Hawaii: Perfect Getaway Destination for Your Career Break

Rolling blue waves of the Pacific Ocean licking your sandy toes. Warm gentle breeze on your face. A tropical cocktail in your hand. And no work emails or texts to keep you buried in your phone all day. Wouldn’t that be a perfect beginning to your professional sabbatical?

Aloha, Hawaii! Easy destination to get to (especially from the West Coast) and no passport required. Somebody once told us: “There are two types of people in the world: The ones who’ve been to Hawaii once and always come back. And the other ones who’ve never visited Hawaii, and never will.” We don’t know if it’s true or not, but we are the first kind. We loved Hawaii so much that we got married there! 😊

But which Hawaiian island to choose? Each island is unique and offers a different experience. We’ve been to Kauai, Maui and the Big Island. Twice on each island. But haven’t made it to Oahu, Lanai or Molokai just yet.

The Big Island

The Big Island is well… BIG. The newest of the Hawaiian Islands, the vast majority of it is covered with volcanic lava rock, almost resembling a moonscape. The Volcanoes National Park is definitely a bucket list item! Unfortunately, the park was closed to the public during both of our visits to the island, due to unstable conditions (TIP: be sure to check the opening days/times before driving there). Luckily, we managed to charter a last-minute flight over the park and were able to witness the lava flows from above, increasing the size of the island bit by bit. Have we already said “Incredible”?

Some people say that the beaches of the Big Island are not as spectacular as the Maui or Kauai ones. We can tell you this —  the best snorkeling we did was at Hapuna Beach on the Big Island. Maybe we were just lucky… There were turtles galore, a ton of fish, and the water was deep enough that we weren’t scrapping our knees on the rocks. Plus, the Big Island also has the world-famous Black Sands Beach (Punalu’u) AND Green Sands Beach (Papakōlea).

Snow skiing in Hawaii? Who’d a thunk it?😊 Mt. Mauna Kea on the Big Island often gets enough snow to ski or snowboard on. Mt. Mauna Kea, by the way, is taller than Mt. Everest by several thousand feet! Considering most of it is under water, that’s still pretty impressive!

Word of the advice — if you are on the Big Island only for a few days, pick your location wisely. The western side has more spectacular beaches, and easily accessible from Kona airport (KOA). If you are more interested in the “jungle” side and the Volcanoes Park, consider flying into Hilo (ITO) and staying on the east side of the island. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get to see all of it, it’s a reason to come back! And if you are on a sabbatical, consider spending some time on both sides of the island!

Maui

Maui is beautiful… Like the Big Island, it’s also pretty flat and widely covered in farmland. Most likely you’ll fly into Kahului airport (OGG). However, do not forget to check the flights going directly to Kapalua airport (JHM) on the West Maui, and avoid an hour drive from OGG to Lahaina. That could be a great option if you are flying from the mainland to Oahu, and then continuing to Maui. In West Maui, the town of Lahaina is probably the most popular among tourists. A happening place, with lots to do and see. Many restaurants stay open late and have live music and entertainment. But keep in mind, Lahaina is also a stop for cruise ships. So, make reservations when you can, to beat the crowds.

If you’re in the mood to explore, we highly recommend the “Road to Hana”. Its about a 50+ mile long drive on a very curvy (but paved) road. Along the way, you’ll find several waterfalls, breathtaking views, and many other beautiful, and historic landmarks, and even a few food stands! But plan on spending the entire day for this, as a straight shot to Hana will take a good couple of hours (one way). That’s without making any stops for sightseeing. Making arrangements in advance to stay a night in Hana, would be ideal.

South Maui, especially the Wailea area, is for those of you, who look forward to the pristine sandy white beaches, less tourists, and more romantic vibe. It is spectacular!

Kauai

Kauai — also known as the “Garden Island” will check off every idea that you have when you think about Hawaii. A backdrop for so many movies and TV shows, like “Jurassic Park”, “Lost”, “Pirates of the Caribbean”, it is the most laid-back Hawaiian island we’ve been too, and less crowded. Paradise for hikers, (only 10% of the island is accessible by car), kayakers, water sports and chicken enthusiasts.

You’ll fly into Lihue — the east side of the island, and have to decide which direction to go. North to Princeville for the most beautiful sunsets you would see in your life, Ke’e beach for snorkeling, and the fabled Napali coast? The trade off — it is the rainier side of the island. Or would you prefer to go south, toward Poipu Beach, sunnier weather, turtles, great snorkeling off the beach, gorgeous Waimea Canyon (also known as Grand Canyon of the Pacific), and, of course, the close proximity to the Puka Dog 😊? The cool thing about Kauai, it’s a smaller island, so no matter which side you choose — you’ll be able to explore more of it, and fall in love with Kauai, once and for all. For more information on Kauai, check out these posts here and here.

No matter which Hawaiian island you choose, you’ll feel relaxed and recharged… and that’s when it’ll hit you — Japan is so much closer now 😊! And South Korea… And Australia… non-stop flights too! Just like we said, Hawaii is The Perfect Getaway destination for the beginning of your sabbatical! Where would you go next? Share below.