HAWAII 2010

Hawaii, HERE WE COME!!!

We were very lucky that our good friends, Jeff and Josee, invited us along on their Hawaii trip. Thanks for the invite!! We had a blast. And I must say it's always funner traveling with a group of people, the more the merrier!!! Thanks guys!!

DAY ONE

... Stef, Josee, and Jeff at the SLC Airport ...

... Colt and Stef waiting to board the plane ...

... flying from LA to Honolulu, biggest plane we've been on ...

~ OAHU ~

After we hit the swap meet (don't ask) we stopped at my favorite little town Hale'iwa at Motsomoto - our favorite shave ice shop!! We were here a lot last time, we had to make it our priority this time! And if you're a LOST fan like Colt and myself, this was a regular stop for 'Jin' and 'Hurley', we saw their pictures all over inside. Adam Sandler is a common visitor, too.

~ Sunset Beach, North Shore, Oahu ~

We stayed in a rental right across from this part of Sunset Beach. We were very spoiled to have easy access to this beautiful beach. The sand is so soft and comfy, I loved it!

"Don't step on that turtle," I said. Everyone else thought it was just another rock. I would have loved to see it move.

This has been Colts favorite beach since we were here four years ago, he spent a lot of time (and early mornings) walking this beach back then. I think he's happy to finally be back.

... Colt "riding the waves" ...

... Josee and I were so glad they had each other ...

For the life of me, the sun would just not go down.

Jeff  and Colt digging for crabs. They both know how I feel about crabs. In case you don't know, they scare me. They run sideways. Who does that?!? A crab, that's who. Creepy.

The crab. Ew.

The pathway we took to walk home. Such a pretty place, isn't it?

DAY TWO

We started the day with breakfast at Ted's Bakery. We were headed to Waimea Valley but they didn't open until 9:00. To kill some time we stopped at the Sunset Beach Elementary School, something was going on so we stopped to check it out. They were celebrating May Day and had this huge program planned. Nothing like you would see where we live!

The classes waiting to start. The parents sat on the hill that is to the left.

Cute 2nd graders walking with their chairs.

... Jack Johnson ...

This was an "Only in Hawaii" moment for me. Her mom handed her a pack of seaweed to snack on as if it was a package of goldfish crackers. Amazing!

Waimea Valley

 Look at the size of that tree!! It was very beautiful up there. We didn't see this place last time.

Waimea Beach and the Rock

That is Colt and Jeff on top, the really white boys.

Colt hitting the water while Jeff (on rock) watches.

They jumped again...

... and again ...

... and again ...

... while Josee and I were being beach babes, enjoying the view and soaking in the sun ... 

... and then I finally joined them. Because we had baby Marley with us last time I barely got in the water. Who am I kidding? I didn't get into the water. (I got my feet wet, though!) I didn't even need to wear my swimming suit last time. I promised to have no regrets this trip. (Which there is just one, I'll share in a little bit.) I promised Colt I would swim with him and do as much as I could since we didn't have the kids. It was my turn to be the kid and I was going to take advantage!!  

I forgot how strong these waves were.

The tide pulling me back out, luckily Colt had a good hold of me. And then I did it! I told Colt I would jump off the rock but I'm not sure what I was thinking. It was probably "You don't have to worry about the kids, it's just you and Colt you're worried about, have fun!, just do it!!" Something along those lines, I'm sure ...

So I followed Colt up this rock. "Just follow the trail of sand" he says. Well it wasn't easy. It was more scary climbing the rock then it was jumping from it.

This whole time I'm thinking that the only way down is to jump, because I sure as heck am not climbing back down! 

Colt and I are the two "blobs" on the far left. There was this Asian girl who would not jump. You can barely see her, she's a white speck just down a level from the top. She was up there for probably two hours, maybe longer. Who knows? We left before she jumped. Anyway, I walked down to meet her and she quickly backed up and told me to go. I looked down and thought "oh my". I was then worried that if I slipped on the water that was on the rock that I would hit my head and the out come would be much worse then if I just jumped. So then I quit thinking about it and just jumped!

There's my splash!

Colt saying he was SOOO proud of me. It was fun, I would've done it again! (We left just after this.)

Our rental. This was taken after we snorkeled at Sharks Cove. I wish we would've gotten some snorkeling pictures on our normal cameras. We had Josee's underwater camera, I can't wait to see if they turned out!

We went on a hike up to the ancient Hawaiian Temple. We found a path and this was the view at the end.

Waimea Beach, that is our rock clear out there.

... Hale'iwa Bay ...

We were out all day, can you tell? Sunscreen, anyone?

DAY THREE

Started at Ted's again.

Talking with Tracy, making sure my babies were dong well. Thanks to my family for taking care of them for us!! It was nice not to have to worry about them while we were gone, thanks a ton!!

'Locke' from LOST had his picture taken with a Ted's worker right in this very spot, we saw it in the bakery.

Yummy breakfast sandwiches and the best glazed malasadas. Oh my, yum!!

Our rock, again. If you look closely you can see the trail of sand going up the left side of the rock.

(double click the picture)

... Waimea Beach ...

We drove to Waikiki Beach and spent a little time. I think our bare backs and shoulders needed a break from the sun this day.

Outside of an ABC Store this guy had his birds. Obviously a tourist attraction. Check out the bird eating my hair, and the green one laying down in my hand. Good birdies. 

Duke Kahanamoku--The Father of Surfing

Headed back home to the North Shore.

On our way home we stopped by the DOLE Plantation. I tried my first real bites of a fresh pineapple here. Yay me! I wish I would've had pictures of the different things I tried. I also tried papaya, mahi mahi, taro fries, honey dew, Portuguese sausage, and a chicken sandwich from a truck (at the swap meet).

In our living room.

The view at the foot of our driveway.

At the visitors center in La'ie. It was so beautiful there, of course it was.

... Laie' Temple ...

That night we stopped by our friends, Craig and Kathy's, house for a visit while Jeff and Josee were at the PCC. Before we headed out a coconut fell from their tree. They let us take it but for the life of the boys they couldn't get it open!

... One ... two ... three ...

... PULL!! ...

Did we get it? Nope. They tried everything short of a power tool. Craig, please don't laugh too hard at them! They're from Utah, what can I say?

KAUA'I

DAY FOUR

Outside of our resort. We stayed at the Kaua'i Beach Resort, it was so beautiful!!! We played in the pool and did the hot tub every night we were there. I do believe that blessed hot tub helped all of our sunburns.

Boys ...

Po'ipu

... the Spouting Horn ...

Waimea Canyon State Park

This was an incredible canyon, very overwhelming.

... Little Duke ...

Outside of Dukes, great food!!

DAY FIVE

We had to drive a ways on Kaua'i to get to these beaches but they were very beautiful. We started out at Ke'e Beach and snorkeled for a little bit. There were some interesting people at this spot. Then we went to Makua "Tunnels" Beach, my favorite on Kaua'i.

Colt behind roots of trees that came down from the cliffs across from Tunnels Beach. Crazy trees in Hawaii.

Me and Josee in the tunnel.

My favorite spot!! Colt and I spent over and hour in this part of the beach. We were playing hard! The waves were so strong that they pushed and pulled us up the beach. The sand on this part wasn't soft, not like on Oahu and other parts of this beach. My knees were so scratched and banged up from being dragged up the shore but it was so fun. Sounds weird, I know, but it was a blast. We were laughing, yelling and met some fun people. I wish we would've gotten some pictures of me being thrown about, but oh well. Maybe next time!

I could've stayed at this beach all day with a little picnic basket. It was so much fun!!

And then behind us - where the beach curves out - was another snorkeling place. This one was more interesting because there was no "rock wall" to protect us from the waves. Snorkeling in the waves was a little interesting. I was so tired from playing the hour prior to snorkeling that I hardly had enough energy to stay in the water. It was such a fun beach, I absolutely loved it!

A shot going out in the other direction. I called this water "Popsicle Blue". Gorgeous!!

... Taro fields ...

Believe it or not there are huge mountains behind those clouds.

... Wailua Falls ...

Colt and his hat. So sexy!

More falls.

Roosters and chickens everywhere!!

Day Six

... Kalapaki Beach Hut ...

Eating taro fries (yes, that I tried) for breakfast.

I know this is a weird picture, but it's the only picture either of us had of our pretty blue rental car!

... Kipu Falls ...

Before we left the boys looked online and found this place where there's a water fall, rope swing, and swimming hole. This was a must for them.

Josee and I were left behind to follow the path to the swimming hole. The boys were hiding up ahead waiting to scare us. They jumped out and we screamed. Josee has it on "film", it's funny after the fact. But during... Not cool guys, not cool.

The rope off to the left, the ladder to the right, and the falls just in front of the ladder.

Me and Josee waiting for the guys to go on the rope swing.

... Colt ... 

Colt climbing the ladder, that blasted ladder.

And here is where my one - and only - regret comes in. I don't not wish that I had attempted the rope swing. Rope swings and myself do not get along, and I'm totally fine with that. However, because of that dumb ladder I did not jump off of the falls. After the fact I thought to myself "You could handle the rock on Oahu and not this?!?! Are you kidding?"

The falls weren't the issues, it was that ladder I would've had to climb back up. I'm not a fan of heights or ladders. But I was assured the ladder was bolted into the rocks. Ok, I believe you. So here is my one regret - not facing the Kipu Ladder.

Next time, my friends, next time.

Again, boys...

Enjoying the sun on top of the falls, oh the wonderful Hawaii sun.

Standing on top of the falls, where did all of these people come from?

I don't even know??

The road to Po'ipu.

The best ice cream I've ever had!! White chocolate, raspberry sorbet, with chocolate brownies. Oh my YUM!!

Why is my portion so small, you ask? Because I also got the best chocolate chip cookie ever!

Outside of the ice cream shop.

Po'ipu Beach

One last time snorkeling, Jeff on the left and Colt on the right.  

Getting as much sun as we can on our last day. We all started out white and came home a nice golden tan. I can't speak for everyone else but this Utah weather has not been helping me maintain my Hawaii glow. Go away rain, I need some more sun!!

Before we headed for the airport we ate just one last time at Dukes. Afterwards we walked down the beach and... well... maybe we had too much sun or we were just really tired. I don't know, but fun happened!

He can be so sweet, and then ...

BAM!!

He jabbs his fingers in my ribs and makes my face do that. So sweet.

Again, we had a blast! We are very lucky to have such good friends willing to spend that time with us. We are huge fans of Hawaii. It is the most wonderful place in the world!!