📍: Hāpuna Beach State Recreation Area
“Hapuna Beach is consistently ranked among the ‘world’s best beaches’ for a good reason.”
“One of Hawaii’s – and the world’s – most iconic beaches, Hapuna Beach is consistently ranked among the ‘world’s best beaches’ for a good reason. Hapuna offers some of the best conditions for swimming, bodyboarding, and sunbathing in the Hawaiian Islands. Hapuna (meaning ‘spring’ or ‘pool’ in Hawaiian) is popular with residents and visitors alike as one of the largest white sand beaches located along the Big Island’s Kohala Coast. It offers nearly a half mile of immaculate white sand and continuous shore break that is great fun to play in.” –Big Island Guide
We were medically retired from the Air Force shortly after this Hawaii vacation with our friends. Both of us were really sad when we went on this trip. Lee lost custody of his kids because of false accusations and a corrupt police department. He checked out on me mentally for years while my cognitive health slowly declined due to trauma and chronic lead poisoning. We both slowly lost cognitive function and needed outside intervention. But I remember being happy we were on this trip on a tropical island my friend planned and we were surrounded by people who cared about us. This trip was incredible and inspired me to take the power back with the local police officers who targeted us for political purposes. I wrote Letters to Editors and one to Cop Block too.
Our Favorite Photographs of Hapuna Beach State Park:
Lee and I regularly vacationed and traveled despite medical issues no one would help us with. We made the best of our life and did the best we could to address both the mental and physical health issues in a state known for a broken healthcare system. Looking back, we realized people judged us for mental health issues caused by brain inflammation that goes all the way back to childhood trauma. Their judgement left us isolated and without checks and balances. Our outside intervention came in the form of a stranger we were introduced to on the Internet.
The people in Maine made us feel like we didn’t matter and getting healthcare has made us realize we do matter. We are so proud of ourselves for taking care of us the best way we could while living in rural Maine. We didn’t plan on our health failing the way that it did and the experience taught us a lot about where we wanted to live in the future. We were very disappointed with people but especially family and decided if we were going to be isolated in Maine with no help or support, we might as well live where we both want to live in isolation. Selling our home and moving out of rural Maine was the best thing we could have ever done. We will never return.
Videos of Hapuna Beach State Park:
Related Links:
Hapuna Beach State Park
Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area
‘Akaka Falls State Park, Island of Hawaii (2011)
Sunset on the Big Island, Island of Hawaii (2011)
Hapuna Beach State Park, Island of Hawaii (2011)
Swimming with the Dolphins, Island of Hawaii (2011)
Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden Nature Preserve (2011)
Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site, Island of Hawaii (2011)
Snorkeling at the Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park, Island of Hawaii (2011)
Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park, Kailua-Kona, Island of Hawaii (2011)
Jennifer and Lee 