Discover the Spirit of Hawaii

Aaron Kirsch: Thank you for joining us. I’m Aaron Kirsch, Chief Client Advocacy Officer at GreenUp Wealth Management. When I was 15 years old, I wanted to spend my summer at the summer camp that I grew up at, but unfortunately, it was all filled up. My brother got to go, but I unfortunately had to stay at home. So as a consolation prize, my parents brought me on a vacation with them.

That vacation turned out to be one of the most memorable vacations of my life at one of the most magical places on earth. I was able to go up 10,000 feet above sea level at sunrise to see a dormant volcano and then ride my bicycle 26 miles downhill. I got to go snorkeling in warm water with magnificent colorful fish all around me. I got to go on a long drive with my parents through a tropical forest that ended in a spectacular waterfall. And I got to stay at a hotel with this cave and waterfall and a swim-up bar. It was really amazing. And for those of you who haven’t guessed yet, we were on the Island of Maui in Hawaii.

For those of you who have been to Hawaii, I know you’ve experienced those feelings too. And for those who have not been to Hawaii, it should definitely be on your bucket list. So today I am excited to talk with Ilihia Gionson. He is the public affairs officer at the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Aloha, Ilihia.

Ilihia Gionson: Aloha, Aaron. Thanks so much for having me on the podcast.

Aaron Kirsch: Well thank you so much for joining us. Ilihia, what makes Hawaii so special?

Ilihia Gionson: Aaron, it sounds like you and millions of people from around the world have come to the Hawaiian Islands, felt something special, and left a changed person. Changed for all the better. You know, the Hawaiian Islands have a unique spirit about them, a unique energy about them that causes you to arrive, shed your preconceived notions, and let your shoulders down, exhale. And in today’s world, we could all use a little more of that.

Aaron Kirsch: Absolutely. It’s a place of extreme beauty, just really magical. But then culturally, Hawaii is a really fascinating place with a rich history. Can you give us a brief overview of Hawaiian culture?

Ilihia Gionson: Absolutely. I’ll give you the crash course.

The Hawaiian creation story starts from the beginning of time as we know it. And extends a long unbroken, continuous genealogy of which everything in the natural world and everything in the human world are apart. When we say that we treat the land like our family, it’s because in this understanding of the world, we are family – from the stars to the islands, the firmament upon which it all lays, every piece of coral, every fish, every bird, every tree.

The taro, kalo, the prime staple at the center of the Hawaiian diet, is the elder sibling of the first Hawaiian person. When we think about that, when we think about our responsibility to this place, our responsibility to all the things around us, it frames things up differently. And that, I think, is at the core of Hawaiian culture and the way that we look at things and the way that we do things.

Aaron Kirsch: Thank you for that, Ilihia. The islands are a chain of volcanic islands, and there are many of them, and they each have their own unique character. When deciding which ones to visit, it’s good to know about the climate and the terrain and the activities and accommodations that each of those islands offer. Can you give us an overview of each island and what makes that island an attractive place for a vacation?

Ilihia Gionson: Absolutely. Let’s do a flyover. We’ll start at the western end of the chain. The tectonic plates upon which the Hawaiian islands moved over a hotspot over millions of years, and so the smallest and oldest island is up at the west end, the island of Kauai.

Kaua’i is relaxing, invigorating – there’s so much natural beauty. You go down to places like Ha’ena. When you think about an island with a beach, just miles of white sand, you think of the forest and the idyllic kind of relaxing vibe. That’s Kaua’i. Extremely relaxing with some of the most warm and caring and loving people I’ve ever met.

Aaron Kirsch: And that’s a very wet, tropical island.

Ilihia Gionson: Absolutely, uh. Waialeale is known as a place that gets some of the most rainfall of any areas in the world.

When we move down to the island of Oahu – Oahu is the most urban, most populated Hawaiian island with the most air connectivity from all over the place. You think of Waikiki, you think of some of those sites of Le’ahi or Diamond Head, attractions like the Polynesian Cultural Center, Bishop Museum, things like that. That’s all the Island of Oahu. Fantastic shopping, lots of dining options. It’s a great place to visit.

Moving over to the Island of Maui – Aaron, you know it well. You could probably give the introduction to the Island of Maui. From Haleakala standing majestically, riding that bike down, going through the different environments, just seeing from the dry and open to the forest and down, ending near the seashore. The island of Maui is beautiful.

The world’s eyes were on the town of Lahaina almost a year ago. Seeing the devastating wildfire that ripped through town and, you know, for the many millions of people who experienced and formed memories and fell in love with Lahaina, they’re all hurting, they’re all missing Lahaina. But we must place first and foremost, the people who lost their homes, lost family businesses, and most heartbreakingly lost family members in that fire.

But I will say that we talk about Aloha, we talk about this value, this sense of love, of care. It’s something that when a visitor comes, we treat them with Aloha. We hope that they will feel it, that they will learn it, love it, and they will take it back to their own homes and share aloha in their own way. And in the wake of the fires, the outpouring of aloha from around the world, people who had been to Lahaina, people who had hoped to go to Lahaina, just the outpouring of support for those residents, those Kama’aina local folks who lost so much. It was really inspiring for me to see that the seed of Aloha was planted and had flourished and was now returning in Maui’s time of need.

Aaron Kirsch: I can see how people who aren’t even from Hawaii could feel that care and that passion. The people of Hawaii are so welcoming and the culture is so incredible. It’s just a really great vibe to be there.

Ilihia Gionson: Absolutely. And then we missed an island, my home island, the Island of Hawaii.

Aaron Kirsch: We did. That was the island that I was lucky enough to visit last summer. So let’s hear about the Big Island of Hawaii, your home.

Ilihia Gionson: You know, the islands are a lot like children. You shouldn’t pick a favorite, but we all kind of have one. The Island of Hawaii sits at that intersection of the heavens, and the with the active volcano with Mauna Kea standing at the tallest point in the Pacific. The kind of work that goes on there in astronomy connects us, helps us better understand the heavens, the stars, and all these things. The diversity of climates on the island of Hawaii is unbelievable, all but the most extreme. No penguins, sorry, but most other kinds of life can exist on that island. And the energy with, as a volcano island that is still growing, that is still being created, there’s a creative energy that’s really unique.

Aaron Kirsch: Well, Ilihia, beyond those beautiful beaches and the volcanic scenery and the tropical rainforests, are there any hidden gems or must do activities that you recommend visitors do at each of these islands?

Ilihia Gionson: You know, your listeners can’t see it, but I’m a larger gentleman. I enjoy the culinary scene and I enjoy seeing the growth and creativity of the culinary scene across the islands. So many unique things, over the course of Hawaii’s history, moving from a traditional economy of agriculture and trade and things like that, moving into whaling, sugar and pineapple and all these iterations of our economy, as well as a large military presence, that has brought folks from all over the world to add to this multicultural society that we have here.

And you can follow that through the food, so there’s some really interesting Hawaii regional cuisine that was a movement that started kind of a growth from the visitor industry. Once upon a time, visitors would come and sit in a very ornate, fancy dining room that could have been anywhere, and eat food that could have come from anywhere. And a group of chefs said, you know what, you’re coming here. You should taste the flavors of this place. And so Hawaii regional cuisine was born as a fancy culinary movement. All the while, the inspirations for that continued on. We have a number of restaurants that are 50, 60, 70, hundred years old across the islands, preserving a lot of those traditions in culinary innovation. So, lots to eat your way around the Hawaiian Islands.

Aaron Kirsch: So you can eat your way around the Hawaiian Islands. There’s a lot of ocean activities, like snorkeling.

Ilihia Gionson: Absolutely.

Aaron Kirsch: There was an excursion that, unfortunately, I couldn’t go on last summer because the weather was a bit too choppy. But it was to go night snorkeling with rays, to see manta rays.

Ilihia Gionson: Yes, there’s unique marine life. And one of our things, as we move toward a regenerative model of tourism, a model where it’s a net positive for not only the destination, not only the community, not only the environment, but also for the visitor, right? It’s a win, win, win, win, win net positive all the way around.

So when we think of taking tours to hang out with mantas with a company that hires local, a company that prioritizes local foods that they serve, and supports efforts to research and learn how we can better care for those mantas- that’s a visitor contributing to a cause that will leave positive effects long after they leave. And what an experience. You’re going to have to come back and try again.

Aaron Kirsch: I most definitely will. Ilihea, besides food and ocean excursions, there’s a lot of land excursions too.

Ilihia Gionson: Absolutely. You know, three out of five visitors to the Hawaiian islands go on a hike at some point during their trip. There are lots of hiking trails ranging from something I could do, to something that would be crazy for me to try. Certainly, it’s important to take safety precautions, know before you go, clean off your boots before you go to control the spread of invasive species, things like that. But there are some amazing hikes across the islands.

Aaron Kirsch: Ilihia, what are some of the best times to travel to Hawaii for the good weather and fewer crowds?

Ilihia Gionson: It’s really hard to pinpoint a time that is not fantastic to visit the Hawaiian islands.

Aaron Kirsch: And that’s just because the weather is near perfect year round?

Ilihia Gionson: It is. We have pretty consistent weather year round. Certainly you’ll see a little bit more rain in the winters, a little more sun in the summers. But as the saying goes, “No rain, no rainbows.”

Aaron Kirsch: All right. Well, being as this is a destination where people can go, whether it’s summer where they live or winter where they live, and always experience great weather, how far in advance should someone start planning their vacation to Hawaii?

Ilihia Gionson: So what we see at the Tourism Authority is some interesting shifting patterns, especially post pandemic. We’re seeing shorter booking windows for folks who are closer to us. Folks in Southern California may – today’s Thursday – they may decide to come over for the weekend. Certainly folks coming from farther away will make longer plans. And the closer you are, the shorter your windows might be.

Aaron Kirsch: Thanks Ilihia. What are some tips for finding good deals on flights and accommodations?

Ilihia Gionson: That’s a fantastic question. Of course, it’s important to keep signing up for all those emails from the different airlines and things like that. You know, one promotion that started as we reopened post pandemic: there are opportunities with an incentive to get perhaps your fourth or fifth night of hotel free if you participate in a volunteer activity. There are things like that. GoHawaii.com, the official travel site for the Hawaiian islands, is going to have resources and things like that to check out.

Aaron Kirsch: I like that. So you could actually go on vacation, but also volunteer and do something good for the environment.

Ilihia Gionson: Absolutely, taking a trip that gives back. When we talk about the regenerative tourism, taking a trip that gives back is rewarding for the place. It’s rewarding for the folks you help. Examples of volunteering activity- You might be in a hundreds year old taro patch, helping to clear it, learning about Hāloa, the taro plant, the elder sibling of the Hawaiian people, and really understanding the flows of nature, how the water moves. All of these things- get muddy, have fun, and have an experience like no other.

Aaron Kirsch: That does sound like a remarkable experience. I will put that on my list for the next time I go back to Hawaii. Ilihia, what are your recommendations for transportation? Once you get to Hawaii, do people take taxis, rent cars? What about getting between the islands?

Ilihia Gionson: So ground transportation- it really depends on the island. On the island of Oahu, which is more urban, more dense in the sense that the distances aren’t so far, there’s a robust public transportation system called “The Bus.” Certainly taxis, rideshares- all great options. For the other islands, it kind of depends on the sort of trip you want to take.

If you’re looking at something where you’re going to stay at the resort for a longer time, a taxi or a rideshare might be a great option for you. If you want to get out and explore perhaps a vehicle for part of your trip, that’s an option. Certainly, we encourage taking a look at some of the guided tours that are available. You know, you’ll get a lot more enriching of an experience interacting with a local guide who can really share the stories of the place and help interpret what you’re seeing.

And then moving between the Hawaiian Islands is primarily done by air. There’s regularly scheduled service between the islands. In under an hour, you can go from the east end of the chain to the west end of the chain, with shorter flights in between. I myself work on the island of Oahu during the week. Home sweet home is in Kona. I think I can see the manta boats from my house. And that’s a 40-minute flight.

Aaron Kirsch: Got it. So swimming is not recommended.

Ilihia Gionson: That really depends on your capacity. There is an interesting event going on right now. The Hawaii Tourism Authority is one of the sponsors of it- the first ever epic swim. This is a group of about a dozen of the top open ocean swimmers in the world. They’re swimming around the Island of Maui, not in one crack. It’s a far swim. They’re making their way swimming around the island of Maui to raise awareness of ocean health. They’re collecting data as they go. They’re all wired up with sensors, collecting samples of water, helping to understand the health of our ocean and the importance of it. But no, I don’t recommend it as a mode of transportation between the islands.

Aaron Kirsch: Okay, great. Thank you. How can tourists be respectful and responsible travelers when visiting the islands?

Ilihia Gionson: It’s a great question, and I appreciate that question, as do my neighbors and family and friends here. You know, www.gohawaii.com, the official travel site of the Hawaiian Islands, has some resources to help understand some of the local customs, local culture. But at the end of the day, I think the most important thing to remember is that when you visit the Hawaiian Islands, you’re visiting our home, just in the way that if I was visiting your hometown, I’m visiting your home. What would that expectation be? What would you like to see from somebody visiting your home, your neighborhood, your hometown? What are some of the ways you would like to see people behave in the places most special to you?

Aaron Kirsch: That’s great advice. And speaking about behaving the way you want other people to behave when they’re coming to visit you, there’s some special cultural practices and Hawaiian phrases that are endearing to travelers. Can you tell us some of the phrases or cultural practices that would be helpful for visitors to know when visiting Hawaii?

Ilihia Gionson: Sure. The Hawaiian word that is best known around the world is aloha. And if we unpack that a little bit, we know aloha to mean hello, goodbye, to love, to care. But “alo” means to be in the presence. “Ha” is the breath of life. So it’s really a recognition that we are in the presence of each other’s essence. We’re in the presence of each other’s life-giving force, and we’re going to respect that to each other. Aloha is a value that the Hawaiian Islands have taught to many millions of people over the years.

As we kind of saw tourism grow to its upper limits in the Hawaiian Islands, just before the pandemic, the discussions that were happening in communities and among leaders centered around Aloha’s sister value of Malama. Malama- to care for, to nurture, to protect.

Aloha and Malama are sister values. We think about the grand voyaging canoes that brought our Pacific ancestors to these shores. They were double hulled for stability. It’s really hard to flip a double hulled canoe because of the stability that it brings. And so, I think today, as we pair the values of Aloha and Malama, and share those with the world, I think we’re in better shape. So those are my two Hawaiian words.

Aaron Kirsch: And how about Mahalo?

Ilihia Gionson: Mahalo is an important one to say. Thank you to show your respect for a person or a place that has given you something much like my mahalo to you, Aaron, for having me here today on the podcast and the opportunity to share.

Aaron Kirsch: Thank you so much, Ilihia and mahalo. You had mentioned www.gohawaii.com is a good resource. Are there any other resources that are good for visitors and travelers planning a trip to Hawaii?

Ilihia Gionson: Yeah – www.gohawaii.com is the official travel site of the Hawaiian islands. All of our resources are there. And then I mentioned our quality assurance program. We’re building that up. It’s at curator.travel. There’s about a dozen or so businesses on it now as pilot participants, and we have a whole bunch more businesses and organizations in the pipe. It’s our seal of approval. It’s our quality assurance. Travelers who have gone to other places may be familiar with programs like Qualmark in New Zealand. This is built on that idea. But again, we’re aiming to make Curator the broadest, most inclusive set of quality assurance parameters to make sure that folks have a good experience when they come here to the Hawaiian Islands.

Aaron Kirsch: Ilihia, what is the last piece of advice you have for someone who is planning a trip to Hawaii?

Ilihia Gionson: That’s a great question, Aaron. You know, there are so many ways to visit the Hawaiian Islands. From our five star, really high-end, fantastic resorts, world class, all the way down to some of our very friendly, accessible, affordable kinds of accommodations. We have the range of culinary experiences, the range of shopping and dining, all these things.

The most important thing is to be here and to surrender yourself, open yourself up to the power of this place, and with that, you can have a similarly life changing experience, no matter where you’re staying, no matter what you’re doing. It’s being open to all that Hawaii and its people have to offer.

Aaron Kirsch: Well, I am certainly hoping to be headed back to Hawaii in the near future to experience that. Ilihia, thank you so much for being on our podcast and sharing the wealth of information with our listeners. Mahalo.

Ilihia Gionson: Mahalo to you, Aaron. And to all your listeners, hope to see you soon.

Aaron Kirsch: I hope everyone listening got some fantastic information and are looking forward to going to Hawaii soon. For Ilihia Gionson, Public Affairs Officer at the Hawaii Tourism Authority, and the entire team at GreenUp Wealth Management, I’m Aaron Kirsch. Thanks for listening.