09/19/2026
HAWAII - Part 1
Personally, I have been blessed to visit six continents, nearly 50 countries, and more cities than I could possibly count. My McMundyandmates travel companions have collectively touched all seven continents and traveled countless countries and cities.
Every destination has given us something, a piece of our hearts, a chapter in our book of life, a memory capable of transporting us back in an instant. But after all those miles, all those countries and all those extraordinary places, there is one thing on which we unanimously agree:
There is no place on Earth quite like Hawaii.
Perhaps it is the Aloha Spirit; something far deeper than a greeting. In Hawaiian culture, aloha expresses love, compassion, kindness, connection and mutual respect. In fact, Hawaii even recognizes the “Aloha Spirit” in state law as a philosophy meant to guide how people treat one another. You Feel It Here!
Hawaii has an extraordinary way of honoring its ancient Polynesian heritage while embracing the modern world. Hawaiian language, music, hula, storytelling and traditions remain woven into everyday island life. The past isn’t simply displayed, it is carried forward.
And then there is the land itself…
Born from volcanic fire in the middle of the Pacific, the Hawaiian Islands are among the most geographically isolated inhabited islands on Earth. Their landscapes can seem almost impossibly beautiful: emerald mountains disappearing into clouds, waterfalls spilling down cliffs, palms framing brilliant blue water, black lava fields meeting the sea, and sunsets that make you STOP whatever you’re doing just to watch.
But Hawaii also reminds you that beautiful and powerful can exist in the very same place. The peaceful Pacific can become a raging force. Trade winds that gently move the palms can strengthen into destructive, violent storms. Volcanoes that created these magnificent islands remain active, and heavy tropical rains can trigger flash floods and landslides that can forever alter the landscape.
Here, nature doesn’t merely surround you. It commands your attention. Perhaps that is part of Hawaii’s magic. It is both paradise and raw nature - delicate and fierce, peaceful and powerful, ancient and ever-changing.
Hawaii itself has an equally remarkable story. Once an internationally recognized sovereign kingdom, the islands underwent enormous political and cultural change before becoming the 50th state of the United States on August 21, 1959. Today, Hawaii is the only U.S. state composed entirely of islands, with eight principal islands stretching across the central Pacific: Hawaiʻi (The Big Island), Maui (The Valley Isle), Oʻahu (The Gathering Place), Kauaʻi (The Garden Isle), Lānaʻi (The Pineapple Isle), Molokaʻi (The Friendly Isle), Niʻihau (The Forbidden Isle), Kahoʻolawe (Uninhabited). I consider myself fortunate to have visited the first 5 islands.
Mark Twain once described Hawaii as “the loveliest fleet of islands that lies anchored in any ocean.” More than a century later, I understand exactly what he meant.
After years of returning, Hawaii has somehow become more than another destination for me. Somewhere along the way, these islands permanently attached themselves to my heart. I no longer return simply because I want to visit, I return because Hawaii has become a passion.
Maybe that’s the real magic of aloha. You arrive as a visitor, but somehow you leave carrying a little bit of Hawaii with you. And inevitably, a little bit of yourself stays behind.
As McMundyandmates Travel the World and Share the Journey - this place never gets old or routine. Countless photos are taken to try and capture its extraordinary beauty. But fall short, they always do. This is one you have to SEE to BELIEVE. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say this might be a as close to Heaven on Earth as one can get.
