Hawaii

 We have dreamed of going to Hawaii for a few years now and our friends finally helped make it happen. They found us great flight prices and drove with us to Portland (where we flew out of).  Since they had lived in Laie for two years we let them plan all of our activities. It was nice and stress free for us! Here we are at Laie Point looking out at the ocean.

 The Polynesian Culture Center was awesome! Here we are at and after the Luau

Rob & Jana-the friends-with us after the Luau.

Theron's favorite activity was snorkeling and the ocean in general.

We boogie-boarded at Hukilau Beach 3 times

At Turtle Beach the turtles just come up on the sand to bask in the sun. One day we stopped and saw at least five.

Of course we had to see the memorial at Pearl Harbor. One thing I learned (in Fast & Testimony mtg, actually) was that Pearl Harbor was not the only place on the island that was attacked. Also, I didn't realize that the boat that the memorial is built over sticks out of the water in places.

We did at least 3 hikes: Diamond Head crater,  Makapuu Lighthouse, and one I can't remember the name of. This view is from Diamond Head.

The Laie Temple. We stayed in a BYU Hawaii professor's home that was only a block from the temple.

At temple beach. If you stand at the doors of the temple and look out, you can see the ocean and this beach.

On the 4th of July we got up early to swim with sharks.

This is the third hike we did. We actually contacted an old neighbor who now teaches there and he only lived a block from where we were staying. He offered to take us on this hike. At the end of it there is a stream and a place you can jump into the freshwater.  Ed made sure to rub it in that he gets to do stuff like this everyday. Thanks Kinghorns!

Hukilau again

We used my dad's Marriott rewards to stay at a swank hotel in Waikiki called The Edition. It just opened last fall and it is immaculate. Too bad it was only one night.

We rented kayaks and went out to an island called Mokulua. There was a high surf advisory and a storm coming in, but we braved the waves anyway. It was quite a workout. The best park was coming back in the waves mostly carried us.

I never imagined pineapples grew like this! I was in awe at the Dole Pineapple Plantation.

We did an uncertified scuba dive at Shark's Cove.

 

If you look closely you can see Theron jumping off this rock at Waimea Beach Park

I'll leave you with this one-Theron enjoying his garlic shrimp from Giovanni's shrimp truck. 

He loved it.

We had so much fun and were so lucky to have such great friends as guides. Someday we'll go back and take the kids. Thanks to our families for taking them for two weeks. It was a much needed appreciated.