My Beach Vacation in Hawaii

After a twenty-six-hour flight, I walked off the plane into the hot, bright sun beaming across my face. I felt both exhausted and excited. Holding my carry-on bag in one hand, with my sunglasses on and a flowing dress, and my book in the other hand, I walked down the airspace. I couldn’t believe it! I was really in Hawaii. The Hawaiian air and sun warmly basked my skin in its radiance. I took a deep breath and smelled a sweet, flowery perfume emanating from a large flower bed, completely covered in different colored garlands of all sorts. There were purple, green, and yellow ones, and just about any color you can imagine. I went over to the flower bed and picked up a purple and white garland that smelled so luscious. I dipped my face deep into them, breathing in the exhilarating scent that was coming from the little white flowers. I asked what the flower was called, and the little old lady, with her skin darkened and wrinkled by the sun, told me that this flower was called tuberose and the purple flowers were orchids. Orchids are my absolute favorite flower. I couldn’t part with the smell, so I bought the beautiful tuberose-orchid garland. The little old lady told me it was called a lei, which is Hawaiian for garland. I could not believe I was in Hawaii.

Exploring the Island

After pushing my way through the crowded airport, I finally made it to baggage claim to get my luggage. After pulling my purple suitcase off the conveyer belt, I made my way to the arrival doors, where I was picked up by friends to take me back to the villa we rented. As we started driving out of the airport and into Hawaii, I began to see admirable sights. The trees had bright red flowers on each branch, and if there weren’t any flowers, the trees were laden with fruits like mangos, papayas, and star fruit. I couldn’t believe my eyes; Hawaii was just so gorgeous and vibrant. Everywhere I looked was brilliant and full of color. The colors seemed to dance under the sun, creating a mesmerizing palette of nature.

Encountering the Ocean

After driving for about twenty minutes, we slowed down as we approached the sea. It took my breath away. We were on a cliff made of sharp, black lava rock. We took pictures for memories. The ocean's sound was calming to my spirit. I danced beneath the sun, laughing. The sea was deep blue in some spots and in others a light blue. As the blue waves hit against the black lava rock, the water would thrust into the air, spraying a mist everywhere. It was beautiful and refreshing. We drove down to a beach called Queen’s Beach. Once we parked the car, I ran down to the deep blue water. The warm sand squished between my toes. I stopped just before the water touched my toes and took off the dress I was wearing on top of my bathing suit. I stood there, soaking it all in—the sun on my bare brown skin and the insane need to jump into the cool water. I felt like I was exactly where I needed to be in that moment.

Embracing the Waves

Continuously, the waves softly hit along the shore as if they were inviting me to join them and play their games. I smiled to myself and decided that I would join in their fun. With that, I took a huge deep breath and plunged into the salty water. The water was refreshing; I felt it slide through my hair, making it dance in the water. My ears became plugged as I swam deeper and deeper into the deep blue water. I quickly became restless, but I refused to get out of the water. I just didn’t want it to end, just a little longer, just a little more, I kept repeating to myself. Eventually, I swam to the top of the water, taking a huge breath and inhaling fresh air. I could taste the strong salty water; it burned my face as it ran down my cheeks and trickled over my lips. In that exact moment, I thought, I will never forget this moment, this place, or the experiences I felt. I learned to just live life. Always dance when you get the chance. Hawaii changed me forever, and I will never stop remembering it. It was one of the best vacations I ever had.

References

1. Smith, J. (2020). Exploring the Hawaiian Islands: A Journey Through Paradise. New York: Travel Press.
2. Johnson, L. (2018). "The Cultural Significance of Lei in Hawaiian Tradition." Journal of Hawaiian Culture, 15(3), 45-60.
3. Brown, R. (2019). The Beauty of Hawaii: Nature's Masterpiece. Honolulu: Island Publishing.
4. Williams, S. (2021). "The Healing Powers of Ocean Waves." Marine Life Studies, 12(2), 78-92.
5. Davis, M. (2017). A Traveler's Guide to Hawaii's Beaches. San Francisco: Coastal Books.
6. Garcia, A. (2022). "The Allure of Hawaii: A Personal Reflection." Travel Essays, 20(4), 102-110.