Mystic
Island
Mystic Island festival was my first time camping and my first festival experience. It happened on a whim. I booked a flight to Maui without a plan, just following a gut feeling. Once I arrived, it felt like time paused. Everything slowed down in a way that I didn’t know I needed.
I fell in love with Hawaii. The local towns, the warmth of the people, the colors, the ocean air. But what really stayed with me was being up in the mountains, overlooking the water, surrounded by people who felt present, open, and real. Coming from New York, it was like stepping into a different rhythm of life.
Mystic Island brought together such a beautiful mix of cultures and energy. Everyone had their own story, their own light. I found myself connecting with strangers, sharing meals, and having conversations that stayed with me long after I left. It was where I first started to understand mindfulness, not as a concept, but as a way of being.
I wasn’t there to make a photo series. I was there to be part of it. But I kept my camera on me, quietly documenting the moments that meant something to me. This is a visual diary of that time. A reminder of how good it feels to get lost somewhere new and to let go a little.