Hanalei was inspired by Anthony’s love of Hawaii, as Hanalei is a small town on the North side of Kauai, an island in Hawaii.

Anthony is in sunny Hanalei, Hawaii. In his book Scar Tissue, as well as in many interviews, he has expressed his love for Hawaii, specifically Hanalei as a favorite place of his where he loves to relax and surf.

There is no literal girl in the song. Anthony is describing feelings of his own that he finds positive.

Verse 2 states: A simple song and it made me cry, I really don’t want to pass me by, a simple song that spoke of Hemmingway, make it safe for someone else to find their faith.

This points to the fact that these are all feelings that he wants to grasp onto and keep in his soul, adding and improving to the person he already is. He heard a song that saddened him, as he realized he may pass himself by, but quickly decided he wasn’t going to pass himself by/short himself, as he then lets listeners know how heavy those feelings in his blood/body are, as they would create a something (figuratively) as large as a wave.

Anthony feels strongly and is a large advocate of treating our planet well, thus, the
the line describing the girl as resembling Mother Earth also points to his own consciousness.