After more than two years of the Covid-19 pandemic and border closures, the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha'apai volcano eruption and tsunami, this trip was going to be special.
He was taking a big group of 15, including his mother, son, his two sisters and their children.
“It’s Christmas, and it’s a time for family – we’re all just looking forward to being back home together,” he said.
“Mum is really looking forward to seeing her sister who is old now, so we just want to spend as much time with her as we can.