Here’s a question for you: Where is your favorite place on Earth? The one place you love to visit, that calls to your heart?
For many, that’s Kauai.
For me, it’s Glacier National Park in Montana. I always say that’s the park for the working man, where camping and hiking are the main attractions, where for little money you can be surrounded by majestic mountains, see snow-capped glaciers and crystal blue lakes and waterfalls, walk in stunning beauty, and where you’re likely to meet — hopefully from a safe distance because I’ve had some too-close encounters — grizzly bears and moose.
I came across a book shortly after I moved here that tells of the favorites places of famous people like George Lucas, the Dalai Lama, James Taylor, Will Ferrell and Jerry Seinfeld. That National Geographic book, “My Favorite Place on Earth: Celebrated people share their travel discoveries,” offers glimpses of places you would expect, like London, England, Bali, Indonesia, South Africa and Greenwich Village. It also takes you to places you would not expect, like a garage, a garden and a house.
The 2009 book includes a chapter by a man named Donald Trump, who just happens to be our president today. And his favorite place? Mar-a-Lago, Palm Beach, Florida.
Naturally, the list of favorite places includes several in Hawaii, including Puakea Bay on the Big Island, Hana on Maui, the Pipeline on Oahu and, yes, Kauai.
The star who writes about Kauai is Matt Groening, a writer and cartoonist who created “The Simpsons.” He writes about the magic of Hanalei, Lumahai, Tunnels, and a place called the Blue Room that we won’t give details about because we don’t want anyone to try and find it.
Here is the ending paragraph of his words about Kauai: “I’ve been coming to Kauai for 25 years, and each visit astounds me. The staggering beauty of the island forces my brain to slow down, and I think someday I won’t leave.”
He won’t be alone.
The copy of this book, by the way, had an inscription and was signed by Matt Groening, assuming it’s his signature. On the inside cover, he wrote this to a friend, Kevin: “Thank you for making our stay in paradise so delicious! See my tribute to Kauai on page 123! Aloha for now – Matt Groening, Dec. 22, 2009.”
This book makes you want to travel the world, though you have an amazing world to enjoy and explore each day right here. Still, the words of the introduction by Jerry Camarillo Dunn Jr., may inspire you to look across this ocean:
“I think we fall in love with places in the same way we do with people. It may happen at first sight, or develop slowly with time and familiarity. But in some mysterious way we recognize a spirit that is simpatico. We feel inexplicably complete and happy. A place, like a person, is a great gift.
“In this book, I hope you enjoy seeing some remarkable people’s favorite spots through their eyes. But even more, I hope you’ll be inspired to lean back on your chair, close your eyes — and think about your favorite place on Earth.”
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Bill Buley, editor-in-chief, can be reached at 245-0457 or
bbuley@thegardenisland.com.
