I’ve never considered myself an avid traveler. In fact, I was 25 years old when I first traveled outside of the continent.

However, I’ve always considered myself a curious person.

I was born and raised on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, a place that most people would call “paradise.” I can’t say I’ve never enjoyed growing up there. The weather is nearly perfect and the crystal-clear ocean made for amazing scenery, but by the time college came around, I was itching to see what else was out there.

When I was 18 years old, I exchanged sunny beaches and trade winds with venti lattes and North Face jackets when I set off for college at the University of Washington in Seattle. Throughout my four years of living in Seattle, I got a chance to explore the Pacific Northwest, taking road trips to parts of Oregon and even up north to Canada.

My innate curiosity about places and people naturally led me to consider pursuing a career in journalism. My passions took me to Phoenix, Ariz. in 2011 where I obtained my master’s degree in mass communication at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Throughout my 15 months of attending school in Phoenix, I’ve had unforgettable experiences traveling to the U.S.-Mexico border to learn more about immigration issues, China to study business journalism, and some places closer to home like Sedona and Las Vegas.

After graduating in 2012, my heart led me back to my home state of Hawaii, where I landed a job as a digital producer for a local TV station and was able to set aside some funds to continue my travels around the world. Since being home over those years, I used my vacation time to check some experiences off the bucket list, including eating sushi in Japan, climbing to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris and seeing the ancient ruins of Rome.

I realized that there’s more to a place than what meets the eye; every city, state and country has a story to tell.

Inspired by my nomadic adventures and natural love of travel, I created this blog to visually document various places I’ve been to and want to visit. I’m always excited to hear other peoples’ stories, so your experiences, recommendations and/or photographs are always welcome on this blog!