Our PURELEI adventure in Hawaii: A trip to paradise

As you may have noticed, a few weeks ago we held a competition for a community trip to Hawaii via Instagram. The four lucky winners of this dream trip, Romy and Kathrin and Celine and Celine (Lini), traveled to Hawaii together with Laura and Jenni from Team PURELEI to discover the breathtaking island world. Curious about what happened? Then read on, because we will review this unique dream trip together with the four winners.

The journey to paradise

After the four girls received the exciting news that they were among the winners of the PURELEI community trip to Hawaii, they soon headed to the airport with their suitcases packed and anticipation. After a long plane ride, they finally landed in Honolulu. The PURELEI team was already there and Laura and Jennifer welcomed the girls with traditional lei necklaces, which are also hidden in the name of PURELEI.

The name PURELEI is made up of the words pure and lei and stands for a pure attitude to life and the world-famous Hawaiian flower necklace.

Together the girls will follow PURELEI's footsteps over the next few days. Oahu, the third largest island in Hawaii, is explored. The most beautiful beaches in the world, the high mountains, the tropical rainforests, hikes with incredible views, the warm weather, the island offers all of this, making it one of the most popular destinations for tourists.

Aloha = Hello, good afternoon, good morning, good evening, love, the Hawaiian attitude to life

The PURELEI House in Hawaii

The accommodation for the next five days was the PURELEI House in Hawaii, with breathtaking views of the azure sea and sandy beach. PURELEI-typical decor in the house ensured even more of a holiday atmosphere (if that was necessary given the view). After everyone had arrived, explored the house and moved into their rooms, the PURELEI Hawaii community adventure could really start and the participant Romy experienced her first magic moment.

The Magic Moment

Romy

It's hard to name just one Magic Moment. The first magic moment was when I opened my eyes on the first morning and, despite missing my glasses, I could see the dawn in the sky from bed. So we jumped right up and watched the sunrise. This was more than magic, this was a spectacle of nature in paradise.

The second magic moment was when we went to the first beach, through a narrow path in a typical American rural residential area. Past the most beautiful green plants, the view opened up to the sea, which was surrounded by soft sand and the mountainous landscape. Pure goosebumps.

One ​​adventure at a time

The PURELEI team had prepared a varied and exciting program for the four. Each day began with breakfast inside or at a special food spot outside. After that, a new adventure was on the agenda every day.

On the first day we headed towards Kailua on the east coast of Oahu. To give the girls a little rest after the long trip, Laura and Jenni planned a beach day at one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Lanikai Beach. With snacks and a good mood, they enjoyed the day on the fine sandy beach and dived into the turquoise water for the first time. Then we went to Waikiki, the well-known district of Honolulu with a mix of surf spots, high-rise buildings and shopping opportunities.

Fun fact: Alisa lived here during her studies!
This paradisiacal first day was rounded off with a beautiful view over dinner in Waikiki.

Mahalo = Thank you

Day two was shopping! The Moana Shopping Mall in Honolulu offers many different shops and typical Hawaiian food highlights such as shaved ice or poke bowls, all of which have been tried. The four winners were also able to organize their own free time each day and decide what they would like to do. Whether relaxing on the beach, shopping at local stores or going on more adventures, the possibilities were endless and the memories were guaranteed to be unforgettable.

Hoaloha = friend

A trip to the North Shore and Turtle Bay was also an absolute must. The girls got to experience the thrill of watching the surfers at the famous Surfer Bay and spotted majestic sea turtles at Turtle Bay. But read for yourself:

The Magic Moment

Romy

When the day came that we went to Turtle Beach, I was super excited. Will I finally see sea turtles in their natural habitat? The search and wait was worth it and little heads stuck out of the water. Pure goosebumps and tears rolled down. I never thought that we would be even luckier and see even more turtles during the excursions - within reach.

Nalu = wave

Kayak tour

Morning yoga session on Waikiki Beach: The perfect start to the day to strengthen your body and mind and enjoy the breathtaking scenery. This is what the group experienced on the fourth day of the Hawaii trip. In addition, the swimming costumes were a must, because in the afternoon a kayak tour in transparent kayaks awaited the group. The girls were able to snorkel and explore the beautiful underwater world of Hawaii. In the evening they enjoyed a traditional Honolulu hula show and dinner with local delicacies at a typical Hawaiian luau.

Hula = Traditional Hawaiian dance

Fun Fact:

Romy

The ass has to be in the middle. We went in circles so many times while kayaking, even though we really took turns paddling. The guide then told us that our buttocks had to be in the middle of the kayak. We laughed in tears for the rest of the tour.

Celine L.

Fun Fact: Did you know that turtles think that all other creatures are turtles too? - Not? This was also new for our guide, but dear Laura was “100%” sure that it was true. "That's why they don't do anything to us." At the time Laura shared this fact, she was sitting in a dry kayak and I was swimming in the water, less than 2 meters from a turtle.

And even though I had great respect for this turtle at that moment, this experience of the trip is a very special one - at the time I thought: I will never get this close to a free-living turtle again.

Oahu's marine life is a kaleidoscope of color and life that delights divers and snorkelers alike. Beneath the sparkling surface of the turquoise Pacific lie colorful coral reefs that are home to a variety of exotic fish, sea turtles and even harmless reef sharks. The warm waters surrounding the island are a haven for marine life, from small, lively clownfish to majestic manta rays. So there is always something to discover there!

To be continued… There are more adventures waiting for the group of girls. Read what happens next in the second part of our Hawaii travel report.