About Me
Hello! My name is Sarah. I was born and raised (and still live!) on the beautiful island of Oahu, Hawaii, surrounded by amazing cultures and stunning natural landscapes. My favorite weekend activities (both as a kid and now!) included going to beaches, exploring fun hikes, and discovering new restaurants on the island.
And all of that doesn’t even touch on all the fun I had traveling to the other Hawaiian Islands. During our school breaks, my family and I would travel to Kauai, Maui, Lanai, and the Big Island.
Starting in high school, my family’s trips began to expand beyond the islands and the U.S. We went on trips together all around the world to places like Egypt, Italy, Australia, Japan, and lots more! I was exposed to and inspired by the amazing cultures and viewpoints of people all around the world. I saw these as such shaping experiences that I wished other people could have these experiences too.
When I finished high school, I wanted to see what it would be like to live outside of Hawaii. I started attending a university in California, where, during my sophomore year, I was given the opportunity to study abroad for a full academic year in Switzerland. I decided to go for it. While in Switzerland, I travelled to dozens of different countries in Europe and had so many memorable experiences that I would not have been able to have on just a simple one-week trip.
About the Blog
I originally started this blog to document the adventures I had while studying abroad in Europe. Since that adventure has come to an end, I now use it to share all of my local tips about my home state of Hawaii.
Most travel posts on Hawaii actually aren’t from locals, but rather from visitors. That’s what makes Borders & Bucket Lists unique. Simply put, I want the millions of visitors to the islands to experience Hawaii like a local, not just hang around Waikiki. So whether you’re looking for hikes, beaches, or restaurants, I’ve got you covered!
About My Writing Qualifications
While Borders & Bucket Lists was my first foray into published writing, I’ve done a whole lot of writing since then.
Education-wise, I have both a bachelor’s and a masters degree’s in Professional Writing. Work-wise, I’ve had my writing published in loads of cool spots, including HONOLULU Magazine, Time Out, Insider, and TripAdvisor. I’ve even worked with major publishing companies, like Penguin Random House to help produce incredible Hawaii books (hello, Lei Aloha!)
If you’re interested in learning more about my professional work outside of Borders & Bucket Lists, feel free to explore my portfolio.
About Our Partners
As Borders & Bucket Lists has grown over the years, I’ve expanded to work with brands, particularly Hawaii-based brands. These partners include House of Mana Up, Shaka Guide, Sarah Caudle Art, Kokua Sun Care, and Nick Kuchar Art & Design Co.
I’ve also gotten the chance to work with some non-Hawaii-based brands as well, like the Art of Karen Whitworth.
If you are interested in working with Borders & Bucket Lists, please email us at bordersandbucketlists@gmail.com or refer to our Contact page.