If there is anything in life I could say is important, it is to spend Quality time with family. My dad visited Hawai’i for the first time last week after having had his trip cancelled at the onset of COVID spring of 2020. Other than not seeing him for five years, this rebooking of a trip made this reunion that much more meaningful to the both of us. Aside from the long overdue quality time, I had been most looking forward to seeing my dad experience these unique and beautiful islands for the first time. What I didn’t expect to happen for me, is having the opportunity to relive Hawai’i for the first time all over again. Only for my dad, He got three years of my first hand experiences into one week. What were the top moments I relived during this time? Here we go:
The Excessive Amount of Awe at EVERYTHING.
DAD: After I picked up my dad from the airport, we hopped on the H1 bound for my home on the opposite end of Honolulu. The freeway is elevated so coming out of the airport gives you a wide panoramic view of the Ko’olau mountains. Along the water front, my dad was in utter awe at all of the Banyan trees that he could barely contain himself. Everywhere from coastal drives, stopping along the Pali, Ka’iwi coast, to the beaches we kicked back on, nearly everywhere was met with, “This is incredible” (Or variations of that).
Me: My first time in Hawai’i took place on the Big Island and quickly followed up with the terror of an Achilles Tendon rupture. But apart from that, every thing around me everywhere I went never seized to take my breath away. Living a routine life in Hawai’i to this day, not a day goes by where I don’t look at these mountains or gaze off into the Pacific waters in complete awe.
There are a lot of Asians!
DAD: One of the first most hilarious observations my dad made in the first 24 hours of arriving here was that there were SO MANY ASIANS. Not in a bad way, but unless you’re coming from a Pacific Coast city, like San Francisco, you might also be surprised at how many asians there are here.
ME: Prior to arriving here alike any other destination I visit, I dig deep to understand a place. One of those things is the history of why there just are so many asians here. When the Hawaiians opened up the floodgates of immigration in Hawai’i to boost the economy in the days of the plantations brought the likes of many peoples from around the world. A majority of those people would be the Japanese & Chinese which now have generations of mixed asian heritage. Sprinkle new generations of those cultures with Filipinos, Thais, & other south Asian people, you have a very strong melting pop of Asian cultures present in these very Pacific Islands.
Poke & Musubi’s are to die for!
Dad: After getting off the plane, my dad made a request to stop at a 7/11. When we were inside, his eyes were all over the wide varieties of mysterious foods he’s never seen in a 7/11 before. This is a Hawaiian 7/11. Beyond the glass of Manapua and other local snacks, the first food he tried first was the infamous Spam Musubi. His first words upon initial bite, “this is fu**ing good!”
While there are so many unique dishes to try here in Hawai’i, one famous bowl to try is the Poke bowl and my dad surely had a head start in his desire to try a bowl. So after a beach day, we headed over to my local Foodland for some fresh poke to take home. It did not dissapoint!
The next place is more usually more beautiful than the last.
Hawaii is one of the most dramatically beautiful places in the world and anyone that visits won’t disagree. Many of the days my dad was here comprised of taking drives around the island either for the sake of a road trip with stopping points of heading to a beach. One of the greatest reminders through my dad’s fresh eyes is that just about every new place you visit for the first time is even more beautiful than the last in it’s own way.
The heartbreaking history of OCCUPIED Hawai’i
A very common misconception or let alone missing piece of history most Americans don’t even know of, is the simple fact that Hawai’i is most definitely under military occupation. Okay not in the sense you might think of from movies. In the 1890s, the Queen was removed from power by those not in favor of the already established Kingdom. Within the same decade, the islands were annexed into the United States of America.
While the island government technically now (1890s) in power voted in favor of annexation, it still doesn’t bring light to the matter of an independent nation being swallowed into the American “empire”. Social and financial inequality & corruptions are daily realities native Hawaiians face to this day and are consistently unheard and surpassed when it comes to Hawaiian matters. Need an example, look at TMT & Mauna Kea the past several years. From my reads and listening very closely to the side Native Hawaiians, I shared this knowledge with my dad to get a perspective most tourists do not have when they visit.
High Cost of Living works differently here
Us Perezs have Hispanic origins in the Greater Antilles (Dominican Republic & Puerto Rico) but our history most takes place in the greater New York metropolitan area. So high cost of living is surely something we are all familiar with. But many miles isolated in the middle of the Pacific, goods come at a high cost that are more than likely coming by boat. Groceries on a budget revolves around a strategic visit to Costco and/or Sams Club. Real estate options are very few which has driven the cost of living through the roof to one of the most expensive places to live in the country. Rent averages anywhere between 650-1000 for a smaller than average living space & three or more roommates. Fortunately distances are short and convenient, but gas is still more expensive than most states.
The Contrast from Rich to Poor
Upon reviewing his trip, my dad said he noticed massive contrast in living circumstances here. He enjoyed checking out the billion dollar homes in Kahala & homes straddling the mountains above ‘Aina Haina and Hawai’i Kai. But other than that, he found it very odd to see mediocre homes planted right next to “dilapidated homes” or old plantation houses hanging by a thread across “town”. The final nail to the wall was taking a drive up the west side from Nanakuli to Waianae and Makaha where it very easy to take note of the low income or more impoverished parts of the island. This is not even taking note of the dire homeless situation here, that includes Waikiki beach, where a tourist would thing would be invincible to…that.
A Dabble into Pacific Culture & Hula
No well rounded trip to Hawai’i is complete without taking in the rich and strong Pacific Island culture & history. While the Polynesian Culture Center is quite far and expensive and booking can sometimes be difficult for Iolani Palace, I took my dad to enjoy an educational day at the Bishop Museum in Honolulu. Here you can learn all there is to learn about Hawaiian history & culture from Hawaiian Royalty to battles that brought these islands together. Showcasing artifacts from the days of Hawaiian gods to tools utilized in agriculture.
But if there is anything that will; bring you to the root of Hawaiian people & culture, it’s hula. I joined an all male hālau a year prior to my dad visiting and had the pleasure of describing my experience to him over the phone. But him having the opportunity to join me at an actual hula practice was a opportunity not very many outsiders get to have on a trip. Understand why oli is and the story an actual hula dance tells. Its not all just sways and moves for no reason!
Life’s A Beach
The simplest reality to take in as a visitor like my dad is that “life is a beach” here. There truly is no place like Hawai’i with is volcanic, lush green mountains, and colored sand beaches. My father said time and time again once settled down on the beach after a proper exhale, “life is a beach!” And that statement couldn’t be any truer for the resident like myself. The grind here can be extreme for the average person here. Most people work two or more jobs just to do alright on rent. Cost of living is high, traffic can be rough, and it can be exhausting by the time the work day is over. But whenever take a step back from it all, take time to sit on the beach, or take a drive around the island, I have my dad’s catchphrase as the proper reminder….
Life’s a Beach
