Hawaii – The Bucket List Trip

I have dreamed of traveling to Hawaii since I was a young girl. I’m not sure why I never made it a priority. My family always gravitated towards the east coast for vacations. But dreams… they do come true. Hawaii should be near the top of everyone’s bucket list.  It’s a destination like no other, one that will stay with you even after you return home. Hawaii is Aloha.

In May, 8 of your Embrace the Journey Travel agents, including me, were hosted in Maui by one of our favorite travel suppliers, Pleasant Holidays. The purpose of the trip was for us to get a hands-on real world experience of the island. To see the sights, smell the amazing fragrances, listen to the calming crashing waves, experience the vibe… and that we did.

When I used to think of Hawaii, the first thoughts to enter my mind were always the touristy things… Waikiki, Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, even Disney’s Aulani (because any true Disney addict dreams of visiting!). These places are all a must do if you are on the island of Oahu. Maui is a completely different feel. The island is incredible. The feeling is “chill” – relaxed and laid back. The scenery is breathtaking. And the people are Ohana! They have a saying… Once you’ve been to Maui or any island in Hawaii, you are automatically Ohana for life.  

Driving down the roads from the airport to the western coast of Maui provided some beautiful ocean scenery. The mountains and cliffs all around with the sprinkling of palm trees, hibiscus, and plumeria all around provide that expected feeling of paradise. 

I watched in awe as free roaming chickens ran along the coast, locals strung their hammocks between the trees, ate from coolers and cast their fishing lines into the sea from the beaches where the water is a dozen shades of blue and clearer than you will ever find on any US beach.

We passed by flea markets and food trucks. I inhaled the salty sea air as I was watching the picture perfect sunset every. single. night.

We stayed in 3 different resorts during our week stay in Maui, and toured 15 total resorts during our stay. We learned about the different vibe at each location of the island so that when you, our clients, tell us how you like to vacation, we can put you in a resort that matches your tastes perfectly!  

We learned so much about Hawaiian history and culture. We ate (too much) amazing food and brought home some island recipes to try on our families.

We learned to hula dance, we snorkeled and snuba-dived with turtles and in a volcano crater, we flew in a helicopter over the Road to Hana and ate bananas off the trees. We experienced a Polynesian luau and dinner show. We were given the traditional leis, and even got to make our own Haku lei (flower crown/headdress).  

Like all trips like these, we are going from before the sun comes up until after the sun sets, and then getting on our laptops to make sure our clients’ needs are still being met. The trips are exhausting, but this trip is one that was worth every single minute and had us longing for more.

As we drove to the airport on our departure day, I looked out over the ocean and knew that Maui had become a part of my soul. It has forever changed my view on life. It has made me slow down when I find that I am wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of life.

So many of the people we met shared with us that they moved to Maui after only ONE visit there. Maui will change your life if you let it. 

Now it’s your turn to make traveling to a magical place like Maui a priority! Contact your Embrace the Journey Travel agent today and make your dream come true, too.

Thanks to Embrace the Journey Travel Planner, Sheila Nowell, for writing this blog post for us. You can learn more about Sheila here.