DRIFT Travel Spring 2022

We booked our trip to celebrate our 3rd year wedding anniversary, but also
to see a good friend who lived in Waikiki. Lucky for us, our friend Tanner
was able to play as tour-guide during our visit. As soon as we landed, the first
thing we did was pick up poke-bowls and walked to Waikiki beach to touch
the ocean. The color of the water blew my mind. I had never seen such radiant
turquoise in my life. It really was stunning as I remembered always imagining
that the photos I had seen of Waikiki being overly saturated by photo-editing,
but the photos truly does not do justice to seeing the water for yourself.
Between bites of fresh Ahi Tuna with spicy mayo, we waded through the warm
water absorbing all the sights and sounds of Hawaii’s most touristy beach. We
didn’t want to spend long there, as Oahu is full of much more beautiful and
secluded beaches. But we knew we had to at least experience a bit of Waikiki,
especially in just arriving. Wading into the water was like a warm hello, a
welcoming hug from the island.
The spirit of the island is that of community. Everyone we met made us feel
like we belonged there from the moment we arrived. After finishing our Poké
bowls, we found a new friend at Kaimana’s Beach, just down the way from
Waikiki. After enjoying a couple beers at Kaimana’s Beach and taking in the
view, he took it upon himself to offer showing us some of his favorite spots
around the island. I can’t think of anywhere else on earth that has people like
this, who will drop everything at a simple hello and befriend you in an instant.
We came to Hawaii with nothing planned and nothing pertinently scheduled
so as to truly encompass the meaning of Aloha, the Hawaiian laid-back spirit
towards life. So, at the offer of seeing the island through a new friend’s eyes, we
took it to heart and accepted to meet up the next day.
TRAVEL OFTEN . LIVE WELL . 23