Aloha Hawaii

The kids were very excited for their first plane ride they could remember. And boy did they get a big ride, 7 hours in fact. They did really good on the plane, although they like to squeal when the plane would "tickle their tummies" with its dips. But we finally made it, Aloha Hawaii!!!

Here is our family posing on Waikiki Beach. Don't we look tan?

It was first thing in the morning, sorry about the squinty eyes.

Although you'll notice we did lots of fun things in Hawaii, our favorite part was the beaches, and just hanging out together as a family. Whether, walking along Sunset Beach with its big waves, hiking old coral reefs, getting buried in the sand, boogie boarding, watching fish and crabs, snorkeling, or just sun bathing there is nothing like a Hawaiian Beach!

My Grandma, Aunt Sandy and Uncle Bill joined us in Hawaii on Monday night. But while we were waiting for them we hiked Diamond Head. Notice Hayley is always out front, she ran up and down the mountain while I was constantly yelling for her to wait for me. Boy am I out of shape, but what a view, so worth it.

While we were waiting for my parents to arrive we discovered these most unusual trees. They have Tarzan vines growing down from their limbs, which you can swing on, but when they touch the ground, they grow roots and spread out. Someone said they are called walking trees, because they are constantly "walking" toward the water, but I don't know.

My parents came on Tuesday to meet us and we went and visited the Dole Pineapple farm. Here is a picture of a pineapple plant, did you know they grew like this. While we were there we went in the largest maze made. I was shaped like a pineapple (if seen from above) and had little stations you had to find in it. We broke into boys verses girls, and I am proud to say Hayley and I found all of them in just under an hour. Although, my dad, Geoff and Alex weren't to far behind us in just over and hour.

David, my camera isn't as nice as yours, but I just could resist

taking a picture of this beautiful flower, so this is for you.

You can't go to Hawaii without a trip to Pearl Harbor, so on Wednesday we went and took a boat ride out to the Arizona Memorial, and then toured the Missouri, a retired battleship where they signed the peace treaty with Japan. Wow those ships are huge!

Thursday we went to BYU Hawaii, the Laie Hawii Temple, (where they give you a flower to put in your hair when you come to visit) and the Polynesian Cultural Center. Unfortunately, this is the only day it rained so we were a bit wet for most the afternoon.

On Friday while my mom, grandma, aunt and uncle went back to the Polynesian center, my dad Geoff, Alex, Hayley and I went to Haunama Bay to go snorkeling. I forgot my camera, so I had to find these off the Internet, but yes it is that blue, and yes the fish come that close, and yes it was our funnest day there. A little tip though, make sure to put extra sunscreen on your back, as you will be floating for hours back up. Hayley would stand still and the fish would swim right up around her so she could see schools of them. Alex got the hang of it and ventured pretty far out, seeing fish as big as his arms stretched out and around. Geoff, my dad and I would take turns going out together to explore the coral reef. Even Geoff thought this was pretty amazing. And on one trip my dad and I even saw a sea turtle!

We stayed at the ResortQuest Waikiki Beach Hotel. Here is a veiw from our room, a picture of our room, and a look at the hotel itself.

Out in front of our hotel, a wall was built up so that the waves could break on it and it was a nice smooth bay inside for little kids to play in. Mostly the kids perfered the open water, but the last day they wanted to try the ocean with no waves. Alex found it perfect for water football, and Hayley thought it fun to try and catch the little fish swimming around in there.

Geoff let Alex have his old cell phone during the trip and Alex loved taking pictures all over Hawaii. Here he his taking one last photo from our hotel balcany before we had to leave.

Last picture of Hawaii before we got on the airplane

to come home...Aloha Hawaii!!!