I got my honeymoon in Hawaii like I’d always wanted. Just not with the person I imagined

We settled on 1 Hotel, a newly renovated eco-resort. The views from the property are possibly the best on the island and one of the few with direct access to the calm waters of Hanalei Bay. After a quick check-in, we couldn’t resist heading straight down to the beach. And in a moment, any doubts I had about whether this trip was a good idea suddenly disappeared.

There’s nothing quite like watching your baby on a beach for the first time. Veya’s eyes lit up with pure joy at the sight of the ocean, followed by high-pitched shrieks, excitement and a curious expression as she reached for the sand. As toddlers are wont to do, she put a handful of it in her mouth. She burst into tears, then giggles, then tears again—it was a strange combination of heartbreaking and hilarious.

Think of all the things you might want to do on a holiday. Knock off about 80% of your list. That’s what a perfect vacation day with a baby looks like. The next morning, we started with breakfast at the restaurant overlooking an infinity pool, with Hanalei Bay and the mountains just behind it (including Mount Waialeale, one of the wettest places on earth). Veya gobbled up her scrambled eggs while watching native birds swarming the restaurant’s empty tables—a distraction every parent prays for, for it is our tiny window to squeeze in those extra few bites. Bellies full, we headed down to the beach.