I held tight to my mom’s hand as we walked toward our gate, my heart thumping with excitement for my first-ever airplane ride. Through the big windows, I watched planes take off, their wings slicing through the clouds. Everything felt huge and important, like I was about to start an adventure from a movie. "Mom, do you think I’ll see the clouds from above?" Mom, smiling and steady, nodded down at me. "Just wait until you see how fluffy they are. It’s like flying through mashed potatoes!"

I pressed my nose against the window as we soared into the sky, my mouth dropping open when the ground fell away and houses shrank to tiny toy blocks. A flight attendant handed me a juice box and a special cookie, which tasted extra magical up high, surrounded by blue. The clouds outside looked just like mountains of mashed potatoes, and my little brother giggled every time the plane bounced. Little Brother, squirmy and curious, peeked over my shoulder. "Are we flying to space?"

I stepped off the plane and gaped at the palm trees and blue sky, feeling the heat wrap around me like a soft blanket. The wild chickens strutted past us, acting like they owned the place, making me laugh. Our hotel was so tall I had to tip my head all the way back to see the top, and the pool sparkled like a giant blue gem. "Look, Mom! Chickens just walking around!" "That’s Hawaii for you. It’s full of surprises," Mom replied.

Every morning, I woke up early, ready for smiley pancakes and another day of adventure. The pool’s slide called my name, and I raced down it over and over, counting each splash with glee until my fingers turned wrinkly. One day, our family piled into a van and drove up winding roads to a volcano, where mysterious steam drifted from black lava rocks. "I’m a lava monster! RAWR!" I stomped around, pretending the steam was my fire breath, making my little brother giggle so hard he almost fell over.

A kind lady with a bright dress and the biggest smile gave me a lei—soft and sweet-smelling, with pink and yellow flowers. She taught me how to sway my hips and wave my arms just right, making me feel like a real Hawaiian dancer. My little brother tried to copy me, but he tripped and landed in the sand, making our whole family burst out laughing. "Nice moves, both of you!" Mom cheered from her beach chair.

That night, we spread a blanket on the sand and watched fireworks explode in the sky—reds, blues, golds, all shimmering over the waves. I stayed up way past bedtime, snuggled between my family, wishing this summer would last forever. If I could live in Hawaii, I’d be the best beach explorer, hunting for seashells and eating juicy pineapple every single day. The night was warm and perfect, and I closed my eyes, dreaming of more adventures to come.