What’s it really like to stay with a local in Hawaii?

In this episode of Dream Big, Have Adventures, Tess interviews Loke, a longtime Honolulu resident and one of the original HerHouse hosts. From secret waterfall hikes to local plate lunches, Loke shares what makes staying with a local completely different from booking a hotel.

If you’re planning a solo trip to Hawaii... or dreaming about one... this episode is full of insider insight you won’t find in a guidebook.

• What it’s like hosting solo women travelers in Honolulu
• How natural disasters unexpectedly shaped Loke’s hosting experiences
• Why community is the best part of travel
• The difference between being a “tourist” vs. a “visitor”
• The best Hawaiian islands to visit (and why)
• How to travel between islands
• Local food you have to try in Hawaii

Loke shares:

• A secret waterfall hike near Honolulu (you’ll have to visit her to learn it 😉)
• Why the Big Island is her favorite outer island
• What makes Hilo one of her “happy places”
• Why Kauai is called the Garden Island
• What to expect on Molokai (hint: serenity, not nightlife)

If you want the real local experience, don’t skip:

• Plate lunch (rice, mac salad, and your protein of choice)
• Loco Moco — rice, hamburger patty, egg, and gravy
• Fresh tropical fruit from farmers markets
• Pineapple smoothies served inside a pineapple

Loke also shares her personal go-to Mediterranean spot in Honolulu and why farmers markets on the Big Island are next level.

Beyond beaches and hikes, the magic is in connection.

When you stay with a host:

• You get local recommendations you won’t find online
• You meet their friends
• You discover hidden spots responsibly
• You experience Hawaii through real community

As Loke says: “I would love to host you… come for a few days, stay longer, and visit other islands.”

Ready to Travel With Built-In Community?

✨ Start with the free Solo Travel 101 workshop: >>Access Here>>

🌍 Explore HerHouse with a 7-day free trial: >>Join Here>>

📖 Grab Tess’s book Sherbet Skies: >>Buy Now>>

Website: https://www.herhouse.co/
Instagram (Tess): @tessmillhollon
Instagram (HerHouse): @herhouse.co

LinkedIn:@tess-millhollon
TikTok:@herhouse.co

What if the most powerful part of solo travel isn’t the destination... but the people you stay with?

In this episode of Dream Big, Have Adventures, Tess shares why staying with locals completely changes the solo travel experience — from saving thousands of dollars to being invited into barbecues, beach days, holidays, and real life.

If you’ve only ever stayed in hotels, Airbnbs, or hostels, this episode will open your eyes to a different way to explore the world.

• How staying with locals can dramatically lower your travel costs
• Why accommodation is the biggest budget drain in solo travel
• How local hosts help you skip tourist traps
• What it’s like to be invited into holidays and family gatherings abroad
• Why immediate community changes everything when you land in a new city
• How to “live like a local” instead of traveling like a tourist

When you stay with locals, you don’t just visit a place — you experience it.

Tess shares stories of:

• Being invited to a Mother’s Day barbecue in Florida
• Spending holidays like Thanksgiving with new friends
• Playing beach volleyball with locals
• Learning Australian slang (and why PB&J shocked everyone)
• Seeing daily life through the eyes of families around the world

These are the kinds of experiences you simply don’t get from a hotel room.

Staying with locals means:

• Built-in community
• Cultural immersion
• Organic networking
• Real friendships
• And unforgettable memories

Solo travel can feel lonely — especially when you first land somewhere new.

But when you stay with a local host:

• You’re welcomed in.
• You’re introduced to their circle.
• You feel safer and more grounded.
• You see what real life looks like beyond the tourist attractions.

And yes — it can save you hundreds (or even thousands) in accommodation costs.

Ready to Travel With Built-In Community?

✨ Start with the free Solo Travel 101 workshop: >>Access Here>>

🌍 Explore HerHouse with a 7-day free trial: >>Join Here>>

📖 Grab Tess’s book Sherbet Skies: >>Buy Now>>

Website: https://www.herhouse.co/
Instagram (Tess): @tessmillhollon
Instagram (HerHouse): @herhouse.co

LinkedIn:@tess-millhollon
TikTok:@herhouse.co

What does it actually take to build an app when you don’t know how to code… don’t have a team… and don’t have $100,000 sitting in the bank?

In this episode of Dream Big, Have Adventures, Tess shares the full, unfiltered story of building HerHouse — from a no-code MVP to app store approval, viral Facebook growth, pregnancy, burnout, failed Kickstarter, and finally rebuilding the platform with a professional team.

If you’ve ever felt called to build something bigger than you

— this episode will hit home.

This isn’t the polished highlight reel.

It’s the real founder journey.

• How a TED Talk sparked the decision to finally build HerHouse
• What “no-code” app development actually looks like
• The hardest part of building tech as a non-technical founder
• What went wrong with the first version of the app
• Why churn and poor tech nearly killed the business
• How motherhood changed Tess’s capacity as an entrepreneur
• Why she ran a Kickstarter (and what happened when it failed)
• How an investor partnership transformed the future of HerHouse
• What it feels like to build something before the world can see it

Sometimes building a business feels like pushing a massive boulder up a mountain.

But entrepreneurs see the mountain before anyone else does.

They hold the vision.
They keep pushing.
They rebuild when necessary.

And they trust that once critical mass is reached — the momentum becomes unstoppable.

If you’re a non-technical founder with a big idea, this episode is proof:

You don’t need to know how to code.
You just need to care deeply enough to figure it out.

Ready to Travel With Built-In Community?

✨ Start with the free Solo Travel 101 workshop: >>Access Here>>

🌍 Explore HerHouse with a 7-day free trial: >>Join Here>>

📖 Grab Tess’s book Sherbet Skies: >>Buy Now>>

Website: https://www.herhouse.co/
Instagram (Tess): @tessmillhollon
Instagram (HerHouse): @herhouse.co

LinkedIn: @tess-millhollon
TikTok:@herhouse.co