McGuire Family’s 2023 Year in Review – From Hawaiian Bliss To Arctic Expeditions

Wishing everyone a happy new year filled with joy and happiness.

2023 has been a year of transformation for the McGuire’s! It is impossible to truly recollect every event because of the compactness of our family calendar this year. The encounters, conversations, and friends made are far too long to outline here.

January began with a revival and multi-month preparation for a major event taking place later in mid-June. An expedition to the Arctic – more on that later.

We started by traveling to O’ahu and Hawai’i in January – February, where we reunited with a whole bunch of family. The food – the views – the weather – and mostly – my ‘ohana. We summited Mauna Kea and had a snowball fight and later stared in amazement into the cauldron of Mauna Loa where, at the time, it made perfect sense for me to take a cat nap on the rim of the active volcano. Pele and I shared a quiet moment – so much ikaika. My ‘ohana and Hawaiian heritage are important to me and my identity. Something I will be moving towards in 2024 and beyond. Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono.

Taking a nap on the rim of Mauna Loa

Kiwe and I pushed forward with growing our businesses while also continuing remote Masonic lectures across the US and EU/Aus. Difficult to plan when you have a calendar full of traveling ahead of you.

April was my visit to New York for the Explorers Club Annual Dinner. What an amazing trip. There were many stories told and volumes of knowledge gained for our upcoming expedition while at the club. I met some of the most amazing and famous explorers, scientists, and adventures. The Club HQ is an amazing building and also serves as a clubhouse for members. It is open to the public – a must-visit for anyone traveling to New York. Many side trips were made and as many friendships from abroad cemented; truly my biggest joy of traveling. Josh Gates delivered an over-the-top personal message to Molly that truly warmed my heart. Josh is a father. I believe he knew how important his message would be to a young explorer. By coincidence, Josh ended up visiting Dallas and we were able to meet up with him. Molly was over the moon and we were able to get some photos with him.

In June, Kiwe flew to Chicago to attend the college graduation of her niece. I remember when Grayson was brand new with that new baby smell. It’s amazing how quickly time passes. For myself, June through July was go-time for the expedition. As Expedition Tech Wrangler with The Arctic Cowboys, we are the first to have successfully navigated the northwest passage in kayaks, in a single season, solely under human power. Another historic first for us and The Explores Club. In an upcoming memoir, I will share the fullness of my experience in the Arctic.

Bottom line up front – while on a wild ride across the sea ice, I was tossed into an ice lead (a gap between ice sheets), soaked to the bone in the sub-freezing waters of Eclipse Sound. As the undertow of the tide greedily drew me deeper into the water, I was hoisted from its frigid grasp by the sheer brute force of West and Mark. Two days later my core temperature returned to acceptable levels. It was decided to not share this with the various news outlets and groups following the expedition, for the duration of the full expedition, to ensure the focus was on our successes. The last thing we needed was to have the Coast Guard declare the expedition unfit and cancel us. While in Mittimatalik (Pond Inlet), Titus, Steve, and Heidi watched over me and helped nurse me back to full strength. They provided warmth, home-cooked and country food, culture, history, faith, knowledge of the Arctic, and most of all lifelong friendship.

After I returned home, Kiwe, Mia, and Molly traveled to Orlando Florida, and Disney for nearly two weeks in July. I remained home and continued to recover from the expedition and provide remote support and up-to-the-minute remote meteorological, ice, and navigation, in tandem with Barbara for the field team still underway through the Canadian archipelago.

From late July to early October, I was singularly focused and had completely given myself, in totality, to the Northwest Passage Expedition and The Arctic Cowboys (West Hansen, Jeff Wueste, Mark Agnew, and Eileen Visser). Keep them alive and moving forward. Billable hours, extra-curricular activities, and all spare time faded away. Only the expedition mattered during these months. We made history on October 8^th. The expedition was a success. I simply could not have done it without the support of my wife, Kiwe,  and the love and hugs from my beautiful daughters.

In mid-October, Kiwe and I were again on a plane traveling to Philadelphia to assist with packing and moving a family member to a new home.

We wrap up 2023 with both the blessing and curse of the Holiday season. November, thankfully was a slow month for us, except for the impending pressure of Thanksgiving and passively picking the interests of family members for the upcoming gift-giving of birthdays and Christmas. We have an oddly high concentration of family birthdays in November and December creating a blend of holidays and parties throughout these two months. Joy to the world.

As we bid farewell to 2023, we reflect on a year of incredible highs, challenging adventures, and cherished moments with friends and family. From the breathtaking landscapes of Hawaii to the historic triumphs in the Arctic, each experience has left an indelible mark on our hearts. The unwavering support of loved ones, the camaraderie of fellow explorers, and the resilience in the face of adversity have defined this transformative journey. As we embrace the coming year, we carry with us the lessons learned, the friendships forged, and the gratitude for the joy that filled our lives. Wishing everyone a new year filled with continued growth, exploration, and boundless happiness. Here’s to the adventures that await in 2024 and beyond!