Hawaii. Dreamy, warm, beautiful Hawaii. An island paradise nestled in the blue Pacific. It’s pretty nice I must say, but there is way more to the island than Waikiki and Disney’s Aulani. Here’s an insider’s guide to Oahu and its hidden gems.

The French didn’t know how to drive. Or maybe they did. Sitting in the back of that taxi from Charles de Gaulle, on the verge of vomiting all over the worn seats, I was convinced I had left Paris and entered some high speed, Grand Theft Auto chase. The driver belched something out the window. Someone yelled back. He gestured wildly.

Not quite the case. There a few places around the world where one can get up close and swim alongside the largest fish in the sea, the whale shark. It was promise made by Mom. She said she’d take me anywhere in the world to ring in 16. No rules. No boundaries. Just a family, some cake, and maybe a flight or two.

40 plus countries and counting. Five languages. (British, Canadian, Scottish, Australian, and Kiwi. Ok, let's be real. I can fake it in French). I've lived in Hemingway's Paris and explored Mao's Beijing.

Summer. Everyone has their own tradition. Many travel to exotic destinations 'round the globe. Others like to soak up the sun with pool parties, long days with friends on the beach, BBQs, and maybe an occasional moonlit party, topped of course with that godawful summer pop playlist you only listen to for those few months.

Food for Thought: The Traditional (and not so traditional) Foods of Hawaii

Ono(licious) adjective - Hawaiian vernacular for describing something with taste and quality. Derives from our quirky pigeon language.

Aina noun - Hawaiian for 'land'

Presenting the Youth Travel Blogging Mentorship Program at The Global Education Conference
Aka, the Place in Which One Can Speak in His Pajamas

It’s cold. Painfully cold. So cold, I begin to question the logic behind my thrill seeking madness. It’s these sort of crazy people that end up on the news, right? The headlines screaming American Found Frozen Between Tectonic Plates, Iceland. The water is only up to my ankles, and already, a string of eclectic language has escaped my lips. It’s now or never, though. The frozen body of a Hawaii teen was located in the chilly waters of Iceland… I double-check that my mask is on tight, dry suit valves are locked and closed.

Gaining international experience is important in understanding different life styles, cultures, and helps you grasp a whole new perspective of the world around you. My first experience abroad came when I was eleven. My older brother Owen had just graduated from high school, and as a gift, my parents took the family to Europe for a month.

The sun was just rising over the Laotian jungle. Mist still blanketed the Nam Khan River. It was cool out. The sun glowed through the mist, providing  an eerie morning.