Firsts.

I love firsts. I love doing things I have never done before. I love the intrigue and adventure of not knowing exactly what is around the corner. The excitement of firsts is why I love to travel, so many opportunities to do things I have never done before. Last weekend was a first for me. I traveled to Lanai. It is only a 45 minute ferry ride away and yet after growing up here I had never been. Thankfully I traveled with the Tano's of Joanna Tano Photography to second shoot with her at the Four Seasons Koele Lodge.

You won't see any pictures of the view from the boat as I tend to get a bit woozy if I don't keep my eyes on the horizon. But you will see many from the fabulous Koele Lodge. I could have wondered those grounds and lounged in the lobby for hours on end. I could see why the couple who got married that Saturday just adored that place enough to bring their friends and family back there to get hitched.

Just look at this lobby.

This is the view of  an entire green house full of....orchids. Oh and the place smelled heavenly in there!

Can you see the gazebo/temple nestled to the left? That is where the ceremony was. Dreamy.

And there was koi, lots of koi! I found out just how long I could spend photographing them. They are just like dancers, making all sorts of choreographic moments in the water for me.

Long winding paths, just beckoning you to forget about your responsibilities in life!

To the right and left of this fountain were outdoor fire pits!

The pace is so elegantly slow here. What else is there to do but play croquet?!

Oh yeah and look at those pine trees lining the hill top. Cool.

I had caught of few of Joanna and her lovely family  enjoying the pool before I hopped back on the ferry home. They stayed the night at the Manele Bay Four Seasons to get some r and r.

I felt like a happy little tourist running around with my camera before for the last few minutes before catching the last and very bumpy ferry back to Maui.

This is my farewell picture of Lanai, but I really think of it as saying 'E Komo Mai' or welcome.....you are welcome back!