How to Let Go and Live a Free-Spirited Life in Hawaii...and Thailand

Our Journey to Finding Balance and Freedom

In California, our days were a blur - me coaching small businesses, and Rocky managing his construction projects. It often felt like we were living parallel lives, missing each other, and our son in the rush. We longed for more time together, and a simpler, more fulfilling way to live.

Hawaii had always been home

It held a special place in our hearts. We had lived and worked here before, and it felt like home - a place that blended natural beauty with a

laid-back lifestyle and reminding us of our favorite place to be Thailand.

Falling in Love with Southeast Asia

We’d been traveling to Southeast Asia - even before we were married in our late 20s. Our journeys, especially through Southeast Asia, introduced us to a beautiful cultures, food, and incredible local artisans along with the world of fair-trade.

We had worked with the Karen Hilltribe importing their beautiful silver beads and jewelry. These experiences opened our eyes to a more connected, intentional way of living - and the travel bug never left us.

Taking the Leap - Selling Everything and Starting Fresh

So in 2019, we made a big leap: quit our jobs, sold our home in California and nearly everything we owned, and set off on a new adventure.

We started in Vietnam - our son’s birth country - before exploring Malaysia and returning to our beloved Thailand.

I love night markets, to see all the beautiful hand crafted items, the smell of the food, the high-energy vibe of people just out enjoying themselves.

We were out almost every night, often shopping on local shops and markets, we found ourselves again building relationships with local artisans. Their incredible work deserved to reach more people, and we felt drawn to help them share their talents with the world.

We also knew that they didn't really know how to sell to the West and wanted to make sure they understood their products value in a market outside of their own.

Free Spirit Hawaii was Born

That’s when Free Spirit Hawaii ( now Free Spirited Souls) was born - a business that celebrates art, travel, and community. We wanted to share the beauty and craftsmanship of Southeast Asia with the world while supporting local artisans.

We knew Hawaii would be the perfect place to launch our vision. Having lived and owned pop-up and brick and mortar businesses here before, we understood the local market and the importance of building authentic relationships with the community.

So, we moved back to Hawaii - excited to blend our experiences abroad with the laid-back island lifestyle we loved so much.

Building and Off-Grid Home in Hawaii

Back in Hawaii, we were determined to live differently. Since travel was still a big part of our dream, we knew we had to rethink our living expenses to keep our lifestyle affordable and sustainable.

Rocky’s building expertise, combined with helpful advice from friends, made it possible for us to create a small off-grid home on the Big Island - powered by solar and rainwater catchment, and fully embracing sustainability.

Keeping your expenses low to achieve a dream or goal is difficult, but necessary. It also allows you to keep your focus on what is really important, which helps you get to your goals faster.

Navigating the Pandemic and Pivoting Our Business

Then the pandemic hit. Travel stopped, and our plans (and everyone else's) paused. But that gave us time to pivot - shifting our focus to graphic design to expand our selection of goods. Building our online presence to focus on the wholesale side of our business, as well as improve our retail website to reach more free spirits like you.

Lemonade out of lemons, as they say!

Living a Free-Spirited Life

Now that the world has reopened, the pandemic has reshaped many people’s perspectives. They’ve realized they don’t want to work 40–50 hours a week anymore. They want to travel, embrace new experiences, and spend more time on what truly matters to them.

Many people - or maybe even you - are dreaming of a fresh start, rethinking how to live, or considering life abroad. We know that feeling well, and we’re here to share our insights with you.

Today, we split our time between Hawaii and Thailand, living the free-spirited life we once only dreamed of.

Twenty years ago, we imagined this lifestyle, and with hard work and intention, we made it a reality. It wasn’t always easy - it took effort, patience, and a lot of grit. But we’re living proof that if you want something badly enough and stay committed, almost anything is possible.

Through this blog, we offer travel stories and tips, beautiful things and places, tips on how you can live a more free-spirited life, and much more. We hope to give you inspiration to help you embrace change, chase your dreams, and discover the beauty in living a free-spirited life.

Ready to let go of the ordinary and live differently?

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Live your best life always,

Kim and Rocky