January 2020

I slept for twenty minutes New Years morning and boarded a plane to Kona, Hawaii. I passed on the champagne the attendant brought me. I’d had enough already.

It was my first trip to the islands. I joined my brother’s and sister’s families who were already there. They have six children ranging from eleven years to eight weeks. I was looking forward to getting to know my brother’s kids since he lives across country from me. I’d be meeting his youngest, a newborn, for the first time.

I left my surfboard at home to simplify logistics and be a more attuned uncle. I arrived during epic swell and only disappeared once during luau to check waves. 

We swam with dolphins, jumped from sea cliffs, and snorkeled a coral reef. The highlight was waterslides with my oldest niece. Before leaving, I rented a Jeep and drove to the observatories on the summit of of Mauna Kea for sunset.