Maui, Baby

October 2021, I took my first solo flight.

I was determined to make it to my cousin’s wedding - well, technically vow renewal - but that’s besides the point. The party was in Hawaii, and there was absolutely no way I was going to miss that. I took off from MKE early, had a several hour layover in Dallas/Fort Worth, and then it was time for the longest flight of my life - eight more hours to paradise.

But let’s back things up a bit.

Since I began shooting photos and creating short films and videos of things I loved, I’ve dreamt of going to fun and exotic locations to make that EPIC content. For the longest time after learning about the trip, my mindset began to shift to MUST CREATE INCREDIBLE CONTENT. But frankly, I wasn’t in the mode for that. I was coming off of a months-long mental, emotional, and physical burnout. I even bought a drone and other gear just for this trip, expecting to pull a Sam Kolder on a whim.

I didn’t. I barely shot anything at all.

But that’s okay.

As a creative, these gorgeous scenes and wild opportunities are irresistible. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t start drooling when I looked out that tiny plane window - before we landed. I had so many ideas and concepts of what I wanted to pull off, of how I’d do certain things and make specific content. That all flew out that little tiny plane window very quickly.

After we got to the AirBnB, I started to rest. That rest pulled things out of me that I never realized I could have - like no tension in my shoulders and neck (WHAT?!?). Cousin Lucas (best man at the wedding) and I strolled down Front Street in Lahaina that night, just to get a feel of the town. The carelessness and simple joy of not having anything on my mind - no worries in the world - made me suddenly realize that this was not a work trip.

It was a family trip.

It was a fun trip.

It was a trip to simply recharge my human batteries.

Of course, when Lucas and I took the Road to Hana - I had the camera. I couldn’t resist that opportunity. I brought the camera to the beach, to the sunset boat cruise, and on hikes. I only snapped photos of things that really caught my attention. And that’s completely fine.

This trip wasn’t about me creating or working. It was about connecting with family - and myself - in ways I never thought possible.