Coming of Age: Solo Trip to Paradise
Traveling solo is seriously underrated. With everyone busy at their 9 to 5 jobs, I decided to embark on an adventure. I am from New York City and always enjoyed the fast pace vibe. But, I knew that I had to take a trip to thoroughly relax. I chose Hawaii.
Before I left, I made a quick list.
Taking a helicopter ride: I chose the aerial route! I was able to see active lava, volcanoes, black sand beaches, and the coast. It was a magical experience; the tour guide was super informative on the history of the island. I was in awe.
Swimming with dolphins: My favorite experience of the whole trip, the dolphins were friendly, smart, and interactive. I had so much fun playing catch with them, the dolphins followed all of the trainers’ commands and they splashed water on us. The dolphin and I took a picture together. I have it hanging in my room.
Enjoy local eats: I am a huge fan of poke. It is a delicacy in Hawaii. My taxi driver recommended Poke Bombs. It was a rice, poke, and scallions wrapped in a tofu wrapper. Once I saw it, my mouth watered and the flavors had a unique explosion. I ordered a side of poke to snack on. The poke was incredibly fresh. When I mixed in the soy sauce and furikake (dried seasoning), it amped up the saltiness of the fish. Furikake was a new type of seasoning that I never tried; it has dried seaweed and dried fish.
Watch a kalua pig preparation: Early on a Saturday morning, I rose early to watch two employees from the hotel roast a pig! They seasoned the pig and wrapped it in banana leaves. The pig was going to be cooked for 5 hours. It is truly a labor intense task. I sampled some kalua pig with cabbage and mashed potatoes, it was yummy. The meat melted in my mouth and had a nutty flavor.
Meet locals and learn about the culture: I connected with a taxi driver who drove me all around Hilo, Waimea, Kona, and Waikoloa. He told all about the cultural eats like chocolate covered ika (squid) and chocolate covered macadamia nuts with potato chips inside. Both had a distinct taste. Who knew that I would actually enjoy a combination of sweet and fishy flavor? Another item that captured my attention is Macadamia Nut Butter Crunch, it had the creaminess of the macadamia nuts mixed in with the butter. The popcorn was crunchy and reminded me of kettle corn. I made sure to bring some treats home for family and friends.
I went halfway across the United States. I learned to enjoy all the moments including the sunshine. I wanted to check off experiences that I have never taken before. It was an exhilarating ride. Hawaii brought a lot of great memories and my stomach will miss it. There was a carefree vibe that I needed. Mahalo!