Hale Koa Luau

Our last night on the island we attended a traditional luau at the Hale Koa, a military resort on Waikiki Beach. What a fun way to end the trip! We drank Mai Tai's (our first if you can believe that!), participated in some traditional Polynesian fun, watched an awesome Polynesian show, ate some fantastic food, and some not so fantastic food. Please see the slideshow of Kaitlyn's priceless Poi Face. It is worth it! Oh, and the pineapple we had throughout our stay was divine!

The show was pretty entertaining. The kids loved it, as did we. Kaitlyn even got recruited to go on stage to learn how to hula. Ryan had no interest in going. It was fun to sit back and watch her take it all in. Unfortunately, our video didn't turn out, but we did snap a few photos. There was also a little boy who was 8 years old and number one in his division of under 10, or something like that, for a sport they call flame throwing. If you have a minute, watch the video. It is amazing what he does with fire. I couldn't get over the fact that he was just a little bit older that Kaity. She's hardly allowed to look at fire. :)

Towards the end of the show, the emcee asked people who were currently serving in the military to stand up and be acknowledged. Bill always ignores this request. Especially at Sea World. I think he reluctantly stood up at the end after enough prompting from his little angel. Then they worked backwards through all of the significant periods of wartime our country has seen recently. By the time they had gotten to World War II, there was one man standing. He and his wife had been married for 65 or 67 years and I couldn't help but think of my own grandparents. What Tom Brokaw calls the greatest generation. I think of my grandparents and all of the friends they have known, loved, and lost. Sure they have made new friends, younger friends, but I know they struggle with seeing their closest friends leave them and being the ones left behind. Now in their mid-eighties, they are the few left standing of this greatest generation. I feel so blessed and honored that I have been able to spend so much time with them in my adult life, even though that life has taken me far away in miles. That my kids really know their great-grandparents and that the greatest generation gets to positively affect another generation. Eighty plus years their junior. My kids LOVE their GG and PopPop and talk of them often. When God takes away, he also gives. When He took away my husband for a year, He gave me time with my grandparents and with our other family. He made everything come together so that I could have that, and for that, I am eternally grateful.

Here I am digressing again. Two posts, not where I was planning on going, but where I was led. I know my grandparents are reading this, and to a great extent, one of the main reasons I keep it going. It makes them happy when I post. It shortens the distance between us. Between my little family and all of our extended family. So, since you are reading, I just wanted to take the opportunity to tell you (AGAIN) how much I love you, admire you, and are blessed by you. How much of a positive difference you have made in my life, in my children's lives, and the dynamic impact you leave on nearly everyone you encounter. How much I treasure the time we have been able to spend together. From the time we lived with you the first part of my second grade year, to that month on the beach every summer, to the family holidays, and to the visits we've had in our homes across the country and yours. The ordinary and the extraordinary. And how much I am looking forward to seeing you in just one month!

Back to the luau. At the end of this tribute to all veterans, they played I'm Proud to be an American. This song gets me every time and our last evening in Hawaii was no exception. Having spent the morning in Pearl Harbor it was impossible to choke back the tears and a few fat ones fell. Maybe it was that I was leaving paradise, but I think I would have had the same reaction had I been staying another night. It was a fun and moving night and we couldn't have asked for a better way to wrap up our trip.

Slideshow of the pictures from the luau.

Manoa Falls

We left Pearl Harbor and within minutes of getting in the car, Ryan was out. We had chosen lunch today to be one of our few dining out meals, but packed extra sandwiches just in case. We were really wanting some sushi while in Hawaii, so we decided to try another hole in the wall place that was highly rated in our guide book. Seriously, the revealed series is THE BEST! We were not disappointed with Irifune, a quintessential Hawaiian-Japanese fusion restaurant well known and frequented by Honolulu locals. The guide book told us that when you say Garlic Ahi, most Honolulu residents think Irifune, and since they hadn't let us down in the past recommendations, we stopped by and got a mixed plate with the garlic ahi and some sushi to go. We passed Kaitlyn a pb&j and drove up to the neighborhood where the Manoa Falls trail begins. Again, the food was great and the sushi was just what we were craving. After Ryan woke up and ate lunch, we started out for our hike.

While we sat in the car eating our lunch, we seriously thought about not doing this hike. It was raining, the trail was known for being a mess due to the rainforest-like climate, and we were going to the Hale Koa Luau at 5. Since it was our last day and we didn't know when or if we would ever get back here, we forged ahead and decided it would be worth the hike in the rain. We figured that if we didn't do it, we would regret it.

Again, the kids were awesome little hikers. The trail was slippery and definitely steep in some parts and there were lots of muddy falls and stumbling. The rain stopped, but the mud continued. Ryan was all laughs and in hog heaven with all this mud and climbing, until we got to the bamboo forest. Being the picture taker that I am, I wanted to get a picture of the kids in the bamboo forest. Ryan started crying and didn't want to go, so I thought if I went with him it would be better. Wrong! He was hysterical. He was so upset and we couldn't figure out why. I was a bit irritated that we only got pictures of his fit, but figured we would try again on the way back down. Now I am so glad we decided to take pictures of him in hysterics because it tells a really funny story.

About 10 more minutes into the hike, this time with a little boy who doesn't want to be put down, we find out why he was so upset. Turns out he thought I said BABOON forest. He thought there were baboons in there and all he could think about was the scary mandrill that hangs out with the baboons on the pages of one of his books. A baboon forest! Poor boy. After that we were able to explain to him what bamboo was and he was fine on the way back down. Still wanting to be held, just in case, but happy. We still laugh about this any time we think about baboons or bamboo. Take the time to check out the look on his face in the slideshow below.

Again, the view at the top of the trail was worth the trek. And the trashed shoes (we brought old ones that we ditched in Hawaii for the kids and for me, and Bill's were saved by the miracle of an OXY Clean bath). And the stained clothes, all of which came clean (except Ry's white shirt) with a couple soaks in the OXY Clean bath as well. Shocking! What a beautiful waterfall! In fact, the trek was quite rewarding as well. The vegetation changes as we climbed and was so lush and green. I couldn't help but take pictures. Pictures, that again, don't do this beautiful island justice. The sounds, the smells, the feel of the air. This place is truly paradise. On the walk back to the car, we were rewarded, yet again, with another beautiful Hawaiian rainbow.

Slideshow of Manoa Falls Pictures

Pearl Harbor

Our last morning in Hawaii we went to visit Pearl Harbor and the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial. We watched a movie that retold the history of the attack and then took a boat to the memorial site. What a somber experience. So many lives were lost. It was a beautiful, peaceful morning, just like the morning before the attack, and easy to picture ourselves in this area nearly 70 years ago. Beginning a normal Sunday, a "day off", a time to relax and reflect, enjoy God's beautiful handiwork, and then being caught completely off guard. The devastation that followed was incredible. And the lives lost. Oh, how heartbreaking.

We weren't expecting the effect this experience would have on Kaitlyn. I think for the first time, she really understood what her daddy does. What he protects. The risks involved. She was so sad being here. Very quiet, which is unlike her. You could see her thoughts through her eyes. She couldn't understand how a country could be so greedy and jealous as to create such a sneak attack and kill so many people. She kept asking how they could hate us so much as to want to kill so many people. To be honest, I can't understand it either. Ryan was oblivious, which is exactly how a 2 year old boy should be.

The site was pretty amazing and you could see parts of the ship above the water and below it. They had a diagram of the ship and the parts you can see above and below the water were labeled. See the slideshow of pictures at the end of this post. One of the things that was most surprising, as equally sad, was that oil still leaks from this ship. As a reminder of what was lost. It has been almost 70 years since this ship was sunk and oil STILL leaks from it. It isn't hard to imagine that this was a working vessel. Filled with sailors ready to set sail at a moment's notice. That notice never came.

On the far wall of the memorial were all the names of the sailors who called the Arizona their home and went down with her or trying to protect her and our great country. They paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. As Memorial Day just passed, I can't help but think about how many people take their freedom and the lives as they know them for granted. Freedom is not free. It may be free for some of us, but some of us pay a high cost. Friends we have known who have lost their lives to protect our freedom. Their families who were left behind to face indescribable sorrow and who will never forget the cost of their freedom. On a smaller (but no less important) scale, the families of the military heroes we know and those whom we will never meet, who continue to fight for our freedom and the pain, heartache, and uncertainty they experience with every deployment, every news story, every silence in a usually noisy airspace on days that are perfect for flying. The missed birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, births, deaths, graduations, dance recitals, and all-star games. Their children who are among few who don't have their mom or dad at school events honoring mom or dad. There is a cost for our freedom. One that many people don't see. I am filled with pride when I think about my husband's sacrifice for MY freedom. For our children's future. This wasn't were I was planning on going with this post, but it is where I was led. This morning when I woke up, I opened the house up on this beautiful, sunny day and went about my morning. While I was getting my second cup of coffee four F-16's flew over our apartment and the skies echoed with the sweet, sweet sound of jet noise. The oh so sweet sound of freedom. It made me smile and I was filled with pride, and thanksgiving, for what my husband, my hero, does and that I have the honor of being his wife, and of being an American. I pray that he never has to make the ultimate sacrifice those men did in 1941, but I know that he is doing what he loves and it is for the greater good. I also admit, that there are days that I take my life, and my freedom, for granted. But freedom is NOT free. The cost is so very high.

Hawaii - Day 3 Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay, Tantalus Drive, Waikiki Sunset

Our third day began with a hike up Diamond Head. We were a little concerned about how the kids might do with the hike, since it had been quite a while since we had been hiking together, but they were AWESOME! Ryan wanted to do the WHOLE hike "all by myself!" because he was smack dab in the middle of being two. Filled with independence and confidence, he forged ahead, all the way up the famous landmark. Both kids kept a really good pace and even climbed the stairs by themselves, even though we practically begged them to let us carry them. The stairs were so steep (there were 99 of them!) and Ryan did great, but every couple of minutes I asked him if I could carry him. Finally he caved about halfway up and allowed me to hold him, which may have been a bad idea. My legs where aching after climbing up those stairs with an extra 35lbs on my hip. With about a quarter of the way left, he insisted that I put him down and he do the rest by himself. I was secretly relieved, although the climb to the top took quite a bit longer with him climbing on his own. Kaitlyn did just as well and all the other hikers passing by couldn't believe how great they did! We made our way through a tunnel (the kids loved that!) and up a narrow spiral staircase to the top.

Once we made it to the summit (761 feet), we were rewarded with the most beautiful view! It was totally worth the effort and the kids were so proud of themselves for accomplishing such a feat on their own. They ate up all the compliments, as well as a snack, while we took some pictures and enjoyed the scenery. Then we headed back down the landmark, ready to cool off in the cold water of the Pacific.

Slideshow of pictures from Diamond Head

Next on our list of "must see" was Hanauma Bay, Oahu's most famous snorkeling spot. Once we were there it was easy to see why. This crescent shaped nature preserve is chock full of stony coral and the home to many, many species of fish. We have never been so close to fish in their natural environment before. It was an amazing experience. I could have literally held them in my hand. They had no fear! Unfortunately, we didn't see any sea turtles, but they are known to be in the area. We didn't get out too far because we took turns snorkeling since Ryan refused to go. Gotta use the buddy system. Bill took Kaity first and she really enjoyed seeing the fish up close, then it was my turn. I took the camera and ran down the battery. Check out the slideshow below and the video clip. Please excuse the Darth Vader soundtrack. I was out there for at least 45 minutes, maybe an hour, but it only felt like 5. I could have stayed out there all day. Bill finished off the Mac fam snorkel tour.

We had such a relaxing time time there. We swam, snorkeled, picnicked, and played. While the kids played in the sand with the beach toys left at the condo for guests, we layed out and soaked up the sun, knowing we would be arriving to snow in Korea. We laughed at the kids, watched them play in the sand and the surf, and enjoyed being together again, knowing we would stay that way.

Slideshow of pictures from Hanauma Bay.

When the kids looked like they were going to pass out, we left Hanauma Bay and went for another drive. If you decide to go to Hawaii (or anywhere, really) with young kids, I highly recommend doing your big stuff in the morning when they are fresh and then going on a driving tour during naptime. This way you can enjoy the island and they can nap while you drive. When you only have a short period of time, it is great to be able to meet their needs and still see the things you want to see. The best of both worlds.

This car tour of the island was to see the not to be missed Tantalus Drive just outside of Honolulu. It is absolutely amazing that this beauty is just a few minutes outside the hustle and bustle of the big city of Honolulu. Getting there took us through my dad's old stomping grounds nearly 40 years ago, when he was stationed there with his service in the Navy. I am sure it has changed in an enormous way since then. I can't put into words the beauty of this drive, so I will let the pictures do the talking. They don't do it justice, but you can see the beauty in them. Again, the view from the top is the best!

Slideshow of Tantalus Drive pictures

After the Tantalus Drive, we headed back to the condo to make dinner and then we walked down to the beach to watch the sunset. The kids played and we all enjoyed a really pretty Hawaiian sunset on Waikiki Beach. We had hoped to get some great pictures of the kids, but they weren't really cooperative on the picture taking front. We made the best of it and got a couple of good ones.

Slideshow of the Waikiki Beach pictures

The North Shore

After our whale watching adventure, we loaded up the rental car, ate our lunches, and explored the North Shore of Oahu.  We stopped at Turtle Beach where the kids got to get up close to a really big turtle, play in the sand, watch some surfers, and explore during a walk on the beach.

Slideshow of Turtle Beach Pictures

We got back in the car and continued the North Shore drive.  Kahuku on the North Shore is famous for its shrimp, so we stopped at Romy's Kahuku Shrimp Hut where they harvest their shrimp daily and are known for their freshness.  We got an order of the garlic butter shrimp, which were steaming hot and delicious!  They were so hot, that we couldn't even peel them without burning our fingers!  So, with the delicious smell of garlic butter filling the car, we drove to La'ie Point and ate our snack enjoying another beautiful view of the Pacific.

La'ie Point is made up entirely of sandstone and has several off shore islands.  The closest one tells an amazing story of mother nature's wrath.  This island is 432 feet off shore, but it seems a lot closer.  On April Fool's Day in 1946 a tsunami literally punched a hole right through the center of this island.  Amazing how much force must have been generated to have had that kind of effect.  The tsunami was devastating to the town of La'ie, but left an amazing piece of art off the coast.

Pictures from La'ie Point


After hanging out at La'ie Point, we got back in the car and headed back to Hale'iwa.  On the way back we took turns exploring the tide pools at Shark Cove while Ryan dozed in the car.

Ryan woke up just in time for shave ice at Aoki's in Hale'iwa.  We slurped down two heavenly shave ices with cream at the bottom between the four of us in no time flat.  We payed a little extra for the large yellow cone, and it was worth its weight in gold.  Those things were as messy as they were tasty!  We finished our drive back to Waikiki chasing rainbows and reflecting on the perfect day we shared as a family.

Whale Watching

Our second morning on the island we got to do something I have always wanted to do.  I know it sounds lame, but it has always been a dream of mine to go whale watching.  We decided to spend the morning on a catamaran, thinking it would be more intimate and relaxing than one of the bigger boats and we were so glad we did!  North Shore Catamaran is a wonderful company with a knowledgeable and friendly crew.  They also offer a fantastic military discount for our military friends.  We boarded in Hale'iwa and enjoyed a three hour cruise in the Pacific watching whales and taking in more of God's amazing creation.

Humpback whales are massive, and while we only saw ones breach from far away (and actually not even on this cruise, just a lookout point later that day) we did see a lot of whales during our visit, mostly on this cruise.  We were trianglated by them several times and with our zoom lens were able to get quite a few good shots.  By law you are not allowed to get less than 100 yards away from them, but every once in a while they would surface closer to us.  They are truly amazing creatures.  Check out the pictures in the slideshow below.

The kids loved the boat ride and we hung out in the hammock for much of the trip.  It was a great place to relax and take it all in.  Ryan was hilarious and was on a shark kick.  He didn't want the sharks to get him, so he would lay on my back, making sure that no part of his body would touch the net, and say, "Shark no eat my fingie!"  As he got more comfortable, he would put his finger through the net or his feet on the net and then pull them back up on me and say, "Shark no get me now!"  Oh how he made us laugh!  I love hearing his little voice and the way a 2 year old puts his own spin on the English language.  I love getting a little insight into that sweet little head of his.  We had a great ride, loving on our kids and having them love on us and just enjoying each other's company.  It was so nice to enjoy the gifts God has given us without the distractions of our daily lives getting in the way, all while appreciating the great beauty He created for us to enjoy.

East Oahu Afternoon

After we tore ourselves away from Portlock, we continued east to do a little driving tour of the island and found some fantastic lookout spots and some fun beaches to sink our feet into.

Our first stop was Lana'i Lookout, on Highway 72 about 3/4 of a mile past the entrance for Hanauma Bay. The funny thing about this lookout is that if you can see an island offshore, it is Moloka'i or even Maui, but not Lana'i.

Lana'i Lookout

Another 1/2 mile east is another narrow pullout. This is where you can see Halona Beach (where they filmed the 1950s movie From Here to Eternity) and the Halona Blowhole, where the ocean has undercut the lava and drilled a hole through to the top. Unfortunately, the surf wasn't high enough for us to see the blowhole erupting, but the view was incredible anyway.

Halona Beach

View of Sandy Beach from the lookout.

Our next stop was Sandy Beach, which is a pretty good stretch of, you guessed it, sandy beach. We told the kids they could get out and get their feet sandy and their toes wet. The water was chilly, but beautiful. Kaitlyn is our beach baby. She loves the water, no matter how cold it is or how big the waves are. She has always loved it, from the time we took her, just shy of a year old, to San Diego where the water was chilly and the waves were a bit bigger than the gulf. She loves to get in and wait for the next wave and then run as fast as she can away from them. Ah, the simple joys of being a child. And being around a child.

Soon to be sandy girl at Sandy Beach.

A testament to their very different personalities, Ryan does not like the ocean. When we took him to Myrtle Beach at 14 months and he was not happy. He clung to Mommy for dear life, refused to go near the water, and screamed when he put his toes in the sand. It takes him a long time to warm up and won't even think of going in if there are any waves. He loves the calm water of the pool and the Gulf beaches, but wants nothing to do with the surf.

Daddy's girls!

Ryan not happy that his girls are in the water.

The happy couple.

The next stop we made on our East Oahu drive was at the easternmost point of the island. From this scenic outlook you get a great view of Makapu'u Beach and two islands that are believed to have been formed by the last eruptions on the island. The shorter, and closer, island is Kaohi-ka-ipu and was made from a traditional lava flow when the ocean level was lower and that was all dry land. It looks dark and burnt because it is so young, relatively speaking. The larger island, Manana Island is a tuff cone and created by a steam explosion.

Makapu'u Beach as seen from the lookout point.

Manana and Kaohi-ka-ipu Islands

While at this lookout point we also saw whales!

After a snack and some whale watching, we went down to Makapu'u Beach and let the kids change into their suits and play in the water. We enjoyed the incredible scenery and got a few laughs at the expense of our son. Kaity was in hog heaven playing in the sand and surf (I won't even begin to tell you how long it took to get sand out of places I didn't think sand could get in!) and Ryan was beside himself with worry for his sister. Every time a wave would come up to meet her at the shore he would scream for her safety. We got his horror and her delight on the videos below.

Doesn't this look too pretty to be real?

Manana and Kaohi-ka-ipu Islands from Makapu'u Beach

Lighthouse from the Beach

Our Beach Baby

After playing at the beach, and cleaning up from the beach, we drove to the town of Kailua for some grub. We stopped by Pepper's Place, another hole in the wall rated excellent for its food. We chowed on some really great, really greasy sausage sandwiches. Think Philly cheesesteak, but with sausage, peppers, and onions and yummier than any cheesesteak we have EVER had. De-lish! We took an inland scenic route back south and, again, had we seen it in the movies, we would have thought it was too pretty to be real. Holy smokes! Talk about the most lush, greenest, and brightest drive. Everything was so vivid and beautiful! We took H-3 back to Honolulu and it dropped us at Costco (okay, so we had to take a few turns) where we got gas (the cheapest on the island if you ever need to fill up and have a membership) and some food for the rest of the week. We got back to the condo in just enough time to throw dinner together and watch the sunset from the balcony before packing lunches and bags for the next day and settling in for the night. It was an amazing first day in PARADISE!!!