Estelle's Story

Estelle, RN works on the Critical Care Unit as a clinical nurse educator at Kapi'olani Medical Center at Pali Momi. She describes why she moved to Hawaii.

When did you move to Hawaii?

I moved to Hawaii about 5 years ago, when my husband's job was relocated to Hawaii.

Where did you move from?

We relocated from the Bay Area and before that I lived on the East Coast.

What made you decide to move to Hawaii?

I had never really thought about living in Hawaii. I grew up as an "outdoorsy, New England" type person... cold nights, warm fires. I wasn't sure about this tropical lifestyle idea.

What do you enjoy most about Hawaii?

I am amazed at all the different activities you can do here. Sea kayaking, scuba diving, whale watching, and incredible hiking. The ocean is as warm as bath water, and the fire is in a volcano instead of the fireplace!

What do you enjoy about working at Kapi'olani?

Once you experience "aloha nursing" it is hard to go back, and Kapi'olani as a health care system epitomizes care that has real aloha (caring), real ohana (family)....real nursing, that's what it feels like!

What activities do you enjoy?

My husband and I have become junior volcanologists, so we go to the Big Island whenever the lava flow is particularly active. Our idea of a romantic evening is curled up together watching lava flow by us. I am learning Chinese brush calligraphy, and he does Japanese ink painting. Our main interests, music and people, are much richer in our new life here. We kayak, hike, and scuba dive regularly right outside our own doorstep!

What was the most challenging thing about moving to Hawaii and how did you deal with it?

Moving to Hawaii is like moving to another country - actually, many different countries. At first, it is a little strange to see street names I couldn't pronounce, to not know what to order at a Thai restaurant, and to learn Hawaiian words and slang. Now, my life is so much richer. For every new friend I make, I have also learned about a new language, new music, new flavors and scents. I have always wanted to be a part of the global community. Now I am, because I live in Hawaii's rich, multi-ethnic community.