Happy Tuesday everyone!

In my feeble attempt to procrastinate my homework once more, I have found myself in the Pinterest rabbit hole of graduation content. I could not decorate my cap at my high school graduation, so this time around I am looking forward to decorating my college one. With so many options online, here is my round-up of the cutest, most badass caps out there. Enjoy!

Which one is your favorite? Personally, I'm still trying to decide, although when I do get around to decorating I'll be sure to post an update with my own cap!

Hey guys!

Wow has it been a minute! Somehow the fall semester has flown by and I am now just one month shy of graduating. While I haven't been posting much (sometimes life takes over) I did want to jot down my thoughts about where I'll be taking this space moving forward.

My HI Life was started in an attempt to bring news and information to people who would otherwise have a very hard time learning about the University of Hawaii at Manoa. To be frank, the university doesn't do a good job relaying important information to students on the mainland. Over the years this space grew to be less about the school and more about me, which in turn changed the direction of this blog. I no longer wrote about semester thoughts, life in the dorms, and events on campus, but instead I wrote about my favorite beaches, things to do around the island, and my travels abroad. It would be silly of me to say that when I graduate, this space too will cease. 

Like many others, I find myself trying to navigate post-grad life with many questions. Right now, I know I want to continue blogging, but I know in order to do that I will need to change host sites and, along the way, revamp the blog in its entirety. So, for now, I will be continuing to write on My HI Life but just know that once graduation comes and goes that I will likely change sites, change names, and thus move forward.

Many will probably find this to be the wrong next step, or at least a mistake in the making. However, I've been blogging since I was in seventh grade, and each year I would change names and then change URLS, essentially starting from scratch each year. This is not scary to me, this is exciting. I look forward to my blog maturing alongside me, and I look forward to seeing how my little slice of the internet can transform with me. 

Until next time.

Hi everyone,

With the May quickly flying by I wanted to make this post introducing to you some of my favorite new pieces I've added to my collection (if I can even call it that) of gym clothes. I am confident that a great set of clothes can improve your workout tenfold, so needless to say each of these pieces, in some way or another, make me feel confident while working out. With that in mind, I hope this post inspires you to take the leap and treat your self to some new, cute clothes. 

If you haven't gotten a chance to read my previous post on working out, click HERE to get up-to-date on my current workout. 

I won't lie, I have a quick growing collection of leggings and athletic wear now that I have made it my mission to go just about every weekday. While this sounds fun and fresh, the reality is that once I get into a routine I will quickly find myself reaching for the same pair of leggings and athletic shirt. However, I challenged myself to go above and beyond for all of you and, with that, I wore a new outfit every day to the gym.

FTC: Some of these pieces have been gifted to me in return for my honest review. When a piece has been gifted I will mark it with a '*'. Thank you for your support! 

Monday

Ah, the beginning of the week. The time when I feel the most motivated and the least likely to feel burnt out and ready to quit after half an hour. Monday. 






Today I opted for a sleek pair of blue-gray leggings and sports bra from Sew Mia Boutique. HERE is a link to the pants* and HERE is a link to the sports bra*. 


Tuesday

Alright, so by now I'm a little sore from my workout but I have not yet lost my motivation! Since it's summertime in Hawaii, the humidity has been out of control, so for this day I decided to go with a simple tank top and a cute pair of running shorts.





Running shorts and grey sweat-wick shirt are from Target!

Wednesday

Well, it's that time of the week where I can either be hitting personal records or starting to slip. To keep me motivated I like to wear a pop of color on the bottom and a cute piece on top. For today I went with a cute pair of pink leggings from QueenieKe and decided to pair it with a white sports bra to match. I also threw on a lightweight tank top since I focused more on upper body. 




HERE *is a link to the pants online and HERE  * is a link to the white sports bra. The tank top I am wearing is currently unavailable, but HERE is a link to the website where you can buy other items. 

Thursday

We're almost there, everyone! For Thursday's I don't have as much free time to workout, so what I like to do is reach for something I can throw on real quick and run off in. For this reason, I usually wear a light pair of running shorts and a fitted tank. 







Both pieces are rather old, so I'm linking some similar ones instead. HERE is a link to a similar, fitted tank top. HERE is a link to a similar pair of running shorts. 

Friday

Yay! The week is done; time to celebrate! To end the week on a happy note, I always go for a bright and fun outfit. This week I wore the blue ombre set from Nepoagym. I love wearing this set because I think the fit is flattering and the colors are fun! 






HERE * is a link to the ombre leggings. HERE * is a link to the crop top. 


Which outfit was your fave? Is there any you would wear, or any you would style differently? Let me know in the comments below; I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Hello everyone!

A few weekends back I completed my first hike on the westside of Oahu. Since I have previously shared so much information about hikes on the eastern side of the island, I felt it fitting I tell you guys about this one, too!

Maili Pillbox (aka Oahu's Pink Pillbox)

Getting to the pillbox is an easy feat. Located in the area of Nanakuli, this hike is surrounded by hills and breathtaking views of the ocean. While safe for children, animals, and pregnant women (I can confirm this because I actually saw a pregnant woman hiking this) I cannot help but caution all of those interested in doing this for themselves. 

Whether you're a daredevil or a hiker who's more on the cautionary side, this hike has a trail for you. For mine and Daniel's wellbeing, we opted for the safer route out of the two. The path we took starts immediately after the 9th light pole on the right side of Kaukama Road. Once you reach the 9th light pole (I counted) you should park and, from here, begin your hike! 

The hike itself is a moderate one that winds its way up the mountain. With little shade, I advise you to stop and rest early at one of the big rock walls before hiking up to the top. Daniel and I took a break twice and found that we got tired much earlier on than we had anticipated. Once you're done resting, continue on up the path. 

While the path is easy to follow, I want to mention how slippery it can be. Much of the ground is rocky and dry, and I actually found myself slipping on occasion. There is not much to hold on to besides brush, so don't try and run up the trail! 

The boxes themselves are all quite easy to get to, but the one that is most popular is the pink one. Painted in honor of breast cancer awareness, this pillbox is a vibrant pink that can be seen all the way from the highway below. 

After taking our fair share of pictures inside of the pink box, we made our way back down the trail to some of the earlier pillboxes, where I sat at the top for more of an aesthetic picture. 

On the descent down I would caution all of you to go slowly and with intention. Like I said there isn't much to hold on to, and as you can see I had to nearly tip-toe my way down the mountain. 

While the sun was brutally hot, the great thing about this hike is the proximity to the beach! Once down on level ground I wanted nothing more than to go running into the fresh, west-side water. 

What do you think? Are you a fan of the pink pillbox or prefer the ones on Lanikai side more? Personally I think I favor the ones in Kailua, but each of these hikes offer something different, so I'm happy to have completed this one. 

Hey everyone!

It is with a very happy heart that I conclude my spring semester at Manoa. After taking 18 credits, 6 classes in total, I can finally say I am done! I have taken a short *unannounced* break from posting for a while and am so happy to be back. This summer I am planning on staying dedicated to posting once a week and cannot wait to share all of my new ideas with you all. Rather than start now, I wanted to share this post in hopes that you would all feel more at ease knowing that yes, I am still alive and yes, I will be posting starting next week. 

I hope everyone had a successful finals week! Here's to having only one semester left!

Until next time,  

Hello everyone!

Inspired by my efforts to live a more green lifestyle, I have become quite a fan of the beauty and skincare store, LUSH. Today I wanted to talk about my favorite LUSH products and, hopefully, inspire you to try out some of them for yourself!

Cup O' Coffee

When I say this kicked off my obsession, I mean this kicked it off! The smell is amazing and the scrub itself works very well at riding your skin of dirt and grime. I love reaching for this after a long day, applying a thick layer on my face, and just taking in the coffeehouse smell. After each use I can attest that my skin has felt softer and looks more even, which is perhaps why I always try and apply a layer when I can tell I have a break out coming. I purchased my cup in January and there is still half left! I cannot recommend this mask enough. I like to do a mask on Sundays, before the week starts, and again on Wednesdays, when I'm halfway through the workweek. 


Montalbano Shampoo Bar

One word: legendary. The holy grail for girls with oily hair, this shampoo bar exceeded my expectations from the first use. My hair type is thin, flat, and oily, making for one heck of a look after a few days. Because of this I have become accustomed to washing my hair every day! I know, I know, you don't need to lecture me on why that's horrible for my hair, I already know. I just didn't know what else to do. So, in a moment of desperation, I decided to try a shampoo bar at LUSH. Maybe I was intrigued by the lack of packaging, maybe I was curious if the bar would hold up to it's claims. Whatever the reason, I went home with two samples; one of the Montalbano and one of the Honey I Washed My Hair. Simply put, the Montalbano actually did what it is supposed to do, whereas the other bar did what any other drugstore shampoo would do, mask the problem for a day and then require I wash again. If you have overly-oily hair, I cannot stress enough that you should go to the nearest LUSH and, at the very least, ask for a sample. From what I understand, each bar is made with natural, safe ingredients and can last up to 100 washes. That's over three months packed into such a tiny object! All I can say is that I am excited to go back and buy another one. 



Sleepy Lotion

Now that LUSH has successfully converted me into a believer of their shampoo bars and a fanatic of their coffee mask, it's only natural I would move onto my next sought-after item: lotion. You've heard me say time and time again how my skin is sensitive and even the slightest application of a lotion other than Hempz has my skin breaking out into what feels like flames. If you couldn't tell, I am very, very hesitant when it comes to buying lotions. I have heard great things about the Sleepy lotion but, given my skin, was too afraid to take the leap without trying some for myself. I will say that the lotion takes a while to absorb, but for the most part I enjoy putting some on my hands before bed and using it to help me unwind. One thing I do like is that the lotion isn't overtly lavender. Meaning that when you apply it you aren't slapped in the face with the fake lavender that some lotions have. The lavender Sleepy lotion is subtle and makes for a very relaxing, soothing feeling once on the skin. 

What do you think? Have I convinced you to try your hand at any of these products yet? Let me know if you use any of these or if there is a different product that you enjoy. Hope everyone is having a great week!