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

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.

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.

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.

Other posts you might enjoy

• Off The Beaten Path Oahu Adventures – How To Explore Like A Local

• Best Oahu Hikes For Beginners – A Guide To Kickstart Your Adventures

• Swim With Turtles On Oahu – A Guide To All The Best Places

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?

If you enjoyed this post, return the favor by sharing it or following me on Instagram!