100 Things That Happened To Me While Living In Hawaii

UPDATED MAR 2020. By now you guys know the story of how I came to live in Hawaii. Unfortunately, my time in that beautiful island paradise has come to an end. When I think about it, I can’t believe I lived there for three years – where did the time go? What a big adventure it was though. I was reflecting on my time while I was journaling and I made this list of 100 wonderful things that happened to me while living in Hawaii. At first, I thought, ‘Don’t post that Katie, it just sounds like you’re bragging’. The idea nagged at me though, and I usually post the ideas that linger in my little brain. 

100 Things That Happened To Me While Living In Hawaii

Living in Hawaii changed my life. Here are 100 wonderful things that happened to me (with links) and how being positive and open led me to these things.

It kept coming up because I see a lot of negativity and complaints from people who are living in Hawaii temporarily, usually after being sent here with the military.

I used to hear all the same things when I lived in Darwin, which is where I lived before moving to the US.

I can absolutely understand why someone wouldn’t like these places. We all have our differences and enjoy different things. That makes complete sense.

The part I don’t understand is why you would spend the amount of time you have living in these places whinging and complaining about how you don’t like it or how it is not like your home.

I will never see value in that mentality.

Take Darwin for example. I moved there because after University I accepted a job offer that I couldn’t turn down.

Darwin wasn’t exactly my ‘cup of tea’ per se, but I made the choice to accept the job so I was going to make the most of my time there. Darwin had really beautiful places to offer and fun adventures to be had, I just had to be open to finding them.

It turned out to be a great experience!

best hawaii instagram

Hawaii was a lot easier for me because it combines a lot of things I love (definitely my ‘cup of tea’). I arrived with an open mind to enjoy my new home and it too has been full of great experiences!

Actually, in a sense, the list I am sharing is irrelevant. The main lesson is that if I focused on the negative aspects of living there, then I would not be able to write this today. It would have been a miserable experience.

I just hope this post inspires someone out there to know that if you are open to experiencing the good in life, even if you are in a situation that may not be your ‘cup of tea’, you will create a better experience.

Life is what you make it.

 

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  1. I went cliff diving.
  2. I stood by ancient ruins.
  3. I was inspired by countless people.
  4. I had a unique photo shoot with Venture Hawaii.
  5. I was married on a beautiful beach.
  6. I was constantly inspired by talented creatives.
  7. I fell in love with watching the sunrise.
  8. I adopted my two princess dogs.
  9. I went island hopping 6 times.
  10. I had a staycation at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and explored Oahu.
  11. I improved my hiking ability (something that scares me).
  12. I devoured a whole lot of refreshing shave ice.
  13. I went on a Jeep adventure tour with The Real Hawaii.
  14. I was rejected by people which led me to meet a close circle of friends.
  15. I was constantly restored and renewed by nature.
  16. I stood under cascading waterfalls.
  17. I explored ocean caves.
  18. I feasted at a Luau.
  19. I was left speechless by the beauty of the island… many times!
  20. I stayed at the luxurious Turtle Bay Resort.
  21. I watched talented Hula dancers perform.
  22. I hiked to the top of mountains.
  23. I hiked deep into jungles and valleys.
  24. I did nightly workouts at my favorite gym – the beach.
  25. I strolled through world-famous Waikiki.
  26. I found serenity at the Byodo-Inn Temple.
  27. I enjoyed the many farmer’s markets on the island.
  28. I went stand up paddle boarding on the ocean.
  29. I set up my hammock just about everywhere.
  30. I went kayaking.
  31. I took a history lesson at Pearl Harbor.
  32. I saw the epic North Shore winter swell and Pipeline surf competition.
  33. I ate the most delicious Acai bowls.
  34. I cruised on the most scenic coastal drives.
  35. I set up ‘camp pineapple‘ on the best camping trips of my life.
  36. I swam with wild dolphins.
  37. I fostered a bunch of animals.
  38. I welcomed my husband to our first home after deployment.
  39. I conquered a fear of horses on a trail ride.
  40. I started my blog to connect with others – here’s a guide on how to start your own.
  41. I saw whale watching for free all whale season.
  42. I held a Tako (Octopus).
  43. I chased adventure and new experiences.
  44. I swam with sharks.
  45. I enjoyed the simple beauties of life.
  46. I ate Poke and loved it.
  47. I saw the sky on fire in some awe-inspiring sunsets.
  48. I swam with turtles.
  49. I ate the delicious Malasadas (they should be sold worldwide!)
  50. I was constantly challenged and inspired.
  51. I went ziplining on the North Shore.
  52. I swam with one HUGE Eagle Ray and a bunch of regular size ones.
  53. I learned about a beautiful, rich culture.
  54. I experienced some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
  55. I ate the freshest fruit and drank the sweetest fresh coconuts.
  56. I went underwater rock running.
  57. I lived by the beach, listening to the ocean waves each night.
  58. I gained confidence by constantly challenging myself.
  59. I made a fresh flower crown at a local workshop.
  60. I climbed the Koko Head stairs of doom.
  61. I gained an incredible amount of respect for the island and Earth in general.
  62. I explored ‘secret’ treasures of the island.
  63. I stood in a volcanic crater.
  64. I saw the breathtaking Grand Canyon of the Pacific.
  65. I had back to back surgeries and the best rehab ever of chilling at the beaches.
  66. I swam in dreamy tide pools.
  67. I collected a bunch of sea glass.
  68. I became obsessed with pineapples.
  69. I saw (and swam with) Hawaiian Monk Seals.
  70. I improved my photography skills.
  71. I went on a tubing adventure in the jungle.
  72. I was able to share my love of the island with others.
  73. I adjusted to the new way of speaking (American slang & island slang) through a lot of awkward encounters.
  74. I learned valuable lessons like don’t fall asleep on the beach (after doing so and getting the worst sunburn of my life).
  75. I ate amazing seafood from trucks on the side of the road.
  76. I saw happy families sharing time camping at the beach which will always be one of the most inspiring things I’ve seen.
  77. I volunteered my time at an animal shelter.
  78. I taught myself how to drive on the opposite side of the road.
  79. I lived in the here and now.
  80. I saw the yearly beauty of the mountain apple turning the ground pink.
  81. I created fire magic with steel wool.
  82. I fell in love with mountain views.
  83. I soaked in the relaxing Kaneohe Sandbar vibes.
  84. I had the best adventure dates with my husband.
  85. I played in treehouses and on swings.
  86. I auditioned for Hawaii 5-0.
  87. I hiked to historic pillboxes.
  88. I took cultural lessons on weaving leaves.
  89. I  rented cruiser bicycles and cycled in style.
  90. I saw the King Kamehameha statue.
  91. I swam in a volcanically heated spring.
  92. I sparked an interest in yoga.
  93. I saw a gazillion rainbows and took a photo almost every time!
  94. I played on black, gold and green sand beaches.
  95. I watched an opera show.
  96. I cruised around Molokai in a rented U-haul van.
  97. I stood at the southernmost point in the USA.
  98. I did my own beach cleanups during outings and dive sessions.
  99. I took a tour at Kualoa Ranch.
  100. I eliminated anything toxic and surrounded myself with positive, inspiring people.

Relatable: Oahu Tourist Bucket List – The Ultimate List Of Things You Just Can’t Miss

living in Hawaii

I was scratched, bruised, stung, bitten, I slipped, I fell, I was covered in salt, sand, and mud. I was scared, I was brave. I was alone, I was with friends, I even got a little time with my husband.

I have grown, developed, laughed and cried and most of all I had the time of my life!

I really believe that life is what you make it and I hope this can help you to make the most of your life, wherever you are in the world.

And a big thank you to all of you guys who read my little blog or like my social media posts. However, you have engaged with me, I hope you know that I think it’s awesome that we’ve been able to connect through this platform.

Thank you for sharing the adventure of living in Hawaii with me and I hope we can stay in contact (& I hope you post lots of Hawaii pics so I can reminisce over them!)




17 Comments

  • Caroline May 31, 2016 at 5:03 am

    Lovely post! By the sounds of it, Hawai’i is an ideal place for me. Maybe one day I’ll move there too 🙂
    All the best on your next journey!

    Reply
    • Katie Mac May 31, 2016 at 10:17 pm

      Thank you so much! I hope you get to experience Hawai’i too 🙂

      Reply
  • Dan Scroggins June 1, 2016 at 5:57 am

    Aloha Katie! Wow what a list, I have to say lucky number 13 sounds AMAZING!!! Look forward to your adventures in Europe \m/

    Reply
    • Katie Mac June 2, 2016 at 11:33 pm

      Aloha! Yes #13 was pretty awesome! 🙂 Thanks so much!

      Reply
  • Sharon Hughes June 2, 2016 at 6:27 pm

    Wow Wee you sound like you have been a busy girl – such a great post with so much positiveness – a great way to realise how many amazing things you have done and achieved in such a short time really.

    Reply
    • Katie Mac June 2, 2016 at 11:34 pm

      Thanks so much Sharon! I was definitely busy but I’m lucky that it was in a good way 🙂

      Reply
  • J.S. Allen June 5, 2016 at 1:23 am

    Time is more valuable than possessions.

    Reply
    • Katie Mac June 6, 2016 at 11:57 pm

      Agreed 🙂

      Reply
  • Nate the Nomad June 6, 2016 at 10:28 pm

    Love your list! I can relate to some experiences I made there too! I am craving for a amazingly juicy pineapple here in Germany very often! Good part is, that I gonna be in Hawai’i from October to December! 🙂 So if you are still there, let’s meet! One question: How could you manage to see whales for free? I just saw them on Maui on a tour. We were lucky ones though, because 2 whales came to our boat and checked us out 🙂

    Reply
    • Katie Mac June 7, 2016 at 12:01 am

      Yes, the pineapples in Hawai’i are something special! I have moved on from Hawai’i and live in Italy now, but good luck spotting whales. To see them for free, you can definitely see them from the beach all the time during whale season which is really cool but as far as being on a boat, I’m not sure of anything that is free. The best I could suggest is to pay for a different boat tour (booze cruise, shark dive, dolphin dive etc) during whale season because then you will get a 2-in-1 🙂

      Reply
  • Viki June 18, 2016 at 7:49 am

    I love the long list of your experiences. You have definitely inspired me! Thanks for sharing!!

    Reply
    • Katie Mac July 20, 2016 at 11:07 pm

      Viki, you are so sweet! Thank you so much for that comment 🙂

      Reply
  • LiveYourAloha June 15, 2017 at 12:51 am

    Love your list! I’ll create one as well. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
    • Katie Mac June 28, 2017 at 1:11 pm

      Thanks for checking it out 🙂

      Reply
  • Natasha July 20, 2017 at 8:17 am

    This was amazing! You sure made use of your time here – even squeezed in some time for Hawaii 5-0 lol! I’m so glad you had a great stay here – I was born and raised on O’ahu and sometimes I take for granted how lucky I am to call Hawaii my home! Thanks for sharing!

    Natasha

    Reply
    • Katie Mac July 25, 2017 at 2:13 pm

      Thanks Natasha! Definitely made good use of the time and what a beautiful place you have to call home!

      Reply
  • Rob February 23, 2024 at 3:29 pm

    Loved the list, my wife and I also were married on a beach in Kauai. If you wouldn’t mind, I would like to get your thoughts on something. My wife is an RN and we are moving to Hawaii, and since we made the decision to move there we’ve encountered backlash (not from anyone from the islands) from different people saying things like “don’t go, they don’t want you there, I can’t believe you’d that would be ok” and things along those lines. While we’ve never experienced anything like that while visiting the islands, I do know visiting for a short period is different than living there. What are your thoughts on this and did you experience anything like this?

    Reply

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