if you can't go to heaven, go to Hawaii

From the gentle creatures to the evergreen walls, the wonder of it all washed over me like the tide. My heart beat for a home, and my mind danced for words to describe the natural waltz of this place. Heaven might not exist, and if it does, who knows if that’s where I’m headed. But for a week, Hawaii was close enough.

Though all of the Hawaiian islets are special in their own right, Kona, or The Big Island, is the island I fell in love with—and the backdrop to some of my favourite memories. 

Finding faith or finding food? Both noble pursuits; both on the itinerary I created for my family's Christmas vacation. The Big Island is big on farm-fresh and grass-fed. There’s no question Hawaii is beloved for its swells, but paddling out to the island’s Surf Burger is more my speed. Post-surf, post-sandcastle, brave the queues but skip the pews; the best burger I ever had is best enjoyed curbside. Sacred rituals come in all forms.

Island casual might not pass at Mass, but the immaculate experience that is dining at Merriman's is enough to have you believing in a higher power. Their Mai Tais are honey-lilikoi-foam-topped, their brown-butter-doused spicy lobster ravioli and macadamia-crusted mahi mahi true “come to Jesus” moments. 

While I can’t walk on water, I could swim with manta rays. And sea turtles. Galloping on horseback into rainbows and even golfing with a few friendly visitors. The gods love their creatures, and Hawaii leads them straight to you. 

Prophets, preachers and pioneers. All can be found at a storied coffee farm in Kona. Purpose is what so many of us are searching for, and the people at Greenwell Coffee Farms most certainly have it. I had a private tour of the grounds, the factory and the farm. A tasting, too. It was one of the most enriching experiences of the trip. Even if you’re not a coffee devotee, it’s well worth a visit. Consider this (and a little help from our Bespoke Travel Team to arrange your tour) divine intervention.

Looking up and looking out. The sun blankets the sky in blue; the evening light paints it in amber hues. What could I have done to deserve to be in a place like this? From sandy saunters on the black beaches to skimming through the sky on a luxury helicopter tour with Blue Hawaiian. We flew over the coastline, the volcanoes, the caves and the alcoves. We landed in what could only be a worldly Garden of Eden. A towering waterfall cascaded over lush greens, cerulean waters and white sand silhouettes. We ascended and headed back home, enchanted and enamoured. The sky and the sea of Hawaii kept our worship, like a prayer card in grandmother’s pocketbook.  

On our final night, we clambered into a van, another guide ferrying chocolate-covered macadamia shortbread and canisters of soup and hot chocolate into our hands, to summit Mauna Kea. Up at The Observatory, the sky felt a little less empty, a little closer. With telescopes and tales of the island, the comfort of company and cookies, for once, more than just the stars above me felt connected.