Oprah heads to Kaua‘i for new passion

Television personalities Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King are now among the many hikers who’ve traveled to Kaua‘i to experience the natural beauty of The Garden Isle.

The two friends documented their adventure on a Kaua‘i trail in a video posted to Oprah’s official Instagram account on Thursday.

“I’m on another hike today,” the 68-year-old media tycoon and personality said. “I’ve got new knees and a new passion.”

Oprah, whose net worth is pegged at $2.5 billion by Forbes, has been a part-time resident of Maui for more than 15 years, where she owns multiple properties. However, her newfound passion – hiking – has finally led her to Kaua‘i.

“For the first time ever, I’ve moved to another island,” Oprah continued in her Instagram video. “I never go off-island, so we’re on another island looking for more hiking.”

Oprah and King, the co-host of CBS Mornings, were impressed by their new surroundings, noting Kaua‘i’s long and storied history as a popular location for Hollywood film shoots. Particularly famous examples include the first two “Jurassic Park” films, “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “South Pacific” and Elvis Presley’s “Blue Hawai‘i.”

“They’ve said it’s the best hiking in the country,” King said of Kaua‘i, as she trekked behind Oprah.

Her friend signed off by coining a new phrase.

“We’re looking for improving our health in 2023,” Oprah said. “And we’re saying now, ‘State of Hawai‘i is a state of health’ … y‘all should come here.”