Hillary Bonner

Hi! I’m Hillary Bonner. I’ve been on St. John for 8 years and have worn A LOT of hats in my time on island. Most of us do tho…A lot of times island life calls for ingenuity, flexibility and resiliency. And those things are what I kind of LOVE about the people in our Love City Community. Between boat days and day hikes and happy hours with so many happy faces, you may have seen me behind the bar at Asolare, Zozo’s, The Terrace or Drink (once upon a time, Motu) over the years. But after Hurricane Irma, I jumped from behind the bar into non-profit work. That desk job made me remember that, way back when, I DID go to college and I might have been letting some of those skill sets get a BIT rusty. My degree is in Journalism and Public Relations. When asked if I ever used it, my programmed response was, “Bar tending IS relating to the public.” But, back to the desk job…I was doing everything. Which is, again, what you do in a small office on an island. Events, marketing, handling in-kind donations, unloading containers, attempting to figure out logistics I didn’t even know how to spell, community meetings, board meetings, FEMA meetings. All of the meetings. One day, I decided that there were aspects I loved. And aspects…Well, not so much. So I started my own thing, supporting local small businesses and non-profits in the realm of design, marketing and events (specifically music related events…you’ll hear a lot about music from me). I have a bleeding heart for the small yet ambitious non-profits on St. John. And an overwhelming amount of respect for the small business owners who made their ideas take flight in a place where it’s very difficult to do so! I love life here on St. John. The highs are the highest and the lows are not so low as they can be in other places. The accessibility to Mother Nature on this little slice of perfection is unparalleled. She’s all around us all of the time. You can watch the phases of the moon, the rotation of the planets, the shifting of the sunset and the tides. Every damn day. Mother Nature’s restless spirit reflects the transient nature of the people here as well. That was hard for me at first. The coming and the going. But now, I like the fact that I will rarely visit a place that I don’t have a place to stay and a friend to catch up with from St. John. So, now, here I am (using my degree, Ma!). Contributing to a long standing super positive blog. Here I feel like I’m in a position to use my voice to entertain and inform you about the community and island that I love so much. I’m grateful for this opportunity and am ALWAYS open to story ideas! Let me know what, where or who you want to hear about!

Beautiful Boats and Community Members Gather at Lovango to Honor Captain Phil Chalker

January 20, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

On a typical day, the bay in front of Lovango Cay is busy with boats filled with passengers, journeying to the small island off of St. John in search of underwater adventures or fine dining on her shores. But, on Sunday evening, a very different type of celebration was taking place. Notable boats by the number, overflowing with community members, friends and family filled the small bay with the intent of a memorial and final send off for Captain Phil Chalker.

National Geographic Explorer Follows “Diving With a Purpose” in New Podcast

January 19, 2022January 19, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Good Morning All! If you recall, I posted an article regarding a shipwreck in Coral Bay a few months back with mention of the dive group, Diving With a Purpose (DWP). Well, that spring issue of National Geographic feature (also mentioned in the article) will be available online on February 7, but a six episode podcast featuring the work and “purpose” of this incredible dive group will be live on January 27. And I am so incredibly excited to “dive” into these stories.

Coming Soon to a Liquor Store Near You – Pusser’s Painkillers in a Can!

January 18, 2022January 18, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Heads up gang…Beach and boat days everywhere are about to get a whole lot easier in the realm of cocktails to go! Over the summer, I wrote up the recipe and backstory for the world famous Pusser’s Painkillers, the official drink of the Virgin Islands. But, soon come, you won’t need to work so hard for those boat ready delectable drinks.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – A Brief History

January 17, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Today, the US Virgin Islands celebrates the life and mourns the loss of a great Civil Rights leader. A man who dedicated his life to challenging racial inequality and attempting to instill the same liberties in the African American communities around the country that others of a lighter skin tone could enjoy without a fight. With a deep seeded history of slavery and inequality, it is not surprising that the USVI takes this holiday of remembrance very seriously. You won’t find a bank, a government office or a variety of private businesses open today in the territory. The doors are locked up tight with workers participating in walks, family gatherings and celebrations of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy.

Here, St. John – Stories of People and Place

January 14, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

The story behind this beautiful island did not just begin when the Virgin Islands National Park was founded. But that is the narrative that is largely presented to new residents and visitors to St. John. A place that is beloved and coveted by thousands of people all over the world has a much deeper story to tell that is often glazed over by Americanized beach bars and burger joints, beautiful beaches and sunsets and adventurous day trips. Although, the current picture of St. John looks to be much like that last sentence, the history of St. John, the culture of St. John is very seldom accurately portrayed. And, in my opinion, the entire kaleidoscope of stories, not just the predominant rose colored lenses, are what makes this place truly magical.

Sun Dog Café Celebrates ONE MILLION Meals and 25 Years in Business!

January 12, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Today, I have a very special story to share with all of you. This month, Sun Dog Cafe in Mongoose Junction with coincidentally celebrate two major milestones that many restaurants never achieve singularly. The tiny outdoor café whose inspiration was a lost dog named Lucky and a kitchen the size of a Volkswagen Beatle (according to the New York Times) will celebrate 25 years of service to the Love City Community AND the service of their one millionth meal this month…Who knows how many beers, shots and Painkillers have been served at the little Gecko Gazebo bar over that period of time. I’m sure that count was lost long ago 🙂

The Plastic Water Bottle Dilemma – Save the Planet & Some Cash!

January 11, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Hi there! Today I’m going to get a bit real with you all about something that drives me absolutely crazy…Disposable plastic water bottles! Did you know that, “According to the Container Recycling Institute, 86% of disposable water bottles used in the United States become garbage or litter, adding 38 billion disposable water bottles in U.S. landfills?” That’s INSANE. And totally preventable! And, here on St. John, or in the Virgin Islands in general, there is NO plastic recycling so it is actually 100% of those disposable bottles that end up in our one landfill on St. Thomas or on the beaches, trails or…worse, in the water! But, this problem is something that we can all do a little bit about in order to cut down on this waste and litter on our beautiful island…Oh, and you’ll save a bundle of cash as well!

Mandatory Monday Beach Break

January 10, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Hello all! It is a beautifully overcast and breezy Monday morning here on St. John and we had an absolutely perfect Sunday yesterday! It is RARE that both Teddy and myself have a day off from ALL of our jobs. But, we took the day yesterday and spent some time truly enjoying St. John. And I took a little video clip to ensure that all of you got a little beach break today as well!

Important Testing Clarification: PCR AND RAPID Tests are Both OK!

January 8, 2022January 8, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Happy Weekend to you all! I normally try to take the weekends off…from at least this job 🙂 But, I saw a ton of comments on the post from Thursday that are basically just false. And, for those of your with upcoming trips on the horizon, I wanted to give you a quick update about the type of test necessary to get into the territory.

COVID on St. John- Last Minute Cancellations and Restaurant Closures

January 7, 2022January 6, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Good Morning, Good Morning! Due to the recent (January 3) changes in protocols, I have written a lot about the testing requirements to get into the territory recently. And many of you have scrambled and made those quick turnaround tests happen! But, what I haven’t mentioned is the effects of this current surge in the territory, on St. John specifically. And there is some definite news you can use here, especially if you are currently on island or planning a last minute trip!