Travelling by yourself is one of the best, scary & life changing things that you can do for yourself.

My first solo adventure was in 1981 ( year 11 in High School ) & 17 years old!!
Yes my parents actually encouraged me to travel uno solo to Hawaii back then , saying it would broaden my horizon’s & make me became a adult. Let’s wait & see if that ever happens!!!
Trip was 8 days in Hawaii . Staying in Waikiki.

Rules by parents

1: Be back at hotel by dark or 8 pm

2:Don’t tell anyone you are by yourself

3:Don’t do drugs

4: Have fun

5: Don’t tell anyone you are alone ( another warning )

They would call every couple of days twice in fact to make sure I was OK.

Hawaii agreed to . It was December & I loved watching surfing ( the surfers 🏄‍♂️too ) plus I had a deep love of the ocean and a chance to see the big waves & even maybe contest on the Northshore was something that I totally desired .

Starting my trip I was excited,in disbelief, and too be honest a bit apprehensive .But I had my rules , money & was staying in a hotel that had a little kitchenette so eating at night would be easy for me considering my curfew.

Remembering back then no mobiles & overseas phone calls were so expensive.

First day was getting to hotel , nap (overnight flight) then hitting Waikiki beach for a swim to start fresh & still love hitting the beach straight away.

My adventure took me to The Northshore

Being only 17 catching The Bus was my only option. The number 52 was Circle Island 4 1/2 hours bus ride if you didn’t get off. Ran every 30 minutes.

One of my days I decided to go to Waimea Falls Park this is more authentic Hawaiian experience with cliff diving , traditional Hawaiian customs, dress & their powerful sacred beliefs.
After my morning at the park , I still had time to get back to Waikiki so I decided to walk across the Waimea Bay . The surf was big ,so no swimming signs were on the beach , a few people sitting on the sand , lifeguards & surfers braving the waves.

While I was there taking photos with my Kodak camera a lifeguard asked if everything was OK.

Of course I replied yes thanks all great, The lifeguard recognising my Australian accent was up for a chat. Barry the lifeguard was intrigued that I knew so much about the islands & that my major geography assignment was going to be about OAHU . Landscape, agriculture, weather patterns etc . So finally says “ so where’s your mom & dad “ . Pausing I think we’ll he is a lifeguard like a policeman on the beach so I break number 1 rule & tell Barry I was alone .

WHAT !!! Barry exclaims I wouldn’t let my kids go away on their own.Later I tell Barry the rules, laughing he says well you broke rule no 1 .

By now I’d missed a couple of 🚌 buses.Barry says he is finished his morning shift & was going into Haleiwa for lunch & would like to take me to lunch.

Another rule broken going in a car with a stranger!!. My kid thinking it’s OK I know the road to Haleiwa if we divert I’ll jump out the car ( too many movies) .

Of course nothing happened arrived at Haleiwa & had lunch at what became my favourite Northshore restaurant Jamieson’s By the Sea.

First time eating Sashimi. Imagine at the time nothing like that in Australia so that was a adventure in itself.

Barry waves me goodbye on the bus back to Waikiki. Later I tell mum & dad surprised they didn’t go crazy.

During my stay I travel back to Waimea & take a few gift souvenirs for Barry, his wife & other lifeguard.

Later when my dad came to Honolulu he took Barry & his wife to dinner.

Numerous trips to Hawaii after about 6 in 2 years followed. I was lucky to have a new big brother whose family lived on the north shore just down from Sunset.
I had Luau’s, learnt the hula & was treated as Ohana (family) .

Returning home I was already planning my next adventure.

My love for Hawaii all its islands, beauty , culture remain .

Ive visited Maui , Kauai, Hawaii & of course Oahu many times . I’ll be writing some itineraries things to do , places to go throughout the year…..so stay tuned.

BTW I got a A+ on my assignment & always had a amazing tan throughout year 11 & 12 .

Aloha

Dedicated to Barry Webster & Eddie Aikau

lifeguards both from Waimea.