Move to Hawaii and Pursue Your Passion. Is That Even Possible?

To answer the question in the headline, yes. It is possible. I met three people who did it while vacationing their this April. These are their stories. THE BIG ISLAND. Living and working in Seattle when many big tech companies were just starting out sounds like a dream come true—financially, anyway. Richard Bodien rode the wave for as long as he could, and then sold everything and moved to the Big Island. 

My wife and I met him late in the afternoon at the gate to his property on the west side of the island. We were there to watch the sunset from the deck of his remote cigar lounge high up on the hill. It was the highlight of the trip as we chatted well into the night. To meet someone who embraced his passions and made it his profession is an energy that is inspiring. 

I often wonder what hedge fund managers do when they have made more than enough money to do whatever they want, but haven't really created anything other than wealth. I met a person who had an answer—he bought a coffee farm near Kailua-Kona.

We visited Rising Kona Coffee Farm on a cloudy afternoon and not only had the best cup of coffee of our life, we were impressed by Jason and Jessica, two thirty-something's who transition from the mainland to the Big Island, and from finance to the founding of a coffee company. 

Sitting on our balcony overlooking a golf course (and the ocean) I heard live music in the distance. It seemed to be coming from the property down the beach. I looked it up, it was a private club. Hmmmmm. It had a form to join, so I did and then we made our way over. 

When we arrived at the gates of Hali’i Kai it was more stunning in real life than it was in photos. We were let in and sat at the bar. Within a sip or two a smiling young man approached us and said, "You're Lee Silber, the famous author." Whoa. 

It turns out James Gunn is the General Manager and very involved. He saw my application and Googled me. I then Googled him, and he is one impressive 29-year-old. He left Canada and a job as Director of Information Technology to start Palu Hospitality Group in Hawaii. You can just tell from his smile and enthusiasm he made the right choice.

I feel fortunate to have found my dream job... twice. Owning Waves and Wheels Surf Centers in my twenties, and becoming an author and keynote speaker in my thirties were the right fit at the right time. Since we spend roughly 2,100 hours a year working, it would be tragic to be in a profession where at best our heart isn't in it, and at worst, it's soul crushing. The three people in this article decided to do something about their career ambitions and aspirations and made career changes at distinctly different stages in their lives. 

Richard Bodien, a former advertising executive for tech companies, now operates Hawaii Cigar and Ukelele Lounge.