Aloha everyone, and Mahalo for following my blog. I am thrilled to share my experience with you! I attended a veterinary vacation/continuing education (CE) conference in Waikiki, Hawaii. So welcome to my Vet Vacation CE: Waikiki Beach edition blog post!
Discovering Vet Vacation CE
Attending professional CE seminars and conferences can be a chore. Especially when you are stuck inside listening to lectures for hours at a time, and have to travel, leaving your family behind. All to get the necessary hours for your license renewal. This has historically been the bane of many veterinarians’ existence, including mine.
Until now! Because Vet Vacation CE has the refreshing option to not only obtain needed education hours, but also to enjoy a true vacation.
This company hosts conferences in exotic places all over the world. It has something for every kind of traveler.
The main caveat?
Participants get to learn from top-notch lecturers in the field while enjoying five-star hotel accommodations in beautiful locations. Their motto is merging educational experiences with time to explore, relax, and enjoy a true vacay.
My journey to Waikiki
I first learned about Vet Vacation CE online when looking into conferences close to my island home of St. Croix in the USVI. With 30 CE credit hours needed to renew my license, and only a few months to get them, I was looking to knock out 15 or so with a long weekend trip.
What first popped up was a conference in St. Kitts, ‘Down Island’ as we say locally, appearing to be just a hop away, upon further investigation was shocking! I learned that to get to St. Kitts I would have to fly up to Miami (a 2.5 hour trip) and then fly down past St. Croix again (a 5 hour trip) to St. Kitts. Between the travel time and expense of the conference and hotel, it did not make sense or cents. So I passed on that one and signed onto the Vet Vacation CE email chain with the thought that maybe there would be another option.
Several months later and still needing 15 credits, the Waikiki Hawaii conference popped up on my radar.
What?! Hawaii! Waikiki?
Surfing during my breaks! A five star hotel vacation while getting caught up on all the latest and greatest in veterinary medicine?
YEAH!
That was more like it! If I was going to take the time and spend the $$$’s to travel, I might as well go somewhere I was drawn to. It was a done deal!
And to top it off, the conference fee was generously reimbursed to me in exchange for some social media videos and collaboration with the founders of Vet Vacation CE. How could I say no?
Arrival in paradise
I had been to the island of Oahu several years earlier for a yoga retreat on the North Shore and absolutely loved it! The island vibe is different than the Caribbean. But it’s still so down-to-earth and peaceful. The Waikiki hotel strip and the famous Waikiki surfing waves on Oahu were a far cry from the rural scene on the North Shore. Yet, I was craving some adventure and, of course, another opportunity to try and catch some of those famous waves! I packed my travel bag and caught three flights that took me through 24 hours and 3 different time zones to Hawaii!
I’m so glad that I did! The experience was stellar and ticked all the marks on my checklist.
Upon arrival, I noticed how the Honolulu airport combined indoor and outdoor areas so that weary travelers could enjoy parks and nature while waiting for their flights. Such was the Hawaiian energy that I remembered and the air felt refreshingly cool! My taxi driver told me about local culture and places to see on the 20-minute drive to my hotel. Everyone seemed so relaxed and friendly.
Wow! 🤩 Is all I can say about my first impression of my hotel – The Aloilani Resort, which is also where the veterinary conference was being held daily.
It was superb. My room had a balcony overlooking the Waikiki strip and beach. The amenities, including restaurants and shops, were top-notch. The customer service was impeccable. I felt so comfortable and relaxed just walking through the spacious lobby, let alone enjoying my king-sized bed with a view!
Exploring Waikiki
My first afternoon there, jet-lagged and all, I walked the strip, went for a swim, and dined on world-class Udon Noodles and a Poke Bowl at Momosan. It’s one of Iron Chef Morimoto’s signature spots, located on the ground level of the resort.
I spent the sunset and every evening thereafter watching the scene unfold on the Waikiki strip below my balcony while I was sipping on a glass of wine, sake, or tea.
From dusk to dawn, surfers were lined up by the dozens to catch the waves and people walked the urban streets with surfboards on their heads in bathing suits until after dark. Tourists and locals from all walks of life strolled the boardwalk. They enjoyed the many restaurants and shops lining the waterfront of Waikiki. It was really so magical! I was in heaven.
Conference highlights
The conference turned out to be another treat.
Lectures were held each morning from 8 am-1 pm. We then had the afternoon and evening to have some fun in the sun, get out and explore.
The conference hosts were amazing. The intimate setting (there were approximately 125 other veterinarians in attendance) provided for in-depth learning on topics like feline dentistry and autoimmune diseases. It also allowed participants to engage with colleagues from around the world.
Believe it or not, I actually won the award and a special Vet Vacation CE hat for having traveled the farthest in miles to attend this particular conference. My main competitor had come from Australia. That’s how far away from home I really was!
When all was said and done I had scheduled one full day for sightseeing and touring the parts of the island I had never seen. First, I had a great time getting my hair and makeup done by Reveal. Then I made it to local attractions like ChinaMan’s Hat, the Botanical Gardens, and Magic Beach, taking photos and videos along the way with One Moment Hawaii, to share with everyone on my social media sites and with Vet Vacation CE.
The final adventures
The icing on the cake for me was my very last morning there.
I got up at 5 am to do some stretching and hit the beach for one last surf session at 7 am with Jamie O’ Brien Surf Experience. As we paddled out to sea, a full rainbow appeared over us. Even a sea turtle swam under my surfboard. It is a moment I will never forget! Absolutely divine.
Exhilarated from the surf, sand, and sea, I was on my way back to the hotel to catch my airport ride when – I came across a crowd gathering on the beach around two endangered Hawaiian monk seals.
Apparently, they come onto shore to rest and sunbathe. They are protected by the local authorities. The entire area was taped off and these animals were so respected. You could literally feel the awe and wonder in the air. It was simply awesome.
My thoughts…
So YES to Hawaii! Most definitely a special place on my bucket list! Vet Vacation CE was a great way to experience Waikiki while getting my much-needed continuing education. I’m looking forward to catching another wave with them and some more CE next time around the globe. Maybe Africa? Or a little bit closer to home. We’ll see. The options are all amazing. I’ll be sure to keep you posted!
Mahalo to everyone who made my trip so much FUN. I’ve never felt so cool going back to school! 😎
Until next time! Cheers, Dears! And thanks for reading and riding the waves of island life with me!
Stacia
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