Hawaii Rove - Summer 2022

The summer of 2022 we did we did something amazing…we lived on the island of Maui, Hawaii
for 6 months. Unlike our 2021 Retirement trip to Hawaii, I did not blog everyday, as this was an immersion and our day to day life. However, we would like to share some of our experiences from our first summer rove in retirement.

Location:
Selecting a location for our first rove was critical. We did not have the luxury of looking at the homes in person so we had to rely on photos and videos. We utilized the app Trulia that lists real estate and rentals in Hawaii. We were able to pinpoint a couple of areas we wanted to live based on our previous visit. We were very lucky to find a 3-bedroom home across from a beach with views of the ocean that was absolutely perfect for us. Waking up to the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean everyday was an experience we will never forget. We got to know our hosts very well and it really felt like home.

Visitors:
We decided if we were going to have a place in Hawaii for the summer, we definitely wanted to share it with our friends and family. During the 6 months we were there we had seven groups of visitors for one-two weeks at a time. It felt like we were on perpetual vacation in a good way and we were able to learn so much about the island of Maui by acting as tour guides. We now know the best places eat, the best sites to see, the best places to shop, and the best tours to take. It was a real education for us, one we want to continue doing for many years to come.

Photos from our Hawaii Rove can be found at this link.

Living on an Island:
It is very different living on an island in Hawaii versus on the continental United States. Some things we learned.
1. There is a peacefulness and serenity that descends on you when you live on an island. The vibe is very positive and the Aloha spirit is present everywhere,
2. If you wander away from the tourist areas of Maui you can go places where you feel like you are the only one on the island.
3. The island of Maui is 26 miles wide, but at it’s highest peak it is over 10,000 feet. You could drive around the whole island in one day (108 miles). Driving is very different, especially with mostly two-lane roads. You learn patience and keen awareness of surroundings.