Hawaii--Day 5

Today was all about the beaches!!!
Waimanalo Beach was absolutely beautiful.  The life guard warned us about jelly fish, but we braved it anyway, and luckily, not a one was spotted.  The waves were perfect for some boogie board action.

I love this picture because you can see Carson's legs through the clear water.

Yep, I went boogie boarding!!!

When we weren't in the water boogie boarding, we found other things to do.  

Some played in the waves...

Look at Kathy's hair!

 ...some lounged in the sun...

...Todd flew his drone...

...and Sophie got beat up by all of the waves!

As we were driving to lunch and out next beach, I spotted a BEAUTIFUL beach.  It was breath taking!  My first thought was that there should be a pull out so people could stop and look.  Well, you'll never guess what was right around the next bend in the road...yep...a pull out. We pulled in and my next thought was that it was too bad Amy and Todd were going to miss this.  Well, you'll never guess who the next car to pull over was...yep!!! 

Makapu'u  Point

This photo now has the honor of being my phone's home page.

Our next stop was Sandy Beach.  We knew that was a beach with big, rough waves, so we actually just stopped by to watch.  As we approached the beach, not one, but two life guards stopped us and asked us our intentions.  They looked very relieved when we told them we weren't there to swim.

  So beautiful and powerful.

During our search for lunch, we found this place.

Sophie was in 7th heaven.  A pizza place named after her!!  

After talking with their corporate office, she was able to get a worker's shirt.  She is one happy girl!

Our last adventure for the day was Hananuma Bay.

After a short hike down a pretty steep hill, we were ready to snorkel.  I can't get over how beautiful the water is, warm, clear, and a beautiful turquoise blue.

SIOTD
Keneke's--Chosen because it was on our way home and still open.
It's funny, because they had a sign that said real shave ice is a block of ice that is really shaved.  Anything else was a snow cone.  In my opinion, this was the worst of the week.  It was pretty much a snow cone!!

Hawaii--Day 4

  Happy National Donut Day!!!

Ted's Bakery was on our list of "must haves" for treats on the island.  Funny how we found it just in time for National Donut Day!

Today, Dole Pineapple Plantation was on our list of adventures.  

There is a great maze (not made out of pineapple plants!) to explore.  

We divided up into two teams, and off we went.  

Amy's team tried to cheat by having Owen take a picture of the maze!  Umm, it really didn't help!

At one point we saw the other team sneak across to the other side.

There were 5 or 6 signs we had to find.

And the winners!!  Totally cheated!!!
"We didn't know you weren't supposed
to use the map!"  Yeah, right!

That's OK.  We all won the prize!!!  A delicious DOLE WHIP...

...and some time to explore.

Our other stop for the day was the always poignant, Pearl Harbor.

SIOTD

Dole whip...need I say anything more?!

Hawaii--Day 3

The hike to Waimea Falls was very easy and on a paved road that wandered between wonderful banyan and monkey pod trees and under a blue, blue sky.

The boys played the concentration game all the way there.

Once there, we donned life jackets (required), had a brief lecture from the life guards (also required), and then were allowed to get in the cool water.  I'd had never swam under a water fall before, really cool.

 For lunch, we went to Seven Brothers, a must when on North Shore.  It was so fun, because we were helped by the youngest of the seven brothers!  And there is a really cool picture of all the brothers as little kids hanging on the wall.  Not to mention the burgers were delicious!

Our SIOTD was at the same spot, Wii Will's.  It was OK.  Uncle Clay's was better.  But after a hot hike, it was just what we needed.

 After getting fortified, we were ready for some snorkeling at Shark Cove.  It was pretty rocky and hard for me to get down to, so no camera and not many pictures.  But the kids, meaning the two Todd's and Kathy too, had a great time going way out to see what they could see.  The kids that didn't want to snorkel played in the tide pools, but there wasn't much to look at.  On the way back in, the big kids spotted some sea turtles hiding in the rocks.

SIOTD

Wii Will's located right next to Seven Brothers.  It was OK.  Uncle Clay's was better.  But after a hot hike, it was just what we needed.