(This story is sponsored by FlyOver Canada.)

Hawaii is best known for its picturesque beaches and shimmering turquoise water that’s home to giant sea turtles, dolphins, and monk seals. Those who visit the cluster of islands are also captivated by the towering volcanoes, six of which are still active. The tropical state and all of the heart-pounding magic it has to offer lives on through the locals and is never forgotten by tourists.

Since the pandemic began, travel restrictions have been keeping us from visiting the places that provide us with a sense of happiness and freedom. For many, this is Hawaii.

The prospect of travel keeps us moving forward as the world starts to reopen but in the meantime, Vancouver residents can get their Hawaii fix at FlyOver Canada.

From June 18 to August 15, the local attraction will be using its state-of-the-art technology to simulate flying over the islands in Hawaii from Above. This is the first time it’s been shown at FlyOver Canada. Visitors can expect to feel like they’re suspended 20 feet into the air with their feet dangling as they explore the breathtaking scenery of Hawaii on a spherical screen.

To make the Hawaii from Above experience even more memorable, FlyOver Canada has partnered with Hawaiian clothing brand aloha Kai. Island enthusiasts can purchase a one-of-a-kind snapback hat, for themselves or their children, at the gift shop with partial proceeds going to B.C. Children’s Hospital.

Aloha Kai was started by Jackie and her husband Puna Kawaauhau, who was born and raised in Hawaii. Upon moving to Burnaby, it became apparent to the couple that the city needed an infusion of Hawaiian heritage and culture.

“We would go to local markets that had items from small businesses and we quickly realized that there weren’t any Hawaii-inspired products,” says Puna. “Since I’m from Hawaii, we decided to start a business and aloha Kai was created after our youngest son Kainoa was born.”

The adult and children’s brand sells limited-edition snapbacks that were created with Hawaii’s tropical landscape and laidback outlook in mind. Its unique moniker means "love of the ocean" in Hawaiian.

“Our business’s values really align with our personal values. For us, everything comes down to being kind, compassionate, and doing everything with love,” says Jackie. “Essentially, we run aloha Kai with the message to ‘spread the aloha’, which means ‘spread the love.’”

In order to give back to the community, Jackie and Puna chose to donate partial proceeds from every purchase, through its website or FlyOver Canada, to charity. The couple feels a personal connection to the B.C. Children’s Hospital as their son Kainoa spent a week in the neonatal intensive care unit soon after he was born.

“It was a really scary situation for us,” says Jackie. “Thankfully, it was something minor but being so young, they had to assume it was serious. The care provided by the hospital team was beyond amazing. We’re so grateful to have such a great facility so close to us and we’re thankful that we now have an opportunity to help support organizations through aloha Kai.”

Because of their company’s partnership with FlyOver Canada, the couple and their children were able to attend a private viewing of Hawaii From Above. For Puna, the experience was joyful but also very emotional as he’s been unable to visit his family in Hawaii since before the pandemic began.

“Watching the show brought back so many memories and I had a huge smile on my face the whole time,” says Puna. “It’s touching, especially for Hawaii natives who’ve moved to the mainland. If they haven’t been home in a long time, it just makes them miss it. I remember catching those waves and I remember spending the whole day in Waikiki. I used to go to all the reggae concerts and hike up the Stairway to Heaven. It bought up a lot of good memories.”

In order to keep guests and staff safe, FlyOver Canada is operating at a reduced capacity with timed tickets to reduce lineups. The team has also intensified the cleaning protocols to make certain that visitors can feel comfortable and at ease for their remarkable 4-D experience.

For more information on FlyOver Canada and how you can experience Hawaii From Above, click here. To purchase your ticket, visit www.bookings.flyovercanada.com/.