A Beautiful Place, A Heavy Week: Traveling Hawai‘i Right Now
There’s something hard to put into words about being in a place that is, by all accounts, incredibly beautiful…while also knowing that, just an island away, people are experiencing real loss.
This week on O‘ahu, there has been flooding, disruption, and damage that goes far beyond what most visitors will ever see on their itineraries. And yet, the beaches are still blue. The sunsets still stop you in your tracks. Coffee is still being poured. People are still arriving for vacation.
Both of these things exist at the same time.
And it doesn’t go unnoticed.
The Reality of Being Here Right Now
Travel has a way of simplifying places into something easy to understand, “paradise,” “escape,” “a dream trip.” Hawai‘i gets framed that way more than most.
But being here right now, it feels important to say out loud that these islands are not just a destination. They are home.
Home to people dealing with flooded roads, damaged property, and disruptions that don’t just disappear when the weather clears. Home to communities that already navigate the weight of tourism, now layered with something more immediate.
Even if your day as a visitor looks the same, your awareness of it shifts.
Holding Gratitude Without Ignoring Reality
I’ve felt really grateful to be here. Grateful for the ocean, the landscape, the chance to experience a place like this.
That’s shown up in small ways this week, coffee shop hopping in the rain with my friend Madi while she was visiting, slowing down more than usual, leaning into the kind of day you don’t really plan for.
And in bigger moments too, like taking the scenic route back from Hilo and driving through miles of lush, green rainforest. Something that only exists because of the very rain that can also cause so much damage.
That contrast hasn’t been lost on me.
Because while I’m deciding where to stop for coffee or pulling over to take in a view, someone else is dealing with something far more serious just down the road.
There’s no perfect way to balance that. But pretending it isn’t there doesn’t feel right either.
What Responsible Travel Looks Like in Moments Like This
I don’t think moments like this mean you shouldn’t be here. Tourism is a huge part of Hawai‘i’s economy, and many local businesses depend on it.
But it does call for a little more intention.
That can look like:
- Being mindful of where you’re spending your money (supporting local businesses when possible)
- Staying aware of what’s happening beyond your hotel or resort
- Avoiding areas that are actively impacted or in recovery
- Listening to local voices and perspectives
- Keeping things in perspective if plans shift or change
It’s less about doing everything perfectly, and more about moving through a place with care.
There’s More to Hawai‘i Than What We See Online
Social media tends to show the best versions of a place. The clearest water, the most perfect beaches, the highlights.
And those things are real here. But they’re not the whole story.
Hawai‘i is layered. It’s complex. It’s resilient, but not untouched by hardship.
Being here these past two months, especially over the last week, has been a reminder that the version of a place we see online is often only one part of it.
Thinking of Those Affected
More than anything, this week has made me pause.
To take in the beauty, yes but also to recognize what’s happening alongside it.
Thinking of everyone on O‘ahu and Maui navigating the aftermath of this flooding, and hoping for safety, recovery, and support in the days ahead.
If you’re visiting, or planning to, this is just a reminder that how we show up in places matters.
Even in the ones that feel like paradise.
