m endlessly grateful to feel at home in a land that still knows how to love, protect, and live with reverence.
I love Hawai‘i with all of my heart
0 Comments