The earlier part of this month, I spent 5 days in Hawaii, Waikiki Beach to be exact. I was a sole traveller leaving husband and kids at home. This trip was my first to the islands and a business trip actually. I was there to photograph a wedding with my newest dear friend Pinky and I decided to take a long needed “mama’s vacay” and recharge and refresh. I have a wonderful husband that encouraged me to go and have fun.. as well as a few wonderful girlfriends who enabled me to stay a bit longer than originally intended. It was well worth it as I have come back refreshed and recharged and as busy as ever!
I was just so excited as we approached the island in the air. Of course, I met a nice lady next to me and we got to know each other on our time in the plane.
All I really wanted to do was go for a run along the beach… I had to wait 3 days before I was able to do this… I had been busy with photoshoots and finally had time to relax and chill… no camera.. I didn’t want to lug it around so most of these are taken with my iPhone.
I’m kinda a nerd… I was excited to just lay out and read this book I picked up… I read maybe a page of it as the sun just soaked me up and all I wanted to do was close my eyes and relax…
A few days before I was on the 24th floor of the Sheraton Waikiki photographing a bride getting ready and this was my view. Just Ah-mazing!!
I got to hang out with my Hawaiian Ohana at their place and do nothing but hang loose and go with the flow. Yes, my family has lived there for over 20 years, and this was my first trip out. Seriously. I need to take advantage of this more, and ya, they let me know that. On the left is my cousin Parcival, his girlfriend to the right, Marlyn and my nephew Alex behind me. Sorry for the distortion, I was doing a self portrait and had to use a lens wide enough to get us all..
My other cousin Perci.. yeah, bad pic, but again, self portrait… they aren’t exactly easy when you have short arms. Anyway, Perci is an international DJ… DJ Tide to be precise.. he travels between the island and Manila a lot for gigs, ’cause he’s that good!
My most laid back of all my cousins, Parc and Marlyn. Most times when Parc visits the mainland.. there’s just too much going on and too many people around to have in depth discussions.. So just really grateful that he was available for me to get around and to have some great conversation… real meaty conversations.. ya! I thoroughly enjoyed them.
Parc’s son Alex… my 17 year old nephew that I see for a few minutes sparingly at family functions when they do visit the mainland… He gets handsomer and taller every single darn time I see him…
My feisty Auntie Helen… refreshingly honest and no holds barred… She is an 8 year liver transplant survivor. I’m so grateful that I got to spend some time with her to shoot the sheet (and I don’t mean Egyptian cotton), just good old chit chat, catching up to do.
My Uncle Percy… or who I lovingly refer to as my Uncle “P”… always busy working, but always fun to talk with , catch up with and one to offer some unsolicited advise
… These are my Ohana, always available to take me in..
Parc and Marlyn took me over to the North Shore one afternoon to Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck… to feast on these deleecious babies.. Oh. My. Stars. A must visit and a must eat.
Afterwards, we topped if off at Matsumoto’s for some world famous Shaved Ice. I opted for the Rainbow with vanilla ice cream…
An incredible experience for me… all mama’s should take a vacay. So much more to share from my trip.. like the wedding and photoshoot I was included in… will share those soon, but for now, wanted to give a big, big Mahalo to Pinky and my Ohana for everything that they did for me. Thank you, thank you!!!!
xo,
~j
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