I have always enjoyed traveling and prefer to do non-typical activities on vacations. For example, I would rather hike little-known paths to spectacular locations that the average tourist has never even heard of and cliff jump at the hidden swimming hole instead of fighting for a spot on a crowded beach.

On my last vacation to Hawaii, my traveling world grew a whole lot bigger. Hostels are cheap versions of hotels where you basically rent only a bed. Staying at one of these, I met several like-minded people who explained to me the extent of the “explorer community.” This is a close knit group of travelers who share a passion for wanderlust and adventure but also sharing their tales with others. They can be frequently found at hostels and other low cost establishments where they relax in the evenings and socialize with the rest of the community.

By conversing with these intrepid explorers, you can learn about the secret hikes and hidden locations to explore. The featured image for this blog is a picture taken off Ka’ena Point on Oahu, a deserted bird refuge on the very western tip of the island recommended to to me by a fellow explorer. After hiking 3 miles and climbing through multiple predator fences to get into a game reserve, I was rewarded with an amazing sunset, and best of all, there were no other annoying tourists to ruin the experience for me. I could also write about a 6 hour hike up a seven tiered waterfall to get to the heart of an old volcanic crater, but that is a story for another time.