Moving and inspirational. A place of immense beauty! Quaint and quirky. A place with an aura like I’ve never experienced. I can’t tell you why, but as I descended from Princeville toward the one lane bridge that leads into Hanalei Town I was overcome with a swell of emotion.
Maybe it was the picture perfect valley with the picture perfect mountains.
Or Hanalei Bay…
Or the picture perfect entrance.
A one-lane bridge winding to the right with lush foliage as far as the eye could see.
Or the Hanalei River that is the tributary for visitors winding their way through paradise.
Or maybe it was the eclectic mix of local shops, bars and restaurants where locals and visitors mingle.
Or this perfectly nestled church that surely contributes to the positive vibe oozing from this small piece of heaven on earth…
I still wonder about Hanalei. I now know that I must have found true “Aloha”.
Aloha is more than hello or goodbye. There is a great definition of it here: What does aloha mean?
To quote a small snippet from the article: “The real meaning of Aloha in Hawaiian is that of Love, Peace, and Compassion. It’s the guidelines of how to live – a life of Aloha is one when the heart is so full it is overflowing with the ability to influence others around you with your spirit.”
There is a true spirit in Hanalei Town, Kauai. You can just feel it. The Aloha Spirit.
As I stared back at Hanalei Bay from my room at the St Regis, Princeville, I thought about what the server at breakfast had told me. “Seventh most energy in the world. Right here!”. I’m not sure how he knows, but I’m not going to question it….