My top seven lessons learned in Hawaii:
Just because it’s a surfing competition, doesn’t mean it’s professional — We packed our bags, and drove two hours to Kona in hopes of seeing Kelly Slater among many of the professional surfers supposedly at this competition. We arrived anxious and our hopes were high until we peered up to see the banner reading “Keiki Surf Competition,” which unfortunately does not mean professional. We did, however, hang out with some cool 12-year-olds at the “kids surf competition.”
Cars that cost $900 do exist, and, yes, the engine does tick — While driving through town after my two friends and I gathered $900 to buy a car, we felt a sense of freedom. Although the driver’s door won’t open from the outside, and the back left door doesn’t open at all, it gets us around and does the job. The only downfall is that sometimes we feel as though we are escapees from the local prison as we drive down the street hearing people scream profanities about the quality of our car.
If you don’t want to starve, you have to like Spam — At gas stations near LSU, you’ll find late-nighters walking out of the Circle K with a lucky dog covered in mustard. Whereas in Hilo, those same late-nighters walk out of the local gas station with a delicious dish of rice wrapped in Spam, more commonly known here as “musubi.” Yep, you guessed it, us Louisiana girls starve.
Not every beach has white sand — Laying out on black volcanic rocks at the beach is not your typical good time in Destin, Fla., but it’s an experience you’re bound to have if you’re looking to get sun in Hawaii. It’s interesting to think that the same rock that once melted an entire city is now serving as my beach chair.
Slippers aren’t only what your grandma slides her feet in to walk over the cold tile floor in the morning — Here, the word “slipper” is what we commonly call in Louisiana “flip-flops.” Every time someone tells me to “take my slippers off” before I set foot in their apartment, I can’t help but to think of my wonderful grandmama.
Pulling people out of mud pits is a normal occurrence here — Since it rains often in Hilo, it’s quite common that tourists find themselves stuck in the mud when trying to see a hidden sight. On our way back from Green Sands Beach, we were stopped by three high school girls who decided to take their own path in order to avoid getting stuck in the mud. Unfortunately, the road less traveled was less traveled for a reason, and my friend Taz ended up saving the day and towing them out of the mud.
The word “Mahalo” doesn’t mean trash — Mahalo is written on every trash can, and for the first two weeks, I thought it meant “trash.” Needless to say, every time someone was telling me “thank you,” I thought they were calling me trash, but in a kindly manner.