Hitchhiking through Hawaii

The article details the author's spontaneous trip to Hawaii, where they stay with a friend, explore the island's culture, and embark on an unexpected hitchhiking adventure to Kauai. There, they tackle the challenging Kalalau Trail, meet interesting people

All those who dream of traveling are sure to have Hawaii on their bucket list, as I did. I knew someday I would get there but wasn’t sure when. As I planned my vacation to the USA, I was uncertain if I would be able to make it to Hawaii with my budget. Everyone told me that it is too expensive to get there and that I had to travel across most of America with my limited budget, so I was skeptical about the idea. On the contrary, I found out that a friend of mine had recently bought a house and moved there with his family.

I wrote to him and asked if I could find shelter at his place, to which he responded very positively. So, I made up my mind to get there. Hawaii is an island state of the United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about 2,000 miles southwest of the U.S. mainland. It is the only state not on the North American mainland, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only state in the tropics.

Hawaii is famous for its diverse natural scenery, warm tropical climate, abundant public beaches, oceanic surroundings, active volcanoes, and clear skies on the Big Island. It is a piece of heaven on a secluded chain on Earth and is rich with its indigenous native culture. Hawaii is not just a place but a state of mind. When you reach there, you know. The Hawaiian culture is grounded in traditional values and principles based on ancestral relationships between people and places.

This trip was one of the most intriguing of my life, as it was truly sacred. When I booked my ticket to Hawaii, I couldn’t believe that I was going. Without losing a moment, I started to plan intensely for my trip, finding different places I wanted to visit. But the universe had a different plan for me. I had limited time and wanted to experience everything, but obviously couldn’t. So, I decided to go with the flow. I flew into Oahu, which is the major city there, and had my friends pick me up at the airport.

With a big smile, I walked out of the airport and saw people wearing garlands of flowers. The air felt different, and I felt as if I was living in a movie. My friends took me straight to eat, and I had my first acai bowl. I got hooked; it was something out of this world. We then tried the Kona coffee, a specialty from there, and poke, a local dish with the flavors of the sea.

When traveling to a place, we want to experience the food, the culture, the history, and the nature. My journey was just getting started. We went to their home to unload the luggage and decided to rest as it was already night. I was introduced to the family, and my friends had three lovely children. I was already sharing laughter with them, and the family made me feel welcome by giving me the room where the parents stayed. It was very comfortable, with a garden right outside from where we could overlook the ocean and catch the sunset.

The next day, we decided to visit the beaches around, where we would have to wake up early in the morning to catch the waves best for surfing. My friend went every morning to surf first and then to his work, so I joined him. As we traveled, we saw lush green hills on the way, driving along the coastline with the serene air flowing on our faces. It was majestic. We reached the beach in minutes and geared up to ride the waves. It was a daily ritual for many who came there every morning, creating a community where everyone knew each other. Everything felt so cool as the people had a different mindset—easy and comfortable. We started to ride the waves, one at a time.

We finished in the morning and headed back home for a bite to eat. We planned to visit the city later that day. It was even more fun as the kids joined us along the trip. I discovered they were homeschooled. I asked my friend Elizabeth if they missed out on developing social skills and why she chose not to send them to school. She replied, “I don’t want them to learn that learning only happens inside the classroom, with the teachers.” This statement struck me hard. Observing these children, I realized they were absolutely amazing. They were not lagging behind; they were completing the courses of two grades in a year, full of life, very humble, kind, loving, danced, sang, and lived life fully as their parents did.

We went around the city, where I noticed something: people were very happy, easy to connect with, and shared smiles with each other, which I couldn’t find in many cities. In New York, I waited in Times Square to observe the people, and I could connect with no one, as they didn’t care. However, here was totally different. People connected with people, with love and respect. There were performers on the street in traditional dress, singing cultural songs. This experience gave me a sense of the culture, though I was still curious.

The next day, we went to the Polynesian Cultural Center, which had built an exhibition center showcasing different cultures, their architecture, dance, food, music, clothes, and rituals. There were villages representing Hawaii, Samoa, Aotearoa, Fiji, Tahiti, and Tonga, each part of the Polynesian islands with different cultures and indigenous tribes. At the Cultural Center, there were actually people from those islands who performed their cultures in an engaging way. There were too many activities to do: watching shows, eating local fruits and food, dancing, singing, visiting museums, and more. We didn’t realize how quickly the day passed.

For the next few days, I drove around the island, swam in the ocean, surfed, ate, hiked, visited temples, saw waterfalls, and just relaxed. I wanted to go skydiving, but at that time, there was renovation going on everywhere, so I couldn’t. I had some time but had to choose between different options. My friends, who were also nature lovers, advised me to go to Kauai, the sacred island. I had no idea what was in store for me. I thought I would see volcanoes and hop around the beaches. This wasn’t what I had planned, but I trusted their suggestion and booked my flight to the next island. They don’t allow passenger ships to get there as they want to preserve the island and prevent pollution.

Inspired by the movie ‘Into the Wild,’ I decided to hitchhike across the island from the airport to reach the Kalalau Trail, one of the most dangerous treks in the world, though I was unaware of its reputation. I was up for the next big adventure. I landed in Kauai and started walking. As soon as I exited the airport, rainbows began to appear everywhere. Every few minutes, I found a new rainbow. On the way, I stopped to see the Wailua Falls, which was only 6 miles from the airport. I reached there within 3 hours, took a dip in the pond under the waterfall, and enjoyed the rainbows. A song played in my head: “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

Not far from there, I found a hostel where I stayed for the night. I met many people living together but in their own space. I rested until the next morning, when I began my walk to the start of the Kalalau Trail. After a while, I decided to hitchhike further. After waiting several minutes and seeing many cars drive by without stopping, I started to question humanity. Then a group of people finally stopped and gave me a lift. There were many cave lagoons along the way, but I chose not to stop as it was getting late, and I had a long way to go.

I was dropped at a beachside place with many people and some shops. I grabbed something to eat, and the real fun began. I met a random guy sitting with a bunch of people who showed an enormous amount of affection. He guided me, and another guy with him found tiny shells in the sand. I was astonished at how he could find such small shells, as tiny as ten grains of sand put together. He had them stored in a box with the words: “It’s not the days in your life, but life in your days that counts.” These people were storytellers and wanderers who struck me with a sense of wonder.

One of them told me that this was the gateway to heaven and the end of the earthly world. Many masters, including the Dalai Lama, had come here to witness the divine. Those words struck me hard and left me thinking. We went to see a cave, where we met a beautiful little girl. She told us, “All the butterflies in the world are my friends.” When my friend said it wouldn’t be wise to go deep into the cave as there was a beast, she replied, “Let’s go! I will make it a friend.” Her heart was without fear, totally free. After spending some time, I continued my journey, and my new friend made sure I was well taken care of and dropped me along the way.

Finally, I arrived at the board that read, “Your journey starts here.” I began walking along the forest alone, encountering very few travelers. I had my tent but had forgotten to bring a water filter, thinking there would be shops along the way. However, it was a journey into the wild. Most of the people who came were fully prepared, unlike me, who had misconceptions. Night fell, and the road seemed endless. I was exhausted and had to decide on a place to set up camp. I found a shelter of branches and leaves and a rock that shielded me from the wind. I took refuge there for the night.

I looked at the sky and slowly dozed off, gazing at the twinkling stars, with the ambient sounds of the forest around me. During the night, it started to rain, but the roof of branches and leaves provided some protection. I could still feel the rain, but my jacket was a good shield, and I was too tired to move. The next morning, I woke up feeling refreshed, and the daylight brought hope and lessons from the night.

As I continued hiking, I realized the trail wouldn’t be easy. The path was slippery and muddy, requiring me to walk around the coastline and, in some places, climb. The trail was around 11 miles one way, and I had no idea where I was heading. My stomach started to rumble with hunger, and I needed water. Along the way, I met some travelers with water filters and refilled my bottles. For food, I had some chocolates, but they were not enough, and I was growing weary. Fortunately, I found many guavas on trees, which helped me survive. The first guava I picked was filled with insects, so I had to carefully figure out how to eat it. I prayed to the holy gods, and those prayers seemed answered.

As I walked, I lost all sense of myself. My body adapted to living with less food, and as I ventured further, I experienced a spiritual awakening. I entered a state of bliss, where my heart opened, and I felt I was drinking the elixir of the divine. Every atom of my being was filled with joy.

As I continued, I felt a profound sense of freedom and expressed it with a loud cry of joy. To my surprise, I was not alone; I encountered other travelers, including some girls from Norway who were cooking something. I shared my journey with them and asked if I could share some food. They agreed and offered me some of their food. I ate slowly, savoring each bite, feeling revived. We parted ways, and I continued towards the Kalalau Valley, which looked grand in its texture and landscapes. We hiked through the edges of the Nepali Coast. After a full day of hiking, I finally reached the valley and was greeted by a paradise—a beach with a waterfall, a cave lagoon, and rainbows appearing frequently. I told myself it was a great decision to come here, and I had made it.

I needed to camp for the night and looked for a spot. I met a stranger who was there for a spiritual retreat, and we instantly connected. I found a nearby spot and set up my camp. Along the way, I also met fellow travelers who became friends. One of them, named Anaha, whose name means "the one who sits, listens, and receives," and whose knowledge of spirituality and philosophy intrigued me deeply. We laughed, showered under the waterfall, swam in the crystal-clear lagoon, enjoyed the rainbows, and listened to the soothing sounds of the waves.

However, I discovered that permits were required to hike this trail. Many people didn’t have permits, and we were expecting rangers to arrive for a check. Due to thefts at the camps, rangers had been summoned. We decided to find a natural garden with various fruits. As we traveled, we encountered the rangers, who asked for permits. My friends showed theirs, and one even went back to get his. I managed to dodge the rangers and felt a sense of relief. The road to the garden was treacherous, and I had to cling to plants to avoid slipping. We finally reached a lagoon where many travelers were swimming. I joined them and discovered a jungle swing that gave us an adrenaline rush as we swung back to our camps. A stone temple shaped like a sphere stood out, and entering it, I felt as if my body vanished and I experienced a surreal, otherworldly dimension.

When we returned, we learned that many had been fined for not having permits, including my friend Anaha. Fortunately, the rangers had left by then, and I breathed a sigh of relief. It was my last day there, and I was treated to wild fruits, smoothies, and pasta, living like a king in this unfamiliar place that felt like home. The next morning, I bid farewell with "Alohas!" and "Mahalo!" and started my journey back, as my time on the island was limited. I realized I had lost my way and felt disoriented, but I pressed on.

I walked quickly and met a couple with their child. We decided to head to the waterfall together. The man, without slippers and with a pram tied to his waist, carried the child on his back and navigated the difficult path like a modern-day Tarzan. Despite my exhaustion and hunger, I kept up, determined not to fall behind.

We finally reached the waterfall, which was an incredible sight. After a brief visit and some time to appreciate it, we headed back. The journey was gruelling, and my legs trembled from fatigue. But I pushed through, reaching the end and collapsing from hunger. Fortunately, the others gave me a snack, and I ate it with gratitude, realizing how close I had come to not making it. We drove back to town, where I found a hostel, unloaded my luggage, checked in, and sat on the sofa, reflecting on my luck. I had made it!

I rested for the night and flew back to Oahu the next day. My friends were thrilled to see me and impressed that I had completed the journey. Later, I researched the trail and discovered it was one of the most dangerous in the world, but it was all worth it. I had my "Into the Wild" experience, with the only difference being that I survived.

Pratik Karki, a entrepreneur and visionary change maker, holds key roles as the Chief Administrator at Kathmandu International School, CEO of Canaveda, and President of Udhyogi Group Public Limited.