What does Hawaii mean to you?

When I was just out of high school, I moved to Maui , Hawaii, from Northern California.
I had 600.00 in my pocket and no where to stay and I knew no one.
A friend of mine had moved to Maui and when she returned home she encouraged me to give it a try and assured me I would meet plenty of people and find a roommate with ease.
She was correct. I met my roommate on the plane ride over and she knew some people and so began my year in Maui. I got a job and it was all fairly easy. My new roommate and I got a nice place in Honokowai .
I loved picking up a fresh coconut off the ground outside my condo and cracking and eating it. (beware of over indulging in fresh coconut, very hard on the digestive system. I learned that the hard way.)
I would take early morning walks and pick up flowers from the ground or off wild bushes and string my own leis.
The air smells so good, the weather is great. I like the sun and the rain. What I soon found with most people I met who actually lived here, we did not really go into the ocean much or sun bath, even though we lived right across from a park on the beach.
As usual when you actually live somewhere, you do not seem to really take advantage of what is around you.
I ended up getting some side work as an extra on some TV shows and a movie of the week the shot mostly in Lahaina and the airport.
(Dare I say it, Buddy Epsen and Barnaby Jones! I have just dated myself there.).
I also found this link to the movie he shot, which I did not know, was called “Lahaina”.
Then I found this, BARNABY JONES (1973-80) QUINN-MARTIN/CBS Buddy Ebsen starred in Hawaii episode filmed in Sept. 1979. Two parter entitled: “Nightmare in Hawaii” season 8, shows 2 & 3.
I would love to see myself. I never did see those episodes. I spent all day walking back and forth in front of the Pioneer Inn.
We got to eat lunch with the crew each day.
So I had a fun time while I was here. I still have my pay stub from Quinn Martin Productions!
After about a year I got “island”fever and returned back to the SF Bay Area.
I left knowing one thing about Maui, after that, I would be back often for visits and I have.

I like the people I have met over the years that make this island their home. They are friendly and laid back and kindhearted.
I will be coming back once again and staying at the Kihei Kai on Sugar Beach , and I can hardly wait.
The manager has been wonderful.
She has been so friendly and helpful. I look forward to meeting her.
I like Kihei Kai’s easy to use reservation system and confirmation and follow up system.
I really enjoy staying in Kihei. When I lived her before I used to drive my used rusted car (aren’t they all when you live here?) over to do my shopping because I enjoyed the small town out of the way feeling. Last time I was here in 2009 I had come over with a job as the volunteer coordinator for the Maui Photo Festival at the Hyatt. My daughter and I stayed one week at the Hyatt and the 2nd week in Kihei. We got to enjoy the fancy hotel and then our down home cozy condo in Kihei. We had a wonderful time.
There is truly no place like Hawaii in the world.

Please share your stories about what Hawaii means to you in the comment section!