The Reset from the Pink Palace

First let me say, I realize it has been a hot minute since my last post. Life has a funny way of getting incredibly busy in certain moments, and I have learned to immerse fully in that and not be pulled in too many directions at once. With that said, this blog has not been forgotten.

So as I reconnect here, I have been thinking about the art of disconnection. 

And I find travel is a great way to do just that - to step back and think outside our habits and routine to truly explore and reset. 

With that, I also realize the type of travel matters, the purpose matters, the location matters, and the company matters for how the disconnection and reset unfolds.

As I reflect on my recent travel to Hawaii, I will say, there is a distinct magic to stepping onto the grounds of The Royal Hawaiian. The very second you walk into the lobby, you are instantly transported into another place and space. 

If you have not been, I highly recommend “the Pink Palace”, as it is so lovingly known. For me, I am a sucker for historic charm, warm hospitality, gracious smiles, and let’s be honest, those vibrant leis. But even more so, I found it to offer the space for a reset and not just because of the beautiful grounds, but it offered so much more as the historic hotel felt like a sanctuary where time bent just a little bit. 

The coral-pink walls, the rustling palms, and the steady rhythm of the Pacific offered an immediate, irresistible invitation to slow down, step out of the day-to-day, and disconnect.

We live in a world where we don’t just use the digital space; we inhabit it. Every day, the algorithms we interact with diligently curate our realities, quietly handing us more of what we already like, filtering our worldview, and keeping us tethered to a highly connected, highly technical society. It is easy to forget that the digital world is a constructed one. Sometimes, the most important thing we can do is to break the loop.

And that is where I am a huge advocate of slowing down, traveling, and pausing a bit. True disconnection takes intention. And I will be honest, it is hard for me. My life is sitting on a tiny little device and stepping away from it for a few minutes can feel uneasy. But there is something therapeutic and restorative about "reset travel" - jumping in the waves, dipping your toes in the warm sand to feel the earth beneath your feet, or even just sharing a meal with the people around you uninterrupted by notifications, news, and messages.

And while I recognize that the Pink Palace is recognized as one of the most instagrammable hotels in the world, where people may be using their phones, filters, and social media more, I see it also as an opportunity to fully immerse in the moment, to pause, and perhaps skip trying to capture the perfect image and rather just enjoy it. When we stop trying to document and curate our lives for our friends or digital audience, we get the opportunity to fully live in those moments. We trade a pixelated reality for a tangible, sensory one. And I am not saying not to take any photos, but rather, look to be fully present as much as possible.

You know, I love technology and digital-connection, but I also love rest and human-connection. And I truly believe that stepping away from the constant noise isn't just a temporary escape—it is a critical necessity for resilience and sustainable growth. By stepping out of the digital current, we can recharge our inner batteries and open space for new opportunities, moments, and reflections that help us build what’s next. 

So, I hope you will find moments this summer to rest, recharge, reset, and be completely untethered… the waves are waiting, your tech can chill with you, fully immerse in the moment and let the joy rush over you!