Since I was a little girl, I always dreamed about going to Hawaii. It’s an odd vacation for a redhead who doesn’t necessarily love the beach, but for me, it’s never been about sunbathing or swimming. The culture surrounding the islands has always intrigued me, from traditions like leis and hula dancing to the stories of the Hawaiian royal family.
For my fellow East Coasters, you know it’s quite a haul to get to Hawaii—it’s much easier for us to travel to, say, Ireland or the Bahamas. So despite considering myself fairly well-traveled, I had still never made it to our 50th state until this spring, when I explored the beautiful island of Oʻahu.
