Social media users are criticizing a Democratic senator for claiming that Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth would lead a military invasion of Greenland if nominated.

A confirmation hearing for Hegseth was held by the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, where lawmakers were given the opportunity to question Trump's defense pick. One Democrat in particular, Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, caused a firestorm of social media reactions to her asking Hegseth whether he would invade Greenland or take over the Panama Canal.

"Trump never strategically tips his hand. I would never publicly state one way or another to direct the orders of the president," Hegseth responded to the question.

"Hirono was playing judge, jury, and executioner based on lies and stupidity," Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., wrote in a post on X.

PETE HEGSETH HEADS TO CAPITOL HILL FOR FIERY HEARING ON HIS RECORD, PLANS TO SHAKE UP PENTAGON

Brigette Gabriel, ACT for America founder and chairman, wrote that "Mazie Hirono might be the least intelligent Member of Congress, and that's saying something."

"This line of questioning is unbecoming of her position as a United States Senator," Gabriel said on X. "I stand with Pete Hegseth."

HEGSETH WAS ‘INCREDIBLY TALENTED, BATTLE-PROVEN LEADER,' MILITARY EVALUATIONS SHOW

During the hearing, Hirono claimed that President-elect Trump ordered guards to "shoot protesters in the legs" during a protest at Layfayette Square in Washington D.C. in 2020, and asked if Hegseth would carry out such an order. 

"I was in the Washington, D.C. National Guard unit that was in Lafayette Square during those events, holding a riot shield on behalf of my country," Hegseth responded. "I saw 50 Secret Service agents get injured by riot agents."

Hirono also asked Hegseth about allegations of sexual assault and claims that he was drinking on the job - both of which he has repeatedly denied.

"Clown show," wrote Eric Daughtery, Assistant News Director of Florida's Voice.

"Mazie Hirono peddles the discredited anonymous sources from NBC who claimed that Pete Hegseth was constantly drunk at work," wrote Greg Price.

On Monday, the Supreme Court declined to decide whether to block lawsuits that Honolulu filed to seek billions in damages from oil and gas companies over allegedly deceptive marketing campaigns that hid the effects of climate change.

Now those lawsuits can proceed, surely frustrating the fossil fuel industry, which felt that SCOTUS should have weighed in on this key "recurring question of extraordinary importance to the energy industry" raised in lawsuits seeking similarly high damages in several states, CBS News reported.

Defendants Sunoco and Shell, along with 15 other energy companies, had asked the court to intervene and stop the Hawaii lawsuits from proceeding. They had hoped to move the cases out of Hawaii state courts by arguing that interstate pollution is governed by federal law and the Clean Air Act.

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• My first wife and I decided to move to Maui after vacationing there.
• After our difficult divorce, I left the island in a hopeless state.
• Years later, I took my new family to Maui to show them the place that saved my life.

I met my first wife working at a fast food restaurant and developed a friendship that turned into a relationship. We were married three months after we met — the day after my 18th birthday. Like me, she was from Milwaukee, and we raised three kids in Wisconsin.

With our 10th anniversary coming up, we wanted to celebrate somewhere special. After doing a bit of research, we chose Maui, Hawaii.

I expected to enjoy the island but didn't realize how special Maui would be. We instantly fell in love with Hawaiian culture, the ocean breezes, delicious food, and a slower pace of life. Every day on Maui felt like a life I had always dreamed of living.

The island became an important hub in my life — through two marriages and a lot of healing.

We decided to move to Maui, and it was paradise — until it wasn't

We debated whether we could afford to live in Maui and whether it was smart to be away from family. But we knew it was the right decision.

The kids were excited to leave Wisconsin and live on a warm, tropical island, and so were we. We sold most of our possessions, rented a home, moved to Maui, and lived a few blocks from the beach.

Life on Maui was everything we hoped it would be and more. While life was good, my relationship with my first wife wasn't.

We were far from the place and life we were comfortable with. Tiny ripples of arguments turned into daily eruptions that eventually led to the end of our marriage two years after moving to Maui.

Divorce is expensive, and paying to support my ex-wife and three children meant I wouldn't have much money left.

The divorce and decisions I made from being in a desperate and hopeless place left me with $28 in my bank account and no hope for life when I left Maui. I used my last few dollars to book a flight to the mainland.

I was homeless and stayed on a friend's couch

I left Hawaii for South Florida around Christmastime because my friend said I could stay at his home. He saw my state and let me sleep on a couch.

I still had my business and focused on earning more revenue. I sell online courses, so I offered some promotions and created a ton of content for social media; thankfully, a few sales started to trickle in.

Even though my money was low, I knew I needed help, so I used the spare few pennies I could muster on some therapy sessions.

As I healed, an inner voice told me I needed to return to Maui, a place that meant everything to my mind and spirit. I couldn't explain it, but I knew my healing and growth wouldn't be complete without returning to Hawaii.

I went back to Maui to fully heal

After paying my bills and child support each month, I was still low on cash, but I did have some travel rewards. After booking my flight to Maui with points, I booked a stay in a $20-a-night hostel for the month of January. I would be roughing it with the young folks.

Once I was on Maui again after leaving in such a broken way, my suspicions were right: I had completed my healing.

I spent mornings in the ocean, letting the sounds and breezes calm me. I worked on my business every day from cafés that overlooked the water. Being so close to the beach, I slept well every night. I reconnected with friends, exercised, ate fresh food, and spent time with my kids.

I healed through Maui's amazing energy and left the island a month later in a better mental state and with a plan.

I had an incredible year that year, and my life, mindset, relationships, and business have grown exponentially since then. That bonus month on Maui allowed me to write a new chapter in my story — a triumphant chapter.

I brought my new family to Maui, too

Three years after my healing experience, a friendship with my now-wife Cindy blossomed into a relationship that grew into a marriage proposal.

I remarried, was out of debt, and running a thriving business.

I wanted to take my second wife and stepchildren to Maui to experience a place that had profoundly changed my life. I had told them so much about the island and what it had done for me, and they wanted to experience it for themselves.

It was such an incredible family vacation to introduce my family to the awesomeness of Maui. They loved it so much and understood its impact on my life. We made a once-a-year family trip every year up until the year of the great fire in Lahaina.

Your environment can profoundly affect you as a human being, and Maui continues to be the place that impacts my life. It's the place I come back to for healing, inspiration, and growth.

• Danielle-Ann Kealohilani Rugg moved back to Hawaii to care for her family during the pandemic.
• She balances event work, a tax business, and family life amid Hawaii's high living costs.
• Despite the challenges, she finds beauty in Hawaii but would return to Oregon for lower living costs.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Danielle-Ann Kealohilani Rugg, a 39-year-old entrepreneur and event staff professional who relocated from Oregon to Hawaii. It's been edited for length and clarity.

I have an ever-evolving career. I balance my event work with Aloha HP, running a successful tax practice, and caring for my family on Oahu in Hawaii.

My path has been a mix of culinary aspirations, entrepreneurial ventures, and family-driven decisions. I was born and raised on Oahu. In 2005, when my twin daughters were 1, I moved to California, where I lived for six years before settling in Oregon. Oregon became home for most of my children's lives, spanning the last decade.

I've been back on Oahu since the pandemic, and while it's gorgeous, the high cost of living is challenging.

My professional life began with a passion for food

I moved to Oregon after a divorce to help care for my grandparents, and I fell in love with everything about the state. I had always seen the different seasons in movies and TV shows and longed to experience them, and that dream finally came true. The other amazing thing about the state was the absence of sales tax.

I enrolled at Le Cordon Bleu in Portland to pursue my passion for baking and pâtisserie. After completing the two-year associate degree program, I worked in various roles, from baker to cashier to server.

Each position taught me invaluable lessons about customer service, multitasking, and time management, especially when catering large events. It wasn't just about bread and coffee cups but about creating memorable client experiences.

My family always came first. Wanting to be closer to my children, I became a lunch lady at their high school. Surprisingly, this was one of the most fulfilling roles I've had.

I continued my side hustle while in Oregon

I shift gears every February and dive into tax season with my mother. We've been running a tax prep business since my early 20s. We realized the hard work we put in for someone else's business could be channeled into something of our own.

The time zone difference was challenging while I was in Oregon, but we made it work. Depending on our clientele for the year, we make $50,000 to $75,000 annually.

My mother and I get along very well. Our relationship is not perfect, but we've found a good balance between our professional and personal lives.

The only downside I experienced in Oregon was the limited places to swim

The ocean was about an hour and a half away, but the water was always freezing. Although it was beautiful, going to a beach and being unable to jump in dampened the experience.

There were lakes, but they were freezing because all the freshwater came from the mountains. We also had a few facilities we could go to, but that would involve getting a membership, and not all of them were indoors.

When the pandemic hit, my family had to make a change

In 2020, as the world was grappling with the onset of COVID-19, my mother suffered an injury, and she needed help. She lived in Honolulu, and despite the comfortable life my children and I had built in Oregon, I needed to return home.

It wasn't an easy decision, especially during my kids' junior year in high school, but sometimes life demands hard choices. The transition was tough, but ultimately, it was the right move for my mother's well-being. We also moved my grandmother back with us, who has dementia.

Back on Oahu, I found a job with Aloha HP, a Hawaiian staffing company. Aloha HP allowed me to keep up with my business while maintaining an open schedule to care for my family, which was a relief.

I'm primarily involved with event staff work

I do anything from setting up for weddings and banquets to serving guests. These gigs can last four to nine hours.

I average about 80 hours of work a month and earn between $1,350 and $1,900. It's a dynamic way to work, and I enjoy its variety and challenges.

I've learned my self-care cannot be an afterthought. I always carve out two days during my hectic workweek just for myself.

Now that I'm back in Hawaii, the downsides are clear

The cost of living is one of Hawaii's biggest downsides. When I lived in Oregon, my rent for my three-bedroom, two-bath, two-car garage home with a yard was $1,500. Electricity was, on average, $250, and my water bill was around $80. Car registration for both of my cars totaled $275 for two years. Groceries cost us around $500 a month.

Now, my rent, which my family helps with, is $3,550 for a slightly larger home than I had in Oregon. Our electricity is almost three times the amount I paid in Oregon, running on average $660 and up. Water is around $220, and car registration is $445, but only valid for one year.

The grocery stores here also have inflated prices. I may earn more money in Hawaii, but it's offset by the cost of living in Hawaii being much greater than in Oregon.

It's still paradise

Living in paradise is amazing; don't get me wrong. I'm close to my family, the ocean is nearby, the sun almost always shines, and even when it doesn't, the rain is a nice, cool temperature — not freezing cold.

Still, if I had to choose between the two places, I would move back to Oregon, only because the cost of living here is so high.

I've realized, though, that Hawaii is and always will be home. Despite the changes in times and technological advancements, living on an island still offers so much beauty. Just being here is a gift in itself.

Even though I once said I'd never move back, life has a way of leading you where you need to be.

• I usually fly economy, but I splurged on a first-class Alaska Airlines ticket to Hawaii.
• The round-trip flight cost over $2,000, but the amenities really let me down.
• It definitely wasn't worth it for me — I hope I actually get a first-class experience someday.

I travel often and have only flown economy. However, faced with long-haul flights from the East Coast of the US to Hawaii, I decided to spring for first-class tickets.

I was traveling without my family, so I thought it might be my only chance to see what it's like at the front of the plane without shelling out for multiple tickets.

After looking at different itineraries, I picked a round-trip flight on Alaska Airlines that cost over $2,000. I'd never flown with the airline before, but I excitedly hit buy on the nonrefundable first-class tickets.

I thought the luxury experience would be worth the investment. Instead, in my opinion, what I got wasn't much better than economy.

Unfortunately, I should've done my research.

My first incorrect assumption what that my first-class ticket would automatically get me access to an airport lounge. I thought this would be especially nice since my itinerary included a layover in each direction.

Unfortunately, there weren't Alaska lounges at any of the four airports I flew through during my trip, and you have to be an Alaska Lounge+ member to access any of the airline's partner lounges.

To make things worse, I assumed the first-class seats would be as nice as those I've seen on other airlines. My heart sank when I learned that Alaska Airlines' first-class seats don't recline much and don't have seat-back screens.

I'd been looking forward to a deep recline to help me sleep and zone out while watching movies and catching up on emails throughout my 18-hour travel day.

At this point, I wondered if it would've been better to fly economy on a different airline, but it was too late to change my ticket.

Still, I tried to look on the bright side.

When I boarded my first flight, I was cautiously optimistic.

I was glad to see my first-class chair was noticeably bigger than a typical economy seat. Plus, it had plenty of padding to make it more comfortable.

Unfortunately, the seats reclined even less than I expected. I also didn't get a pillow or an amenities kit, just a blanket, which is what I'm used to on longer economy flights on other airlines.

Unfortunately, things only got more boring from there.

I packed a tablet with a big screen so I could watch movies and TV shows through Alaska's app, which seemed to have a pretty good selection. However, there wasn't a tablet holder on the seatback for either of my flights there.

Because I had only one tray table, I had to choose between watching movies or using my computer to catch up on emails. Given the limited space, things got even tighter when the food came out.

I also had to pay an extra $32 ($8 on each leg of my flight) for WiFi.

I subsisted on snack boxes throughout the long flights there.

When it was time to eat, I was hoping for a hot meal. I left my house at 4 a.m. without breakfast and was starving.

I waited to see what would be on my tray, only to discover that because I had not selected a meal in advance (which I didn't know was a thing), I was stuck with a snack box and a couple of mediocre sides.

I got the same snack box (sans entrée) on my second flight, leaving me hangry when I landed.

As I deplaned, I longingly thought about the delicious food I had on a recent Turkish Airlines flight in economy.

The return flight was slightly better but still far from luxurious.

When it came time to board my first flight home, I was happy to see that the plane was nicer.

This time, I had a tablet holder on the back of my seat so I could watch from a comfortable distance and save some tray space.

The seats didn't recline more than the other plane, but they did have footrests. My flight left at 11 p.m., and I was so tired that I dozed off easily.

Unfortunately, I was soon disappointed again when I boarded my connecting flight. The plane was an older model without a tablet holder.

I had at least preordered a meal for this leg, which was better than the snack box.

I'm looking forward to having a better first-class experience someday.

I can't totally blame Alaska for my underwhelming first-class experience.

If I had done some research before booking, it would've been much clearer that the airline is known for its no-frills planes. However, it still felt like I was paying first-class prices, so I think some disappointment is appropriate.

I won't be flying first class on Alaska again, but I hope to have a real, luxurious experience on another airline in the future.

Alaska Airlines did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

• Nicole Sunderland has been to all 50 US states and has a few suggestions for first-time visitors.
• Her tips include a mix of nature-inspired and adventure-filled experiences in various states.
• Michigan, Florida, Alaska, Hawaii, and Utah are her top picks for first-time visitors.

From lush forests to scenic seaside drives and iconic skylines, the US has something for every type of traveler.

With visitors able to experience multiple landscapes in one trip, it's no surprise the country was touted as the top tourism destination in the World Economic Forum's Travel & Tourism Development Index 2024.

For those considering their first trip to the US in 2025, now is the perfect time to start planning.

In 2024, the United States Travel Association's (USTA) biannual US travel forecast predicted that about 77.9 million international visitors would travel to the US and spend an estimated $153 billion. In 2025, that visitor number is projected to increase by 9.8%, for a total of approximately 85.5 million international visitors.

And while many people prefer cities like New York, Boston, and San Francisco, Nicole Sunderland — a travel creator who has been to every state in the country — said there's more to America than its big cities.

"The places that are getting the most tourists in the country are not even in my top 10 list of places that I would recommend," Sunderland told Business Insider, adding that she's spent years in California and often leaves it off her recommendation list, which infuriates many people.

She realized this was because most people preferred hiking or exploring the same type of locations outdoors. She said that although these are fun and engaging activities, she prefers more diversity in her itineraries, which include trying out new cuisines, riding seaplanes, or taking a boat to explore an Alaskan fjord.

If you're a first-time visitor in need of some inspiration, here are five states you could add to your itinerary for a mix of popular and off-beat experiences, according to Nicole Sunderland.

Michigan

"This [state] is one that I get the most flack for," said Sunderland.

She grew up in Detroit and lived in a small town in Northern Michigan, but said she did not truly experience the state's beauty until she was 19 and took up a seasonal job on Mackinac Island on Lake Huron.

"I did not realize places like that existed in my state," she said, adding that if people looked past Detroit and Lansing, they'd be introduced to a host of incredible places.

"Grand Rapids is like Beer City, USA. We've got Traverse City, which is the cherry capital of the state," she said. "We have crystal-clear lakes like Torch Lake and Higgins Lake, and the Tunnel of Trees, which is one of the most incredible fall destinations — I mean, it is literally a riot of colors with the trees."

Hawaii

Sunderland loves that each Hawaiian island is so different and has something to offer everyone.

"It's impossible to run out of things to do, especially on Oahu," Sunderland said, adding that she's found something new to explore on every visit.

"I feel like I've barely scratched the surface," she added.

Beyond its beautiful beaches and state parks, though, she enjoys the island's culinary scene and loves heading to it on long weekends so she can "eat and explore."

"There's nothing like waiting in line for a piping-hot custard malasada from Leonard's Bakery or getting a local plate lunch, extra mac salad, please!" said Sunderland.

Florida

"Orlando's popular. Miami's popular. But looking outside those areas, one place that I fell in love with last year was Pensacola Beach," said Sunderland.

Having traveled extensively to beaches around the world, Sunderland said Florida's Panhandle beaches, with their crystal-clear waters, surprised her.

"I've been enamored with that area ever since because everyone thinks, 'Oh, you got to go to Bora Bora or Maldives to access these insanely gorgeous beaches,' but you don't even have to leave the country," she said.

If you plan a road trip to the Florida Keys, Sunderland recommends lounging by the Islamorada sandbar or riding a seaplane to explore the area.

While in the Keys, she also enjoys visiting Amelia Island, the Palm Beaches, and the Biscayne and Dry Tortugas National Parks.

Alaska

Sunderland loves traveling to Alaska and said it is quite different from places she usually visits or shares on her social media.

It was also the final state on her 50 states travel bucket list; she checked it off in 2019.

"I think I've been back five times since," she said, adding, "Alaska is a different level of beauty and one I never expected. It's like the air is lighter there."

The time she's spent there has been so refreshing that she struggles to explain it completely. She said that people need to visit the state and experience it for themselves, preferably in summer, when it's warmer.

One of her favorite places in the country is also in Alaska, about 45 miles outside Juneau.

"It's called Tracy Arm Fjord," said Sunderland, adding that it is close to Sawyer Glacier and only accessible by boat.

Utah

Most people love the national parks in Utah, as does Sunderland, but her favorite memory of the state is from when she "got to spend a day out on Lake Powell," she said.

She visited the lake on Labor Day and described the experience as "one of those moments where I was just in awe. I'll never have the words to eloquently explain that experience, but it was overwhelming."

She called it one of the coolest places in America that should be on everyone's itinerary.

• An unticketed passenger was caught on board a Delta Air Lines plane, the airline said.
• The incident occurred on Christmas Eve at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
• It comes weeks after another person tried to fly from New York to Paris without a boarding pass.

A Delta Air Lines passenger was caught trying to fly to Hawaii without a boarding pass on Christmas Eve, the airline and airport officials said.

The person went through standard security screening before bypassing ID verification and boarding-status stations, the Transportation Security Administration said in a statement shared with BI.

Delta flight 487 was taxiing to the runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport when the person was discovered, the airline said.

It added that, per procedures, the Airbus A321neo then returned to the gate.

The suspect then departed the plane before police located them in an airport restroom using video surveillance, the Port of Seattle said in a statement shared with BI.

Investigators determined the unticketed passenger had passed through a security checkpoint the day before, it said.

It added that the person was arrested on charges of criminal trespass.

The flight to Honolulu departed more than two hours later than scheduled. The Port of Seattle said passengers were deplaned to be rescreened by the TSA, and the aircraft was swept by K9 dogs.

"As there are no matters more important than safety and security, Delta people followed procedures to have an unticketed passenger removed from the flight and then apprehended," a Delta spokesperson said in a statement. "We apologize to our customers for the delay in their travels and thank them for their patience and cooperation."

After a similar incident last month, 57-year-old Svetlana Dali was charged with being a stowaway on an aircraft after sneaking onto a Delta Air Lines service to Paris. If found guilty, she faces up to five years in prison.

The complaint against Dali, which BI has seen, says she boarded a Delta flight from New York to Paris without a boarding pass or a passport.

It added that she was able to pass through security by entering a special lane for airline staff. Dali is also said to have admitted in an interview with authorities that she intentionally evaded TSA and Delta staff to board the flight.

The incident is said to have occurred in late November, during another busy holiday period when Thanksgiving travel set records.

The TSA said it expected to screen nearly 40 million people at airports from December 19 to January 2, up 6.2% from 2023.

It said the busiest days would be December 20, 27, and 30.

• Mark Zuckerberg is building a 1,400-acre compound in Kauai, Hawaii, with a vast basement.
• Plans for the compound show an underground structure nearly double the size of the average US house.
• In an interview with Bloomberg, Zuckerberg said it was only a "little shelter" for hurricanes and the like.

Mark Zuckerberg said the 4,500-square-foot underground structure in his Hawaii compound is just a "little shelter."

The description was in answer to the question of whether he is building some kind of armageddon shelter as part of his 1,400-acre property on the island of Kauai.

In a video with Bloomberg's "The Circuit" released on December 19, Zuckerberg effectively said the project was nothing to write home about.

Bloomberg's reporter, Emily Chang, asked if Zuckerberg was entering his "billionaire era" with the Hawaiian home.

(Business Insider in April calculated Zuckerberg's property holdings were worth about $200 million, spanning compounds in Palo Alto, Lake Tahoe and Hawaii.)

"The Kauai thing is really fun," Zuck responded. "We're doing ranching down there," he added, saying he was excited about creating "the highest quality of beef in the world."

In the video, the reporter asks Zuckerberg about the ranch's bunker, joking that he knows something we don't. Zuck responded: "No, I think that's just like a little shelter. It's like a basement."

He added later: "There's just a bunch of storage space and like, I don't know, whatever you want to call it: a hurricane shelter or whatever."

The little shelter, though, is fairly big.

Both Wired and local news outlet Hawaii News Now obtained planning documents showing an underground space spanning some 4,500 square feet.

That's close to double the size of the average US family home. Per census data, in Q2 2024 the medium new single-family home came it at 2,161 square feet.

Wired reported the plans for Zuckerberg's shelter, accessed via a tunnel, included a living space, mechanical room and escape hatch.

A local Hawaii realtor, Tom Tezak, told HNN that shelters were a rarity in Hawaii, and that he'd never seen one so large.

Zuckerberg told Bloomberg in response to media interest in the compound: "I think it got blown out of proportion as if the whole ranch was some kind of doomsday bunker, which is just not true."

• Adam Knorr left a lucrative finance career to pursue writing in Hawaii in 2022.
• Despite a growing salary and the opportunity for a big promotion, Knorr felt unfulfilled in finance.
• Knorr now freelances as a copywriter and ghostwriter and has no regrets about leaving finance.

I walked away from life-changing money in finance to chase my dream of becoming a writer. I had no experience, clients, or idea where to start.

I moved from Nashville to Hawaii to figure it out.

I graduated with a journalism degree, but my brother worked in finance in Nashville. He told me he could get me an interview at his company. I interviewed, got the job, ditched my dreams, and chased a paycheck for six years.

I never liked working in finance, but the money made it hard to leave

I started working in 2016 and made about $50,000 as a 22-year-old. I felt rich, and the number kept climbing.

By 2021, I was making nearly $150,000 a year. Halfway through my last year, I was on pace to make $205,000. I was also interviewing for new roles in the $250,000 range.

Every day I worked in finance, I knew it wasn't right for me. I wanted to quit and be a writer, but the money was too good.

Finally, in May 2022, when I was up for a promotion, the dam burst. I remember going home one night after a final interview, and I could feel it in my gut. I knew I didn't want to get the job; it would trap me, and I'd regret pursuing it.

I printed off my two-week notice that night and quit the next day. My boss and coworkers were in disbelief when they found out, but for the most part, I had tremendous support from the people in my life.

After quitting my job, I moved to Hawaii in June 2022

I heard about a work-stay program at a coffee farm on the Big Island of Hawaii through my brother and sister-in-law, who had visited Hawaii. You can live on the farm in exchange for 28 hours of work a week. That sounded like a pretty good deal since my income dropped from six figures to $0 overnight.

I put my stuff in storage, packed a carry-on and a backpack, and flew to Hawaii, trading in my Nashville high-rise apartment and rooftop pool parties for a one-floor communal living house with six college kids.

I worked as a tour guide on the farm a few days a week. The rest of the time, I tried to figure out how to make a living as a writer.

I had never been to Hawaii before I moved

Visiting and living in a place are different experiences. Hawaii is a rock in the middle of the ocean — sometimes, it feels like it, but for any of the cons, there are more pros.

It was nice to get a break from city life and a good reminder that the world outside your immediate circle is full of people who live life at a different pace.

I had to get creative to land my first client

I wanted to become a freelance copywriter, but the industry is saturated. Many people are attracted to the opportunity to work for themselves, travel the world, and make money by pressing a few keys on a keyboard.

I spent day after day locked in my bedroom in Hawaii — just me and the geckos — sending cold emails and LinkedIn messages. I got a few nibbles but no bites.

I decided I wanted a car to explore the island. I contacted a local car rental service and noticed the owner's website needed serious copywriting work, so we struck a deal. I'd write his entire website for $500 and an extra month of my rented Dodge Challenger. I had my first client.

I started freelancing with an agency thanks to a cold email I sent. Then, I started posting on LinkedIn and picked a couple of clients up that way. Today, I'm a full-time freelance copywriter and ghostwriter.

I started writing a book in Hawaii before moving to Michigan

While in the work-stay program, I wrote some email copy for the farm. The emails did well, and one day, I sat down with the farm's CEO.

He envisioned writing a book about the history of a local church and using it to raise money to restore some of the murals that had deteriorated over the last 125 years. He asked me if I'd be up for writing the book. I agreed and started splitting my time between leading farm tours and researching for the book.

All roads lead home. I moved to Michigan in March 2023 to be closer to my family.

Quitting finance was worth it, but it's more nuanced than that

In my first full year of freelancing, I made $85,500. Through November 2024, I've made $110,000. I'm grateful to be doing as well as I am, but I can't pretend like I don't think about the money I would've made by staying in finance.

Gratitude and perspective are more important than the number on your tax returns, but it's also ignorant to pretend like money doesn't matter. I wonder sometimes if I was dumb for leaving that money behind — it's impossible not to.

But was it worth it? Am I happier? Would I do it again? Yes, 10 times out of 10.

I had to know if there was something more out there for me

When deciding whether to quit my job to pursue this dream, I heard Tim Ferriss on a podcast recommending playing out the worst-case scenario of a decision in your head. How catastrophic is it? How permanent is the impact? How bad would it really be?

Worst-case scenario 1: If I stay in finance, I'll always regret not discovering what I could've made of myself.

Worst-case scenario 2: I try to write, fail, and get another finance job.

For me, the fear of regret was greater than failure.

Now, I never have to wonder, "What if?" or think about what I could've done with my life. I know the answer.

Vice President Kamala Harris has kept a low profile since losing the election to President-elect Trump, vacationing in Hawaii with second gentleman Doug Emhoff since last week.

Harris arrived in Kalaoa, Hawaii, on Tuesday for what is expected to be a weeklong trip, a break from the rigorous campaign schedule she kept over the last couple of months but also from her duties as vice president, where she retains her tie-breaking vote as president of the Senate during the last few months of President Biden’s administration.

The timing of the vice president’s trip has generated questions, with some noting that many DNC staffers are uncertain about their futures while others had been surprised by sudden layoffs.

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White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre defended the Harris vacation during a Thursday briefing, arguing there was nothing "wrong" with the vice president taking a vacation.

"The vice president has taken time off to go spend time with her family. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. I think she deserves some time to be with her family and to have some downtime. She has worked very hard over – for the last four years, and her taking a couple of days to be with her family, good for her. Good for her," Jean-Pierre said.

Harris is still expected to play a critical role in helping Biden push through several judges as Democrats race against the clock to top the 234 that were confirmed during Trump’s first term, according to an NBC News report last week.

With the Democrats holding such a slim majority in the upper chamber, Harris broke the record last year for casting the most decisive votes of any vice president in history, the report notes, with Democrats expected to lean on the vice president once again in the coming weeks.

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"This is something they want to clear the decks on," a senior Harris aide told NBC News.

"She will definitely be available for any tie votes," a second senior aide said.

"It is a big focus," a third source told the outlet.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., also said Tuesday that she was given notice that Harris would be available, though the senator had not personally talked to Harris, according to the report.

"The goal is to fill every judicial nomination that we can," Warren said.

Meanwhile, a senior Harris aide told NBC News that the vice president had already delayed her trip in case she was needed in the Senate, though now many of those votes are expected to take place in December when Harris is back in Washington.

The Harris campaign and White House did not immediately respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment.