How to Recover and Prevent Hawaii Post-Vacation Blues

True or false: the energy on the airplane flying to Hawaii is more positive than the one leaving the islands. If you answered true, you would be correct. Many visitors holding their boarding passes and wearing their tans dread returning home. Away from a tropical paradise and back to work, chores, routine and less desirable weather. If you’re someone who suffers from Hawaii post-vacation blues, here are some ways to recover and prevent.

Recreate Hawaii at Home

Sure, nothing can replace the sweet smell in the air and the true feeling that you’re in Hawaii on vacation. But there are several things you can do in your own home which can help with post-vacation blues. These are some things you may have enjoyed while here in Hawaii but didn’t have more time to explore.

You may have attended a luau or enjoyed some of the local cuisine. Why not try some recipes at home? Find some fresh Ahi and make your own poke. Catch some eyes at your local grocery store buying SPAM, rice, and seaweed wraps to make musubi. Perfect a tropical salsa recipe or try different ways of making a refreshing Mai Tai. If you really want to go for it, dig an imu (pit) in your backyard, buy an entire pig and invite the whole neighborhood for a feast!

Now that you’ve organized dinner, turn on some Hawaiian music and learn something new. Make a grass skirt and find a YouTube video to teach you Hula. Discover the correct way of speaking the Hawai’ian language. Purchase some flowers and learn how to make a lei or pick up a ukulele. Just because you’re no longer in Hawaii on vacation doesn’t mean you can’t bring a bit of aloha to your own kitchen and living room.

Preview and Print your Vacation Photos

You most likely took a thousand pictures of sunsets, beaches, and waterfalls. Go beyond keeping them stored on your hard drive or cloud service. Spend time with your loved ones who are also suffering from post-vacation blues and pick out the best. Print them out and make an old-school 4×6 photo album. Find your favorite and submit it to a company to make your picture into a puzzle. Make a scrapbook by hand or online through a company like Shutterfly. A physical album or photo book on your coffee table will be sure to bring a smile when you’re missing Hawaii.

Plan Your Next Trip

If you’re like most, you can’t take a vacation every couple of months. The thought of not returning to Hawaii for 6 months, one year or longer can be a depressing thought. However, starting the planning process shortly after you return home can help with those post-vacation blues. If you want to stay on a different island for your next trip, research the many unique areas of the state. Look at flights, hotels, vacation rentals and different activities. Be a contributor on TripAdvisor or other travel forums sharing your own experiences in the process. While you may not be able to set a date for your next vacation, you can certainly be prepared for when it’s time to return.

Mix Up Your Daily Routine

It doesn’t matter if you’re in a big city, small town or suburb. There is something unique, fun, or interesting around you. Walk down a stream and appreciate the plants and wildlife. Eat at the restaurant you’ve always wanted to try. Take a drive through an area nearby you’ve never visited. Try out a fitness class or simply take a different route to work. Hawaii can be intoxicating with its beauty and lifestyle. Wean yourself off it by getting away from your daily routine and mixing it up.

Prevent Hawaii Post-Vacation Blues

The end of a good vacation is the downside of going away. For some, post-vacation blues are minimal yet for others, leaving a place they’ve fallen in love with is like ending a passionate romance. So, what can you do to prevent this feeling? Make Hawaii a part of your life through buying a vacation home on your favorite island.

You might be thinking to yourself that even if you owned a home in Hawaii, your vacation will still come to an end. This is true — the difference is mindset. When you own a vacation home you’re no longer “checking out” when you return to your primary residence. You’re simply returning to your other home. You will have planted roots and invested in future vacations, owning a part of Hawaii that stays with you.

While there are many people who own second homes in Hawaii which remain vacant while they are away, most cannot afford this luxury. An option many choose is to buy a vacation condo they can rent to vacationers most of the year. This can either supplement the mortgage, cover the entire monthly expense or even produce an income for the owners. Through guest reviews, comments, financial statements and updates on your vacation condo, it’s as if Hawaii is always with you.

If you’ve ever considered owning a vacation home in Hawaii, I encourage you to speak with a Realtor to learn more. If you’ve fallen in love with the Valley Isle and want to learn about what properties are currently on the market in Maui, contact me. I decided in 2006, after experiencing post-vacation blues, to make Maui my permanent home. I feel blessed and love helping others realize their dreams of owning on Maui.