Toward the end of my trip to the islands, the sweetheart Uber driver Roger drops me off in Paia, Maui. 

Mama Maui's love is palpable.  Maybe it's the negative ions pouring in from the Pacific, or the orchids growing wild out of the trees, maybe it's the plethora of beautiful women, but whatever it is- almost everyone smiles here- they grin in fact, ear to ear.  "Aloha! Mahalo!"

Walking down the street of the local beach town, inside a quaint shop window I see a t-shirt  "Alice in Hulaland."

I look up and see it's not only on the t-shirt, but it's also the name of the store. Delighted and curious,  I walk in. 

The clerk Madison, a transplant from South Carolina, greets me surrounded by a sea of t-shirts, hats, bumper stickers, and groovy vintage souvenirs.  

Like a little kid, I blurt out "my name is Alice!" 

"It's not every day we get an Alice in the shop. Did you know this shop is named after a Willie Nelson song?" 

And before I...