As our last summer hurrah, we all took a family vacation to Maui just like we used to do when I was young. It was a trip with all four generations!

I challenged myself to cast on a project on the plane and see how far I could get during our vacation. I didn’t have very much knitting time except on the plane while the kids slept, but I made some pretty good progress on my Sunflower Socks by Charlotte Stone.

Almost done with one sock — over a week of distracted work!

The trip was amazing. We swam with the kids in the ocean or the pools, and sat by the kids’ area to read or talk while Michael ran around. Jake and my dad swam with Michael a lot, helping him strengthen his swimming skills. I took care of Beatrice with my mom and grandparents and great aunt.

Michael had such a great time. He made friends immediately and played in the play structure with them for hours. He loved all the time outside: he was often down by the pool from sunrise to close to sunset. I don’t know how he kept going without collapsing from exhaustion: he never stopped moving unless we forced him to sit and eat or drink.

We took a drive to the Iao Valley and did a short hike to the Maui landmarks. I loved walking through lush tropical forest by the rushing river. If we go back, I’ll hoping we get to do more hiking. The scenery is breathtaking.

We also visited some restaurants we used to go to whenever we visited during my childhood. The food was amazing — I had some form of a poke bowl every day, which was one of the highlights of the vacation for me.

I also got to go snorkeling with my dad, and play with Michael in the ocean. Snorkeling is one of my favorite things to do: I could stare at the gorgeous coral reef and all the beautiful tropical fish all day. I love diving down as far as I can and looking up at the sparkling water high above me.

My parents watched the kids one evening so Jake and I could have a date night. We had a lovely dinner and walk on the beach, and finished with a cocktail and dip in the hot tub. It was so beautiful and relaxing. I won’t lie — it was the best part of the entire vacation for me. We were both so grateful to have a few hours without the kids to enjoy the scenery ourselves.

As lovely as the vacation was, there were several bittersweet parts to it. We were acutely aware of the absence of our deceased family members who had been here with us before. Many small things popped up throughout the trip and reminded us of them: a sadness I cherished because of the memories it came from.

Lahaina is still rebuilding after the fire last year that decimated so much of the island’s life and history. I only have a cursory grief, born of my few visits and childhood memories playing along the streets of Lahaina and visiting the Banyon Tree. It’s nothing compared to the grief and loss of those who called it home. I was glad to support local businesses in the little ways I could. When in doubt, if you have the means, Maui Food Bank is a wonderful place to donate.

There was a living piece of the Banyon Tree in our hotel’s lobby. I snapped this picture of Michael standing in front of it, to mirror the pictures we have of me growing up beside it.

Vacations with the very young are always interesting: as friends of mine have said, it’s just your daily parenting duties in a different, pretty (and not baby-proofed) location. It’s often equal parts exhausting and enjoyable. Now that we’re back, I’m tackling the dusting and the meal planning and the laundry (so much laundry) and easing into the slower autumn season.

It was a glorious trip that I’m grateful for and adored, but at the end of the day, this homebody hobbit is glad to be back in her little cottage.