Taylor Bain
Hawaii, the closest I've ever come to Heaven on Earth.
Now that's a strong statement, but if you've been before, you get it. Most days, when I catch myself daydreaming, it's about Hawaii. It's one of those places that has always pulled at me, and anytime I think about it, I have a huge shit-eating grin plastered across my face. Those little islands out in the middle of the Pacific ignited my love for travel, nature, and real human contact. Oddly enough, my job took me there. It was my second travel nursing gig and I remember being so excited once I heard the news that I had landed the contract. I packed my bags and flew out in just a few short weeks.
The moment I arrived, I felt the 'Aloha Spirit'. I was immediately welcomed by a travel nurse I had met on Facebook. I took a few days to settle in. It was during this time that I truly realized there is something to be said about Hawaiian locals and their genuine nature to truly care about your well-being and experience, despite having just met you. The people are so willing to share with you their spirit and generosity. Despite being constantly surrounded by tourists, they still smile as they answer the same question they have been asked a million times already that day alone.
The 'Aloha Spirit' isn't just a myth.
I appreciated the locals' patience and made it my mission to learn how to properly thank and respect Hawaii's people, honor their land, and spread the 'Aloha Spirit' myself.
It was not hard to fall in love with this magical place with the white sand beaches, crystal clear blue waters, lush mountains, and volcanoes at my disposal. It's where I discovered my true passion for travel and the great outdoors. Being out in nature became a high for me, and I found myself literally craving adventure. Any and all of my free time was spent with friends exploring every single inch of the island. I had never felt so alive in my life. I found it wild that I could spend my morning up in the mountains hiking and my afternoon on a beach with friends enjoying a PB&J Uncrustable and a big wave.
I often thought to myself, "Is this my actual life?!". Crazy.
The big island of Hawaii opened the door to so many new opportunities, genuine friendships, and wild ideas. It formed me into an extremely passionate person. The spirit of Hawaii inspired me to be the best version of myself and truly enjoy life to the fullest.
I felt blessed to be immersed in one of God's most beautiful creations. Being surrounded by such beauty inspired me to capture my moments in nature, not only in my memories, but in photographs. Before I started traveling, my boyfriend at the time, now fiancé, gifted me a DSLR camera with the idea that I could capture all of my upcoming experiences. Hawaii was where I really started to put that camera to use and found my passion for capturing incredible landscapes. I tried my best to capture my view of it. I often find myself looking back on these photos and feeling so nostalgic. In normal circumstances, for whatever reason - I have a crap memory, but my memories of Hawaii are always so incredibly vivid. I can even remember some of my exact thoughts during some of those moments that I was able to capture. Absolute bliss.
I felt called to protect the islands that have given me some of my greatest experiences in life. I became more conscious of sustainability practices and started by purchasing a reusable water bottle, reusable bags, metal straws, and diligently recycling, among other things. I used reef safe sunscreen and I made sure to keep my distance from turtles and any other wildlife I came into contact with during my adventures. I found that one of the best ways to respect Hawaii and its people is to protect and appreciate their land and animals. Locals put great effort into sustainability and we need to do our best as tourists to help maintain and leave these islands as beautiful as we found them.
The greatest lesson this place taught me was to slow down and live in the moment. Appreciate the little things: the people you're with, the Mai Tai you're drinking as the sun sets, the sunny days and the rainy days, and the ability to just be present in everyday notions. I will be forever indebted to Hawaii for teaching me so much about myself in such a short period of time. I no longer look to material things for a sense of happiness, but rather enjoy the simple things like being out in nature, genuine human connection, and real experiences. Hawaii is the place that welcomed me, cultivated me, and spit me back out into the world a better human. I will always long to go back, but until then, I'll keep reliving my experiences through my dreams.
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