Hawaii changed my life

Hawaii Changed My Life – Here Are My Thoughts On Life In Paradise

UPDATED MAR 2020. I have been organizing my green card renewal documents lately. For this, I have had to document the last 2 and a half years of living in Hawaii and it’s made me quite reflective. I printed a bunch of photos for my package to submit to the immigration department and it has brought back lots of good memories. I kept thinking about how much my life has changed since moving here and how much I have grown as a person. Naturally, there are some obvious changes like the fact that I got a tan and use the shaka symbol a whole lot more. In today’s post, I wanted to share some of the other ways in which living in Hawaii changed my life. 

Hawaii Changed My Life – Here Are My Thoughts On Life In Paradise

A reflective post on the ways in which living in Hawaii changed my life. If you will be moving to the islands, it might give some insight on what to expect.

1. Living in Hawaii changed how I think about the sunrise

I’ve always been an early riser. But, until I moved to Hawaii I didn’t realize that I never actually stopped to appreciate the sunrise.

Before moving here, I would wake up in the dark, go to the gym. By the time I got out the sun had risen and I would have missed the whole thing.

To be honest, it never mattered to me.

Since moving to Hawaii, I find watching the sunrise to be an experience in and of itself.

It’s one I am quite addicted to. With some of the most beautiful backdrops and breathtaking landscapes, it’s easy to get addicted to the early morning starts and the chase of finding new places to watch the sun greet the day.

Hawaii changed my life

2. It changed my opinion of Spam

It’s crazy to those who haven’t been here, but Spam is actually a popular food here in Hawaii.

There are so many different flavors sold in the stores, there are Spam options on the menu at McDonald’s, and you can even get Spam-flavored macadamia nuts.

I don’t eat much meat because of my Endometriosis, but when I moved here I tried a few of the Spam specialties and I can vouch for them being much better than I would have thought. Ok, a lot better than I thought.

I even made Spam Musubi at home once!

3. I developed a newfound appreciation for adventure

Living in Hawaii definitely made me appreciate outdoor adventures so much more than I ever had before.

It was as though Hawaii pulled back a set of curtains to reveal a lifestyle of outdoor adventures that don’t have to be saved for special occasions. In Hawaii, I could adventure all the time.

It didn’t matter if I was on my own or with friends, and a fun adventure was never too far away.

As time went on I found that not only did I have fun on each adventure, but it became a very necessary part of my life. Now I could not imagine living life without fun adventures.

I have learned that life is to be enjoyed, instead of going through the motions for the majority of the time and only actually enjoying a small percentage of the time we have.

 

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4. Living in Hawaii helped me improve my photography skills

If you are into photography then Hawaii is a great place to improve your skills.

Perhaps it’s the stunning landscapes that become your subject matter?

Or the diversity of backdrops from mountains, to beaches, to jungles, or downtown.

Living in Hawaii has enhanced my interest in photography and taken it to a whole new level.

It’s also allowed me to spend time behind the lens with fellow photography enthusiasts who also love to adventure and take photos.

5. I was inspired by the simple things

If it wasn’t for Hawaii I would for sure be wasting away in an office cubicle somewhere. I’d probably be very comfortable and making money, but married to my job.

This is what my life was before I moved to Hawaii.

Since I left high school I was on a mission to work hard and climb the ladder. I enjoyed life because I enjoyed working hard and achieving success, but I didn’t realize that there was another side of life to be enjoyed.

In Hawaii, I began to see the simple things of families spending time together on hikes or at the beach, camping trips on weekends, friends getting together to watch the sunrise. In these moments, I didn’t see the rushed, work-a-holic pace. I saw enjoyment.

It was here that I realized that maybe life isn’t all about work. It inspired me to quit a job I had in a toxic environment and create my blog.

6. It changed my relationship to my surroundings

Hawaii gave me a sense of connectedness with my surroundings that I don’t think I had experienced before.

I’m not sure how to explain it, but this place really made me feel at home and ‘one’ with the world. I am not the type of person to be settled and stay in one place. I have always liked moving around and have never been connected with one spot.

While I have been living in Hawaii, I have felt an overwhelming sense of home. Like I am actually connected to my surroundings instead of just passing through.

I feel very connected to nature and, for a hippie at heart, that is a wonderful feeling to have.

7. I was reminded of the good in people

Hawaii changed my life with the aloha spirit.

I know ‘the locals’ get a bad rap sometimes, but I really think that if you put positive out and then you get it back.

Personally, I have been lucky to have met people who have shown me kindness, help, hospitality, and friendship.

From the time a stranger invited me to her families Christmas lunch because she knew I had just moved here and was alone, to the friendly camping neighbors who watched my friends child so she could go diving with us, to the team at Venture Hawaii who gave my blog a shoutout on their website or even to the countless supportive people I meet at the beach or on the trails who I end up chatting up a storm with, there is a lot of good energy here.

I am so lucky to have experienced it.

8. It changed my view of raw fish

I never would have thought that I would enjoy eating a bowl of raw fish.

Ever.

The first time I ordered Poke was a total accident while I was having lunch at a beachfront resort on the Big Island. I simply saw Ahi on the menu and assumed it would be grilled to perfection.

I couldn’t even pronounce it, instead, I looked at the waiter and then just pointed to it on the menu.

When the plate of raw fish was placed in front of me I stared at it for a little while with a hint of sadness and a whole lot of ‘what on Earth is this creation?’

I don’t like to waste food, so I ate it and was pleasantly surprised when it turned out to be delicious. Nowadays, I still enjoy it and can order it without having to point at it on the menu!

9. I learned that even paradise can’t keep everyone happy

This was a huge shock to me. I was narrow-minded and thought that Hawaii was a tropical paradise. Hawaii changed my life in such positive ways and I thought it was like that for everyone.

But, I have talked with many people here who hate living in Hawaii.

A lot of the people were in the military circuit and not open to experiencing a lifestyle different from home. Others were people who had lived here their whole lives and ready to explore the world.

In these conversations, people would focus on the bugs, traffic, and cost of living. Forgetting all about the beautiful marine wildlife, the turquoise water, and those stunning mountains.

The conversations puzzled me at first. But, in the end, they taught me that paradise doesn’t mean the same thing to everyone. One man’s paradise is another man’s nightmare.

 

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I hope you enjoyed this post on how living in Hawaii changed my life. Have you lived in Hawaii, and how did it change you?

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13 Comments

  • Viki March 15, 2016 at 1:38 pm

    Hi Katie!
    I came across your Instagram page and started reading your blog. I lived in Hawaii for about 8 months and miss every little thing about it. I moved there to be with my boyfriend while he finished college.
    I enjoyed reading this part of your blog because I agreed with everything you said. I am itching to move back! Maybe one day!!
    Thanks for sharing your experience!

    Reply
    • Katie Mac March 17, 2016 at 9:29 am

      Hi! Thank you for stopping by! I hope you can return to the islands one day and enjoy it a little more. 🙂

      Reply
  • Deb August 3, 2016 at 11:45 am

    I enjoyed reading about your time in Hawaii. I also have a blog about Hawaii, called retiredinHawaii.blogspot.com

    Reply
    • Katie Mac August 8, 2016 at 10:23 pm

      Thank you! Keep up the awesome work xx

      Reply
  • Sophie February 28, 2017 at 5:59 am

    I like reading your page! I’ve been to Oahu a couple of times with family and/or with my boyfriend and we are making to move in August with our dog. I’m excited to take a step back from Los Angeles life and experience the island life. If you have any tips for making the move easier, please let me know!

    Reply
    • Katie Mac February 28, 2017 at 10:12 am

      Hi Sophie! How exciting that you will be moving to Hawai’i! My biggest suggestion would be to get started preparing your dogs move early, because the requirements for taking pets to the island are quite strict and involve quarantine. So I would look into getting that started as soon as you can to make it as smooth as possible. Other than that I think you will have a great time there and hope you stay in touch!

      Reply
  • Nienke April 27, 2017 at 2:39 am

    Hi!
    I found your blog on pinterest, my name is Nienke and I am from Holland
    I love to read stuf like this. I never been to Hawaii but I am traveling a lot and the world
    feels home for me now instead of 1 place. Currently I am in Australia, just did a roadtrip from Sydney to Cairns, amazing!
    My dream is to continue traveling and earn money online so I can actually achieve my dream.

    My hunk is now coming to me from Holland, to join my lifestyle
    Send you my love and wish you all the best in Hawaii with your hunk!

    Reply
    • Katie Mac April 27, 2017 at 11:51 am

      You’re awesome Nienke and thanks so much for following along my little blog! I totally agree that the world feels like home to you now instead of one place – that’s a great way of looking at it and a great feeling to have! Good luck with all your dreams and have fun with your hunk! I hope to keep in touch 🙂

      Reply
  • Kate July 20, 2017 at 6:43 pm

    My husband lived in Hawaii for three years after college to teach. He LOVED being there, but the fact his family was 4,000 miles away was difficult. His grandmother passed away and he wasn’t able to go to her funeral. We recently went back for a vacation and while we loved it (and I would love to visit again and explore some more!) I know that as gorgeous as it is, I would get island fever after a bit if we moved there. Of course our kids loved it so much, they are talking about going to college there…

    Reply
    • Katie Mac July 25, 2017 at 2:12 pm

      Thanks Kate, I hope you get to go back and explore some more of the beautiful islands sometime! I’ve known a few others who got island fever when they lived there and I think it’s a lot harder for people who move from more of a landlocked area. If you’re used to long drives the island can seem very small! I personally didn’t experience it but I only lived there for 3 years and there is so much to do on the islands that I didn’t run out of adventures.

      Reply
  • Candace October 9, 2017 at 6:05 am

    Hi Kate,
    I am currently in the process of quitting my job and moving to Maui. But first I am moving back to Mom and Dad’s house in Los Angeles for 6 months to save up money to make the move. Do you have any advice on finding the right housing? I am interested in living with multiple people in a house. I dont want to have just 1 roommate or live on my own. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Hoping to be living in Maui by April 2018!!

    Reply
    • Katie Mac October 9, 2017 at 10:41 am

      Hi Candace, Sounds like exciting times ahead for you! I found housing on Craigslist and it worked out great for me. I didn’t do share housing but as I was searching I did see some share housing options available. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  • hawaii moving speed September 25, 2019 at 2:48 am

    It is true Hawaii is the place to travel and to live in that place. I’m planning to move their soon. I wanna live in that kind of peaceful and nice place full of beautiful places.

    Reply

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