Booked a One Way to Hawaii...
Solo traveling to Hawaii
Here I am, booked a one way ticket to Hawaii and am exploring this place for the very first time for the next couple weeks. If you would have told me a year ago i’d be traveling the world solo, I wouldn’t have believed you but after my solo trip to Thailand late last year, that experience solidified everything for me. I’m at a point where I just want to explore the world for a bit, this opportunity in front of me may not be available to me later down the line, so yolo, imma do it. It would eat my soul alive in old age regretting not traveling the world when I had the opportunity when I was young. In life I want to live a life with as few regrets as possible, that is a reality I am curating for myself. When I was in Thailand I learned a lot about traveling, the two big takeaways were the importance of a one way flight and the other to pack as light as possible. My setup now is literally just a 35l backpack for my clothes and a small 3l sling bag for my camera gear. The way I travel is by literally not planning anything other than a flight and somewhere to stay a couple nights when I land, everything else will sort itself out by just being open and putting yourself out there. Staying in hostels has been the backbone to this way of traveling, it’s about meeting other likeminded people that are more than happy helping you along your journey.
Traveling solo may seem daunting but it’s truly one of the most liberating things you can do, it’s just you and the world around you, no one to wait on or bog you down. The freedom it gives you is breathtaking, you get to partake in whatever your mind and heart desire. So far i’ve been in Hawaii for a week and some change and damn, what an experience it has been. From trying surfing to hiking some beautiful coastal trails, the activities you can get into are endless here. Honestly i’m huge on the idea that a strong body is a strong mind and i’ve never seen more people into running, hiking, surfing, and just getting out there for physical movement than here in Hawaii. Energy is contagious, i’ve never experienced a place where there is this high a concentration of people on that frequency. There may be some scientific studies to this somewhere online but when you go to places that have beautiful sunny weather year-round, everyone just seems much more at peace and happy. Sunshine and nice weather charges you in a way that words cannot explain.
A true genius is someone who is authentically themselves all of the time, this principle hits home especially in a time of social media and constant comparison, be yourself. Your 20’s is a time of self discovery and figuring shit out, I feel it’s also a time when you are most worried about what people think of you. The only person you truly have to compete with is yourself, just let everything else go, control your controllables. I do things that would make my younger and older self proud.
Why Hawaii?
Honestly I was going to go to Yosemite but due to it being winter and snowing I said let’s instead go somewhere warm, gave it some thought and said Hawaii is warm and well now i’m here. I love nature and connecting with nature is such a beautiful thing, Hawaii is riddled with so many breathtaking natural wonders damn near anywhere you look you will be stunned. No picture will ever do it true justice, you have to see it with your own eyes to truly understand. That’s a mantra I live by, when someone ask me how a place I visit is, anything I say can never compare to seeing it with your own two eyes. Hawaii definitely has something magical in the air, if you have not yet gone, add it to your list asap.
Hawaii is a place I will definitely come back to down the line, i’ve always heard it was a great place to visit but now I 100% understand why, its a breath of fresh air like no other. Something I love when traveling is good food, Hawaii won’t disappoint you, I tried some Indian food and sheeeesh, I been asleep my whole life. Indian food is so good, if you are ever in Oahu and want good Indian food go to Namaste or Tadka both are amazing.
This is Koko Head, an insane hike that takes you up a decommissioned railroad track up a mountain, it’s like being at the gym and cranking the stair master to the max. I’m physically fit and this was kicking my ass but you are greatly rewarded with an amazing view once you reach the summit.
I tried surfing for the first time and it is definitely not as easy as it looks, something that I will have to spend more time learning but just going out and trying was fun in of itself. Ultimately that is all we can do in life, try our best and learn to dance as we go, you will figure it out as you go.
Sometimes I have to pinch myself to see if this is really reality, riding around Hawaii in a droptop mustang was definitely an experience I won’t forget, the wind, the music, the sunshine, I used to play GTA doing that, now its a reality.
The best things in life are free, watching a sunset is definitely one of them, i’ve never viewed this many sunsets than here in Hawaii. The saltwater air paired with a light breeze and whales off in the distance surfacing was a sight I will never forget. I’ve never felt more alive and present than that moment, it was like nothing else really else mattered in life, in a good way, in a calming everything will be alright way. Those are the moments I live for in this life, it makes everything you have done worth it, everything that has led you to that exact moment.
Tea and hookah, what more can I say?
Life is Short
Life is short but long at the same time, we may be able to see 100 years if we are lucky, what are you going to do in this time you are given is the question? I strive to live a reality that I will look back on in old age as a proud individual, one in which I minimize regrets as much as possible. I heard a piece of advice last year that has stuck with me, if you are faced with a decision, choose whatever will yield the most interesting outcome. Life is a collection of decisions, every minute of the day you are making decisions big and small. I strive to act in accordance with that advice I heard and it has led me here, to this exact moment traveling the world.
This is my latest YouTube video, if you enjoyed this read, you will probably enjoy this video. It’s a new style i’m playing with, kinda the vlog style just documenting in video form what i’m experiencing. If that is up your alley, I recommend this video.
My Instagram is where I post my latest photography work and also post some behind the scenes of my day to day life if that might be of interest to you.
Jordan, you are absolutely doing the right thing. And you are an incredible gifted and talented photographer. The photo of the elderly couple, one reading a newspaper, is pure gold. I would hang that on my wall. That's a book's cover. sheesh I'm still not over it. Enjoy your trip, keep sharing if you feel like doing so and embrace every second of that journey.
Hawaii is absolutely magical - I was just in Maui in October. I can't wait to hear about more of your adventures and see your lovely photography.