Elon in Hawaii: A Summer Like No Other

Who wouldn’t give anything to soak up the sun on the tropical island of Hawaii this summer? In the age of influencer day and age, we see creators such as Hannah Meloche and Lexi Hidalgo on social media living their absolute best lives out on the remote Hawaiian islands. Such influencers have inspired many teenagers and adults alike to try out island life, either temporarily or even permanently. We spoke to one of Elon’s first-year students Sam Kelley who decided to spend her summer working in Hawaii. Kelley, a South Carolina native, told us about her living experience, job endeavor, and extraordinary places on the island she has visited during her time there so far. 

Kelley is staying this summer in Ko Olina, Hawaii. Ko Olina, just 17 miles from the state’s capital Honolulu, is found on the island of Oahu. Oahu is Hawaii’s most popular destination, and Ko Olina is known for its many resorts, marina, championship golf course, and scenic nature hubs. When in Ko Olina, visitors may enjoy fishing, sailing, snorkeling in lagoons (something Kelley recently tried!), and of course a highly sought after, magical sunset cruise.  

Sam snorkeling in the deep blue. Photo submitted by Sam Kelley.

Now, how did Kelley land her summer gig in Hawaii? During the spring semester, she applied to be a lifeguard there. Why lifeguard in South Carolina, a familiar place, than shoot for the adventure of a lifetime? “It’s always been a dream of mine to live here,” Kelley said. Luckily for Kelley, her dream came true and she received a lifeguarding position through Jeff Ellis Management (JEM). 

Currently Kelley stays in Ko Olina with her lifeguard coworkers (pictured below). Kelley says her job “[can be] brutal, but being in Hawaii makes it worth it.” Her lifeguarding shifts are definitely the most challenging part of staying on the island for her. Having an island full of breathtaking natural beauty and places to explore is a difficult temptation to resist when Kelley is at work all day. 

When Kelley first arrived on the island, she experienced a bit of culture shock. “It’s more diverse here and there’s just so much to learn about the culture, but everyone has been super nice and patient,” Kelley said. “Everyone here also loves the island and they appreciate everything it has to offer.” Life in Hawaii has definitely been different for Kelley than her hometown of Pawleys Island and certainly compared to her time as a college student at Elon. As she gains insight and experiences throughout the summer, Kelley looks forward to learning more about the state’s rich history and culture, as well as exploring other parts of the Hawaiian islands.

Sam, just living her true H₂0 moment! Photo submitted by Sam Kelley. 

In the last few weeks, Kelley has been fortunate to begin traveling and visiting places around the island. So far, the Yokohama Bay, located on the west side of Oahu, was Kelley’s favorite destination to adventure around. The Yokohama Bay can be found in a more secluded area of the island that your typical tourist would most likely overlook.

Another one of Kelley’s new favorite adventures is exploring around the North Shore of Oahu. Kelley also told us she would recommend to anyone visiting the island seeking a thrill, to go jumping off of the rocks in the Waimea Bay. Kelley will continue to check out new and uncharted territories and activities to see and do across Hawaii this summer.  She looks forward to “exploring the island as much as possible and hopefully taking a trip to Kauai.”

It’s not all just lush greenery and ragged cliffs jetting into the turquoise waters. Photo submitted by Sam Kelley. 

Kelley told us that if it all works out, she plans to return to Hawaii in the future. However, next time she is going to try out a more conventional job, possibly as a hostess, or working at a local ice cream shop. She is overall excited for what the rest of Summer 2021 in Hawaii holds for her.

If you ever find yourself vacationing on the Hawaiian islands or exploring the raw natural beauty of the state, make sure to tag us in your pictures @theedgemag!

We do not own any of the images in this article.

Featured image submitted by Sam Kelley.