In 2010 I decided to pack up 3 suitcases and move to Maui by myself without a job or a place to live.  What could go wrong? In one of my suitcases was clothes, another pots and pans, and the last one… an air mattress… just in case.  I arrived at night and rented a car from a local. I found someone on Craigslist with a room available.  The room was so tiny that I couldn’t fit my 3 bags in it, and there were cats and chickens running through the house and the bathroom had a hose as the shower.  I took a deep breath, smiled, and thought to myself – THIS is going to be an adventure!

On my first day on the Island, I experienced the Aloha spirit.  People helped me out a ton! Within a week I had a job, a place to live, and a car of my own.  I ended up falling in love and staying in Maui for 2 years.  There are some truly magical places, but these were some of my favourite memories:

Surfing – I grew up in the prairies, but I always had this indescribable urge to surf.  I got to make that dream a reality in Maui.  I think surfing is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever experienced.  Waves are created in a storm full of chaos and that energy travels miles so that you get to see them in their last existence and ride them in their most beautiful state.  Surfing on the Lahaina shores was where I first stood up and where I learned to respect the ocean and its power after being put through the wash machine a few times

Whales – Every winter, Hawaii gets the pleasure of being the breeding ground for humpback whales.  It’s incredible to see baby calves learning to breech for the first time and play in the water and listen to them as you snorkel.  Turtles are everywhere and they’re a sign of good luck! I’ve got a soft spot for them and a smile every time I see them.

Hana – The Road to Hana is all about the journey.  You’ve got to stop and check out the waterfalls, bamboo forests, and rainbow eucalyptus trees along the way. Coconut Glen has the best homemade coconut ice cream just before town, and there’s some delicious Thai places to eat, like Thai Food by Pranee.  You can body surf at Black Sand Beach and lay in the sun on Red Sand Beach.  You can jump off the cliffs at the Seven Sacred Pools or go for a hike to a beautiful waterfall.  There is tons to do and there’s a great place to camp in the Park by the Seven Sacred Pools.  There’s so much that makes Hana what it is, but I’d go back in a heartbeat.

Sunset – The sunsets in Hawaii live up to their reputation.  I’m a sucker for watching a sunset – it’s like a sign of a good day’s work being done or a night just getting started.

The People – Another cheese-ball thing to say, but I miss the friendships I made.  They truly shaped my experience.  People always help make an experience what it is.  Those memories are something you can share together even if those people are there for an instant, a moment, or a life-time.