Falling in love with the Hakanson family is just about as easy as falling in love with the Isle of Palms and the entire surrounding Lowcountry where the Hakansons have vacationed for over 20 years.
Caroline and David Hakanson met while attending Western Kentucky University in the early 1990s and their love story spans not only several decades, but also several states and many beloved cities they traversed along the way. Caroline explained, “When we moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, everyone talked about how wonderful Charleston is, so we decided to take our children for spring break. We fell in love with the Isle of Palms and ever since that very first trip, we have come back as often as we possibly can. We absolutely loved our first trip to the island and have been making memories there ever since.”
David continued, “We love the walkability of the island. The Isle of Palms has a small-town coastal vibe with a wonderful sense of exclusivity. It is a great place to unplug and unwind. Of course, the proximity to Charleston is a plus with its amazing food history and tremendous shopping and cultural vibe. Everyone is welcoming and the entire town is very hospitable.”
Caroline has made the island her preferred destination for not only family vacations, but also any time she has the opportunity to travel, whether it be for a girls’ getaway with lifelong childhood friends or a special trip with her mother and daughter. Any excuse to visit the beach is a welcome one. She elaborated, “My mother has loved exploring Charleston for years and introducing one of her favorite places to my own children has been such a joy. One of my dearest friends, whom I’ve known since kindergarten lives on the island, making it an even more perfect place for my cherished girlfriends to gather and connect. We like to stay on the beach, as close to the oceanfront as possible, often staying in the same vacation rentals from Carroll Realty over and over again.”
The Hakansons’ oldest daughter, McKenna, decided to move to Charleston shortly after returning home from Africa, where she worked as a teacher in a South African orphanage. McKenna fell in love soon after arriving with not only Charleston but also her future husband. After settling into the life and culture of the Lowcountry, McKenna quickly became a cherished part of our community, earning the distinction of 2024 Charleston County School District Teacher of the Year.
Caroline beamed with pride while discussing her daughter. “David and I will be back on the island at the end of April to celebrate McKenna’s birthday. We love being so close to downtown Charleston, the Battery, the local shops and all the fabulous restaurants. I love being downtown just as much as I love the island. We are looking forward to being back soon – I feel like when I am there, I am home.”
Welcome back, Hakanson family!
By Laura Fogarty
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