I love the picture above because we took it right after we finished zip lining and I still had the butterflies in my stomach. Wish I could relive that moment all over again. The guys recorded their flight in air but I was too afraid I'd drop my phone. Here's a super low quality snippet of me fidgeting with my ring before I took off.
The weather wasn't cooperative the majority of my trip but in hindsight it really forced me to step out of my comfort zone. Typically I imagine my Hawaii vacations to consist of laying on a beach 99% of my time (getting a tan) and the other 1% is shopping. This time was definitely different. I have always wanted to go zip lining and knew this was my number one priority when I arrived. We were a little apprehensive since it was beginning to rain heavily but somehow that added an adventurous tone to the whole experience. They provided raincoats, strapped us in our gear then we signed our lives away. We glided down 9 zip lines that passed some of the best scenery I have ever seen in my whole entire life-- 450 feet above the ground, soaring 3300 feet across at 50mph directly over a 250 foot waterfall. This is an absolute must do if you make it out here. Oh and make sure you put on bug spray! I don't know how it's even possible to get 15 mosquito bites on my 2 legs in less than 1 hour but it happened and I'm not complaining.. because yes, it was worth it :)
When I arrived in Hawaii, it felt foreign because it wasn't the "Hawaii" that I remembered. It was overcast, the waters were a deep blue, the sand/rocks were black and it felt a lot more remote. I stayed in Waikoloa which basically means if you want to see outside the resort, you will need a vehicle to get around. I decided to view the whole island via helicopter. I did a tour in Oahu a couple years ago but always wanted to see a volcano in action. Big Island boasts the tallest mountain in the world- Mauna Kea, the largest volcano on the face of the earth- Mauna Loa and Kilauea- the world's most active volcano. It has been continuously erupting since 1983 (year I was born!) and wanted to witness a natural wonder since it felt like a once in a lifetime experience. There are no words to express how mesmerizing it was to see the molten lava flow before my eyes and the feeling of being whisked through the desert to the hidden tropical valleys, waterfalls and rainforest-- seriously took my breath away. Something cool I also learned was that the Big Island is home to 11 of the world's 13 climate zones-- and I don't know where else you can find that many diverse climates in such a compact space but you can here and I'd recommend to come if you get the chance.
I was getting itchy feet so it felt like a good time to go to Hawaii for the weekend. Oahu has always been a second home for me but had some friends who were attending a wedding at the Big Island and thought it might be fun to try something different. I've only been here once when I was eight so my memory of it is a bit fuzzy but now after visiting this time time around, I'd say it's the biggest and bestest island in Hawaii. So much to do and so much to see, I'd come back here in a heartbeat. Definitely my new favorite destination and probably my most adventurous trip this year... Big Island, you have stole my heart. Pictures from my trip soon!
