by Shawna Huffman Owen, President & CEO

A couple of weeks ago, tired of the fall gloom, I decided to embark on a trip with two of my closest friends. The reopening of the wellness-oriented Four Seasons Sensei on Lānaʻi was the perfect excuse!

Nestled on top of the private island, Sensei is the first wellness retreat by Four Seasons, and it is a stunner; the décor, the gardens, and the food are second only to the treatments and peace you feel at the resort.

Since my return, I continue to reap the benefits from this trip and the feelings and senses Hawaii reignited within me. I cherish these feelings now more than ever and wish you too get to reconnect with your inner traveler soon.

The smiles on the faces of the Hawaiians welcoming visitors back filled my heart with love and gratitude
It felt good to (thoughtfully) travel again. Landing in a new destination, discovering new people, and giving them a sense of purpose. We travel to grow, learn, and escape, but by traveling, we also help support the local economy. Everywhere in Hawaii, we were met with thankful and genuine smiles. There’s a new feeling of gratitude and excitement in the staff we met; they had so much hospitality to give. We always emphasize how we love working with people who are passionate about what they do and believe me, the people from the tourism industry are some of the most passionate of all.

Walking the beach with the sand between my toes made me feel grounded and strong
There’s nothing like walking on a tropical beach again! The sounds, the waves, and fifty shades of sand from white to black. Standing in the sand, looking into the horizon, I felt grounded and calm. The beach is also the perfect place to meditate and exercise in order to become stronger, both physically and mentally.

The expansive blue seas helped me breathe deeper and feel more purposeful
Over the years, I have traveled often with my dear friend Elizabeth, (Founder, Salveo Lifestyle) and have picked up essential habits from her for heightened wellness. With each trip I take, I become a little more aware of my breathing. Being close to the ocean, the natural rhythm of the ocean invites you to be more mindful of your body and helps you to breathe deeper and feel the energy and purpose of every breath.

The wide-open green spaces unlocked my desire for new adventures
For most of us living in urban settings, we have yearned more than ever for the great outdoors. Far away from the mainland, the islands of Hawaii offer such unique personalities and characteristics that we often try to combine a couple of them. Although it might be hard to do this year, a panoramic helicopter ride over volcanoes, waterfalls, and majestic sea cliffs is one way to really get a sense of the vastness and untouched beauty in Hawaii. Being surrounded by so much incredible nature makes me want to keep exploring.

The starlit nights provided a calm blanket by which I rested
There is something peaceful about the night setting earlier than we are used to. In the lushness of Hawaii, when the night falls on the island, the sounds of nature are different and mysterious (the right kind of mystery!). The stars and moon appear and shine a new light on the world, inspiring a sense of tranquility. Think warm night walks under the stars with a smooth ocean breeze…A feeling I want to bottle now that I appreciate how precious it is.