Oahu, Hawaii - The Danger of Expectations and Beauty in Exploration
- Lindy-Joy
- Sep 9, 2019
- 5 min read
Updated: Oct 1, 2019
"At its best, travel should challenge our preconceptions and most cherished views, cause us to rethink our assumptions, shake us a bit, make us broader minded and more understanding."
- Arthur Frommer
I’m from wee New Zealand, the island that never seems to expose itself on the map. It seems that a game of hide and seek would be appropriate! Not. Having travelled to other destinations overseas, America had not yet been one of them. That statement is no longer true, if you haven’t already caught on.
I went to Hawai’i!
Out of all honesty, I didn’t have much of a desire to visit any of the states before this trip. Despite this, there was no way I was turning down a holiday. Who would be crazy enough to do that? Any excuse to go travelling and I’m in. Especially when that entails ditching the winter weather in Auckland!
Reflecting on my time spent in Hawai’i now, I am astonished at how much I’ve learnt. On first arrival my initial, honest thoughts were, oh no, I don’t think I'm going to like it here. Whether that was due to exhaustion, previous expectations or first impressions, it was purely how I felt at the time. Not to worry though, this took a turn for the best on my second day here! I went from throwing all hopes for a spectacular time abroad into the ocean to falling deeply in love with the diverse and cultural Island of Oahu.
The bumpy road when we first arrived involved hectic lines at the airport after being up all night, overpriced taxis and waiting for three hours before getting into our apartment. On top of all this, in the pit of my stomach brewed an uncertainty at how this trip was truly going to unveil; it was my first time travelling alone overseas with my parents… ever. Disillusionment prevailed when I stared into the face of our current travel plans. Exhaustion and my expectations of perfect and smooth travels really did get the better of me. When in reality, travel really ain't that easy. An infamous quote in our family is this: ‘Travel is not for the faint hearted.’ Mum said this first in the London train station around two years ago as we sat, flustered and frustrated, waiting for our train with heavy, heavy suitcases. And it has followed me ever since. Safe to say this wasn’t too funny a saying at the time. But the truth of it always finds a cheeky way to sink in. It reminds me that to travel takes motivation, preparation and resilience. With the delight of travelling the world there’ll almost always be a few bumps along the way and challenges to conquer; however, nothing that won't make the journey and destination even more worth the while!
For our twelve days abroad we spent on one of the Hawaiian islands: O’ahu. This island, often referred to as, ‘The Heart of Hawaii’, is one of the busiest and most populated in comparison to the other five. After being there, I can confirm that it really does live up to its nickname! There were seriously no limitations as to what the island had to offer from the beaches, surf, history, shopping and food. Oahu is the pure embodiment of Hawaii in all its glory. The state capital, Honolulu, is located here along with the famous Waikiki Beach, Pearl Harbour and surf towns. Hawaii is a place where people are welcome from all over the planet. Wherever you go, you’re never quite sure what stranger you're gonna meet; they may just change your world. You never know what the next day is going to hold.
Everyday spent in Oahu surprised me in wonderful ways. From exploring the vibrant town of Halewai, diving off Waimea Bay’s massive rock, beach hopping along the Windward Coast and snorkeling at Hanauma Bay - everything I was witnessing was blowing my mind. Not to mention the endless fun to be had exploring little markets by our hotel, the buzzing shopping hub of Waikiki and it’s famous surfing waves! I shopped, swam and ate in copious amounts, and then did it all over again. Gradually, the three of us found a steady flow and balance in travelling with one another. My parents let me decide the itinerary for every day and were always keen to do fun things with me. Dads first time surfing is a story for another time!
I’ve come to the conclusion that the hopelessness I experienced twelve days ago was because of the expectations I had set in place for my travels which had not been met immediately. Why should they? It’s terribly unfortunate when things don’t go quite to plan. Yet, in the end, that is the beauty of travel and life. These times of endurance during travel taught me patience, gratefulness and the power of choice. More importantly, they taught me the danger of placing a destination on a pedestal and expecting it to meet every single experience you’ve heard from others on it. I want to make a conscious effort when I travel, to be kind to the place I visit and patient for the precious hidden gems it has to offer to be revealed, each one different from the last. If you don’t do this, you will constantly be searching for the fantasy and won’t be present in reality. If I have any advice it is this: listen to the experiences of people and take snippets of what they say on your journey, but be careful not to mix these with your expectations of the place you’re visiting. The experiences of those who have gone before me are unique to them and mine is bound to be completely different.
That is where the beauty of it all lies.
It is never ever going to be identical.
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder… and I’ve found I’m experiencing just that. Every trip carries with it memories, some marvellous and some, mediocre; yet, whenever I think of Hawaii, I cannot help but reminisce the most delightful and magical moments I encountered in my time spent there. I have every intention and hope to be back in that beautiful island one day soon. My wish for you is that you will be blessed enough to do the same. For now, I’ll have to settle my restless spirit and be satisfied with simply, writing about it. This will just have to suffice.
Here's a heartfelt thank you to Hawai’i and the beautiful people who reside there for gifting me with such a priceless experience I will never forget. Thank you to my parents, young spirited and always up for a spontaneous adventure.
I am in awe of you, Hawaii.
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