Aloha, Adventure! A Week in Hawaii Before the World Went Dark.

By James Bullard Last updated Apr 17, 2020 799 0

With COVID-19 looming on the horizon, we made our way to and from the beautiful island of Oahu at the beginning of March to enjoy some fun with new friends and old in one of the most beautiful destinations in the world. WE had no idea what was waiting for us when we got back. But enough of that. Let’s reminisce about a happier, more carefree time devoid of social distancing, when we eagerly shared from plates and glasses, crowded into densely populated beaches, and congregated in groups larger than five. A week in Hawaii – the most beautiful place on Earth.

The perks

Working in entertainment has HUGE pluses: interesting friends with a wide variety of talents and specialties among them; a fearlessness when it comes to new experiences including but not limited to unusual cuisine, navigating transport, and risque fashion; a home which, many times, makes you family during your stay in nearly every corner of this wide, wonderful world.

Our week in Honolulu served to confirm what I already knew. A beautiful location with colorful travel companions made for a stellar week of relaxation, rejuvenation, and recharge. Returning was tough, but I’ve slept like a baby and my tan is still ROCKIN’, so let’s get to it.

Next stop: HONOLULU! Delta, I love y’all. I think you know it.

Aloha time

First night was pretty uneventful. After about 11 hours in a plane and stops in Atlanta and Seattle, I was ready for some food and to crash. Local time was FIVE HOURS behind Eastern, so I was runnin’ on fumes. We had a full day planned the next day, but I got a bellyful of family style at the Golden Duck and conked out. Easy, breezy, beautiful weather on the island made it a snap to lose myself in a dreamless sleep, even in my excitement to see the island in the morning.

First thing out of the gate, we got our hike on. After a miserable “winter” in Carolina, it was wonderful to feel the light and heat on my skin. A paved trail led up to viewpoints along Makapu’u Light Station trail and the beach bronzing had its start. Diamond Head is another moderate hike that offers breathtaking views and a sweet reward once you’ve summited.

Trekking Diamond Head is a must. And they have TREATS at the bottom when you finish! Clockwise from left: James, BJ , Brannon, Michael, Charlotte, and Jon.

LUAU!?

LUAU. Yes, please! Though our host warned us an evening of luau had a high probability of cheesiness, we were absolutely up for it. There were performers of hula, haka, and all manner along the pacific performance art spectrum. The buffet was brilliant and the company was some of the best you could ever hope to share.

There’s also some pretty fantastic footage of James doing the hula if you’re interested. It involves a grass skirt and a coconut bra. If you’re following us on the social meeds, chances are you’ve already seen it. If not, well, it’s one you don’t wanna miss. Any excuse to take his clothes off…

Speaking of which…

We had INCREDIBLE weather our first few days in Hawai’i, so it was IMPERATIVE we made our way to the beach. We rented kayaks and packed a picnic lunch to enjoy the sun, sand, and sea in Lanikai. I slathered on the 50 SPF and mixed it with Maui Babe browning lotion and miraculously avoided sunburn. That day, anyway. And five hours in the Hawaiian sun was a recipe for chasing blues away and getting the troubles of the world off my shoulders.

Oh, Lanikai. Your beauty is a thing to behold. Group photo! CHEESE!

Another crucial aspect of a successful vacation is FOOD. From fresh pineapple and papaya at the local farmers’ market, to poke, to a whole fish served from ocean to table, we were never at a loss for good eats. And the COFFEE?! Fuhgeddaboudit. Glorious. That Kona is famous for a reason.

Fruity drainks, Dole WHHHHIP, poke, and kalua pork sliders on purple bread?! Yeah. I’ve had many meals way worse than what I enjoyed on Oahu. Super-fresh and beautiful blends of flavors and textures.

Speaking of eating–one of our stops was a breakfast at Sweet E’s, a Honolulu staple known far and wide for generous portions of incredible food. Well, as we were waiting to be seated, I <ahem> “made friends” with a young woman who’d already gotten a table. I offered her a plumeria flower–traditionally worn behind the left ear if committed, the right ear if single–and wished her an enjoyable breakfast. As we neared the end of our meal, one of the servers tapped me on the shoulder and handed me a sweetener packet with a phone number from “Shayla from Idaho.” If you’re seeing this, Shayla? I wish we coulda met up, darlin’. I appreciate this token more than you know.

Where them dinos at?

One of my favorite outings in Hawai’i was our trip to ride UTVs at Kualoa Ranch. Not only is it the site of movie magic extraordinaire (think Jurassic Park and Jurassic World), but it’s also home to some really great riding trails, by horse power or HORSEPOWER, ya feel me? We spent an incredible afternoon crashing through puddles and nuzzlin’ muzzles on an epic afternoon excursion through the verdant hills owned by the same family for generations.

Ok, not ev’ry trip’s a cheapy

As you’ve probably guessed by now, this vacation wasn’t our usual THE ADVENTURE DUDES fare. We’re all about shoestring budget, pinching pennies, and stretching a dollar. Well, this next group of photos is going to remove any doubt you may have had up to this point that it was a “bougie” getaway. We rented a private yacht to go whale watching off the coast of Honolulu. Thass right. We faaaaancy. It was worth it. To see those IMMENSE sea creatures breach is nothing short of miraculous.

Fun story: Andrew and I met doing gigs in Hawai’i a few years back while working together on OH WHAT A NIGHT!, a tribute band singing the hits of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Though he couldn’t make this trip, it was amazing being back in the place where we met and became friends.

I went back by invitation from a buddy of mine who does a lot to help us out at THE ADVENTURE DUDES, BJ Gruber. Huge love and thanks to our friend Jon Kwock and his rockin’ Dad TK who so generously opened their home to us for an incredible, unforgettable week.

here’s to the future

Word travels fast and we’re going to be recruiting more and more dudes and dudettes as our message gets out. Travel, whether high-dollar or lean-budget, is imperative. Whether it’s learning a new language, more fully informing your sensibilities, busting myths, or marking items off a bucket list, seeing more of the world we live in is the best gratitude you can offer to the glory that surrounds us. And it’s going to be even more important–and probably even CHEAPER–once we find ourselves on the other side of the pandemic. Sending best wishes for good health and a reminder that once this is over, we look forward to getting RIGHT BACK AT IT. Until then? We’ll dwell on some great experiences and look forward to making new ones once the threat is passed.

Love y’all.