Aloha and Sunday Morning Coffee
Three years ago, we took a memorable family trip to the Big Island of Hawaii and we’re thrilled to be back again for another incredible vacation in paradise! Aloha!
This time, we’ve rented a beautiful residence in Hualalai, and it honestly couldn’t be more perfect for our family. With four bedrooms, there’s plenty of space for everyone to spread out, relax, and enjoy.
Season 5 Volume 30
Thanks for joining me for Sunday Morning Coffee. This is a place to share, learn, explain, dream, and have fun.
About Me
Our Family Vacation to Hawaii: Back to Paradise
Although I’ve been to Hawaii over 100 times (yes, really!), those visits were all work-related, as I traveled there as a corporate travel incentive event planner. We have only been here a few times for an actual vacation, and the first time in August.
We typically plan around spring or early summer, but this year, with everyone’s busy schedules, including jobs, pregnancy, and preschool, it turned out that August was the only month that worked for our whole family. And honestly? I think it’s turning out to be the perfect time to be here.
One of the best features? A secure pool fence that gives us total peace of mind with our two-year-old grandson running around. As any parent or grandparent knows, safety is paramount when little ones are around water, and this thoughtful detail has allowed us to relax and soak up every moment together truly.
The warm August sun, the refreshing ocean breeze, and the relaxed pace of island life have been precisely what we needed. We’ve built our days around a wonderful mix of downtime and activity: long mornings lounging with coffee and breakfast, family workouts and walks, hours of beach time, afternoon naps, and lots of swimming and floating in the pool.
Our grandson has been in heaven—running barefoot through the grass, spotting birds and fish, and digging happily in the sand. Watching him experience the island through his wide-eyed wonder has been one of the most enjoyable aspects of the trip.
What I love most about this vacation is how it has allowed us to slow down and spend quality time together. No rushing, no packed agendas, just the joy of each other’s company. Meals have been simple and shared—fresh island fruits, grilled fish, and lots of laughing around the table.
We’ve already started a list of things we want to do again (and a few new adventures too), but for now, we’re savoring each day as it comes.
It’s such a gift to return to a place that holds memories and make new ones all over again. Hawaii has always felt special to me, but seeing it now through the lens of vacation and family time makes it feel even more magical.
We’ll be here a bit longer, and I can’t wait to share more of our favorite moments from this trip. Until then, you can find me soaking in every sunset and treasuring this precious time together.
Aloha from the Big Island!
My Latest Project
A lot of planning went into the vacation, and I think I have been pretty clever.
One fun detail I didn’t want to forget to share from this trip? We brought some of our wine from home, twelve bottles of it, to be exact! I ordered this Wine Suitcase for Airplanes (the 12-bottle version with a TSA-approved lock and a removable insert), and it might just be the smartest travel purchase I’ve made in years.
Our family loves wine. We’ve built quite a collection over the years, and it’s something we all enjoy during family dinners and special occasions.
While planning this trip to Hawaii, I was reminded how expensive wine can be on the islands. It’s not just the higher prices at grocery stores and wine shops; it’s also the steep wine prices charged at restaurants. Paying a corkage fee is so much less than buying a bottle.
So I decided to take matters into my own hands (or, instead, into my suitcase). This wine suitcase is genius as it’s sleek, padded, secure, and designed specifically for air travel. It kept all 12 bottles protected and intact, making it easy to check as regular luggage. Now that we’re here, we’ve been able to open a great bottle with dinner each night, pairing it with island-inspired meals without worrying about the price tag.
Not only has it elevated our vacation meals, but it’s also saved us a significant amount of money. Plus, sipping our favorite wines while watching a Hawaiian sunset? It doesn’t get better than that.
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My Biggest Challenge This Week
Packing for Hawaii is always a bit of a puzzle, especially when you’re traveling with a big family and a toddler in tow! Between beachwear, dressier outfits for dinners, layers for breezy evenings, and plenty of sun protection, it adds up quickly. And since this trip is a whole week in August, I knew I had to be strategic about what I brought and how I packed.
One thing I’ve learned from many trips to the islands is that lightweight, breathable fabrics are essential. Think linen, cotton, gauze, and swimsuits that dry quickly. I always bring a couple of swimsuits, cover-ups that double as dresses, and slip-on sandals I can wear from the pool to dinner.
A sunhat with a chin strap (especially on windy beaches), a packable beach bag, and a small bottle of reef-safe sunscreen are also essentials that I always carry in my carry-on.
To make packing less stressful, I used packing cubes to keep things organized by category: one for swimwear, one for dinner outfits, one for casual wear, and so on. It sounds simple, but it’s a total game-changer.
With a bit of planning and a few well-loved packing hacks, getting ready for a week in paradise feels a whole lot easier. Now that we’re here, I’m so glad I spent the time to prep. It’s made our days flow more smoothly, and it means more time enjoying the beach and less time digging through a messy suitcase!
- Enjoy a relaxing vacation!
- Read as many books as possible.
- Enjoy long bike rides as I rented two e-bikes for four days!
I really enjoyed reading The Four Year Decorating Evolution of Our Living Room.
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These Strawberry Cupcakes look delicious.
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And what a week it was!
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There are so many fun blog posts coming this week!
- Happy Taco Tuesday Ideas and Recipes
- Fun Outdoor Living Ideas
- Christmas in July Ideas to Make Now
- More Christmas in July Ideas to Make Now
- The Hardest Decision I Made as a Creator (And Why I Don’t Regret It)
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- Summer Beach Dinner Part Two – S5/V29
- A Time to Celebrate Friends – S5/V28
- Early Prime Day – S5/V27
- Summer at the Beach – S5/V26
- Why I Love Summer Travel – S5/V25
- My Favorite Summer Decor Finds – S5/V24
- A Year Older – S5/V23
- A Birthday Week – S5/V22
- Summer is Almost Here – S5/V21
- A Golfing Week – S5/V20
- Mother’s Day Memories – S5/V19
- Kitchen Garden Progress – S5/V18
- A Growing Family – S5/V17
- A Happy Easter and Crafting – S5/V16
- A Heart Breaking Week – S5/V15
- Celebrating Family – S5/V14
- We are Filming This Week – S5/V13
- My Love for Spring – S5/V12
- My Love for Gardening – S5/V11
- The Inspired Home Show – S5/V10
- The End of an Era – S5/V9
- Spring is Coming – S5/V8
- East Coast Travel – S5/V7
- The Best Place to Dine on Valentine’s Day – S5/V6
- Is Needlepoint a Dying Art? – S5/V5
- Crafting and Sunday Morning Coffee – S5/V4
- My Love For January – S5/V3
- A Week to Remember and Forget – S5/V2
- A Good Year – S5/V1
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This Week’s Top Sellers
We shared many of our favorite home items this week, and here are the top sellers!
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Enjoy your time in Hawaii! I worked for Four Seasons Resort Hualalai and the other Four Seasons Hawaii resorts until a couple of years ago. I thought I recognized your home. How did you find it? We lived on the small island of Lana’i for a few years. It was so easy to island hop. I loved your post. Have the best chill time with your family. 🌴🌺🏖️
Can you share a link for the home you rented?
What a fabulous place!! Thanks for sharing it with us and hope the rest of your trip is just as wonderful! Thanks for the wine suitcase recommendation too – that’s amazing!