Enjoying Hawaii During Addiction Recovery: the Waipio Valley

Addiction recovery is a lot of work, but at Hawaiian Island Recovery, we want to ensure you have fun, too. After all, traveling to Hawaii is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many of our residents, and we want you to make the most of your time on the Big Island.

Read on to learn more about experiencing Hawaii during your stay at rehab and to get a glimpse at one of our favorite excursions to Waipio Valley.

If you’re looking for a residential substance abuse rehab facility, there’s no better place to heal and recover than the beautiful, tranquil environment of Hawaii. You may be uncertain about traveling far from home, especially if your addiction has already caused significant strain on your relationships.

However, many residents find that there are several advantages to traveling to Hawaii to begin their journey to recovery. First, traveling away from home allows you to distance yourself from unhealthy relationships or circumstances that influence or enable your addictive behavior. By leaving everything behind—even for a short time—and embracing a new environment, you give yourself an opportunity to start fresh and gain a healthy perspective on your life and addiction.

Many residents find that the distance alone helps them to complete the program. It’s not as easy to quit prematurely and return home when things get hard, and as you stick it out on the Big Island, you’ll be thankful you stayed and gained the tools you need for a lifetime of success beyond your stay at HIR.

We also want to ensure your stay in Hawaii is one you treasure forever. In addition to providing a variety of proven therapies, which are always led by our licensed professionals, we also offer excursions as an opportunity to fully experience the healing power of this beautiful island.

One of the “must see” places we love showing our residents is the Waipio Valley.

According to GoHawaii.com, Waipio Valley was the childhood home of King Kamehameha I and has a rich history of Hawaiian culture, politics, and religion. Though it used to be populated by Native Hawaiians, most left after a tsunami in 1946. Now, a small handful of residents live here who want to retreat from modern society.

The valley itself is one mile across and over five miles deep and home to taro fields. Surrounded by 3,000-foot cliffs, the valley is home to many rivers and waterfalls, including Hawaii’s tallest waterfall, Hiilawe Falls.

There are several ways you can experience the beauty of Waipio Valley.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can go hiking or horseback riding to immerse yourself in the panorama. Though the hike isn’t particularly long, the steep slope makes it a strenuous one. Some may prefer to take a guided van tour or simply observe the breathtaking view from the Waipio Valley Overlook. Those who do venture down to the beach enjoy walking along the soft black lava sand as the surf laps over their feet.

Your time at Waipio Valley is sure to be a highlight of your visit to Hawaii. In addition to providing you with memories that will last a lifetime, there are also real health benefits to exploring this beautiful place at the start of your recovery journey.

When you look through photos of our excursions, it’s easy to see we have a good time hiking, swimming, and exploring the Big Island. While it’s true we have a lot of fun together, there is an even deeper value in the time we spend exploring places like Waipio Valley.

For many residents, excursions provide an opportunity to build their self-awareness and confidence.

Completing a challenging hike or facing a fear can fuel your drive to conquer your addiction. For some, time in nature provides a welcome break from the emotional strain of therapy. Others find that the serenity of nature makes it easier to identify and discuss certain feelings and beliefs.

Whether hiking, swimming or horseback riding, the physical activity you’ll undertake when exploring nature is a fun form of exercise.

This exercise, alongside a nutritious diet, helps your body heal from the trauma of drug and alcohol abuse or other unhealthy behaviors. These activities also allow you to discover new passions that you can continue to enjoy once you leave HIR—passions to replace old hobbies that might have contributed to addictive behaviors.

If you’re looking for the perfect place to recover from addiction, the Big Island of Hawaii is an ideal environment for exploring nature, healing from your past, and preparing for your future.

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction and would like to explore recovery options in Hawaii, please call us at (866) 491-8009 today.