Hawaii

These are all out of order...but I don't have the time or patience to figure out how to get them all correct... so bare with me...

Our first day in Honolulu was greated with a Tsunami warning siren blaring at 6am. We didn't pay too much attention to it till a worried mom called to inform us. Once we figured out what was going on, we realized that our plans for going to Pearl Harbor weren't the wisest. So we headed to the airport to get an earlier flight to Maui. We arrived about 9:45 and were signing the rental car paperwork. They said.."hurry, sign and go...come back later if you have questions..."

As we drove out and headed Up Country, the police were blocking off the lower roads.

We went up about 7 miles and stopped to wait and watch. We listened to a local radio station as reports of reefs being seen and such, but we were too high to see much of anything. There was maybe a 3 ft surge. The only thing we saw was some muddy water out in front of Kahalui harbor.

Since everyone else was headed back down after the warning was called off, we headed further up, to Haleakala crater.. that road aged me about 10 years! It is narrow and steep and curvy... we'd go around a corner and all you could see was clouds and water way down below! It was definately an experience...

Sunday we thoroughly enjoyed Maui Special meeting. Was wonderful to focus on the speakers and not worry about the kids! We had supper at The Melting Pot, a super fondue resturant. If you do the whole meal, it takes 2 hrs.. but was absolutly yummy.. I've ordered a fondue pot and cook book already!

Monday we drove out to a small town called Hana.. It is all about the journey and not the destination. The road is 40 some miles with over 500 curves and 5o some one lane bridges. It was one of our favorite things to do. Took 3 hrs to get out there... many neat waterfalls and beaches and such along the way. We had lunch in Hana... and drove on the the "seven sacred pools" they were dry... a let down... but the drive back was great fun. Danny was having the time of his life driving like a local!

Tuesday we ...what did we do?!? I forgot... Oh, we went up to Lahina and did some shopping. A neat town, but the stores are all the same tourist stuff... So we went to a beach to watch the surfers. We attended the Westin Polinesean Luau... It was really neat. Great food and fun show. Got a little chilly after the sun set with the wind blowing. It was blowing so much the fire dancers had a hard time keeping their fires lit!

Wednesday we went to the Maui Ocean Center. I wasn't super impressed, but Danny could have spent a lot longer there. They had everything you'd see out snorkleing... I guess I was hoping for something more like the Sea Life park. It was neat.. and probably had the best shop of all.. a bit of everything from all over the island. Then we drove up to Iao Valley. Neat to see, but needs more information. After we were there we found out more. It was a place that the natives retreated to during battles. It was said that after one of the last battles that the rivers ran red with the blood of the slain. I would like to know more of the history of it.

Then we found some Kiteborders out by the airport. The wind was howling, and they were loving it! Had a great time watching and trying to take pictures.. .but my lense kept getting salt spray and sand on it, so those picts are a bit grainy... Oh well.

We ate at a neat italian resturant that night... Antonio's. YUMMY!

Thursday we had our helitour. Flying in a helicopter was great and it was neat to see the island from the air...but I think the tour would have been better if weather would have been better. It was windy and rainy on the rainforest side of the island (imagine that! ) So didn't get too close to waterfalls. And Haleakala was clouded in so we didn't go in the crater. We went Up country again, just to Makowa, a cowboy town. Had some great mexican food there. Then we went swimming at the beach... I am not much to just sit at the beach..but we had to do it at least once! It was neat to dive under a couple feet and hear the whales singing! We sat on the beach till the sun set.. beautiful! Then had supper at Buzz'z Warf.. expensive but YUMMY. ( can you tell I don't cook on my vacations? I think we cooked 4 meals total! )

Friday morning we went on the Pride of Maui snorkle tour. We ended up doing more snuba diving than snorkling. After I got over my inherit desire to hold my breath under water, the snuba was awsome! You are attached to a hose 15-20 ft long with a tank on the surface. So you get way down near the fish and turtles. That was our other favorite thing... besides driving the road to Hana. That evening we had Ikeman's from Fairbanks and Sue and Rodger from So Cal for supper. Then up early Sat for our flights home. We didn't have any delays and all went smoothly. It was wonderful to see the kids again. But not so wonderful to see the snow. OH well! One of the nicest things, was Monday evening, after a day of work , Danny said "I missed you!" I think the only time we were apart was when I went in the fabric store and he went into Radio Shack! I recommend the couple time! It was wonderful. I don't think I will feel so guilty the next time.. and there will be a next time, though not as long and probably not to Hawaii...we'll be paying this off for a bit, even after saving for it. We splurged the whole time and I am glad. We got to do what we wanted when we wanted! And now back to hectic schedules.

I started potty training Aubrey today. Don't know how far we got... she kept coming to me when she would wet instead of heading to the bathroom the way Carson did. Oh well, we continue on!

And now for the pictures..

I made these outfits before xmas... matching skirts for Aubrey and me and a matching shirt for Carson...

These are for a spring swap that I joined.. They are headed to England tomorrow.

I made a rainbow cake... I am loving rainbow colors as all our color is gone this time of year. I let the kids do the top...

The boabab trees are NEAT. There is one in Lahina that is huge. It is amazing!

A seahorse at the Ocean Center..

People lined the roads wating for the Tsunami to hit...

My wonderful smelling lei at the Luau.. They advertise a flower lei on their web site... but give you a shell one and then have flower ones to buy... but when I smelled it, I decided it was worth the $7!

This is for Uncle Twinkie... we flew this 717 from Honolulu to Kahalui... didn't know they made such a thing... =-)

Waiting for the Tsunami to hit... can see a bit of muddy water in front of the harbor... right in the center...

Flying the Black Beauties...

Beautiful coastline..

A kitesurfer catchin some air..

Green sea turtle...

Another Kitesurfer...

Back side of Molokini... the snorkling crater..

And another Kitesurfer...

Heading into Molokini to snorkle and snuba..

Waves...

And another kitesurfer...

On the road to Hana... a rock used in the movie Jarassic Park...

Another kitesurfer...

And another..

Sittin' on the beach waiting for our Luau..

Shadows on the sand...

On the road to Hana

More of the road to Hana...

And more of the road to Hana... see the narrow curvey road?!?

Pull out on the road to Hana...

Another pullout..

At the beginning of the road to Hana... I loved these trees. It looks like some kids took bright orange and green paint and decorated the trees...

Foot print in the sand...

More of the colorful trees..

Beach plant of some sort..

I think Hawaii is the rainbow state.. If so I can see why.. Lots of rain showers in the sunshine... or as one gal put it... sunshowers...

Here is a rainbow from the Helicopter... almost can see the entire circle...

More waves... Love the blue water..

Watching the kitesurfers..

Waterfall at Iao Valley...

More waves.. I think this was on a pullout on the road to Hana...

The town of Hana from the helicopter...

Waterfalls from the helicopter..

More wave action...

Neat leaves on the plants on the road to Hana...

In Iao Valley..

Coast line from the helicopter...

On the road to Hana...

Back side of Haleakala...past Hana.. Didn't drive this far, but neat to see from the helicopter..

On top of Haleakala... Way above the clouds! Just over 10,000 ft.

At the top of Haleakala looking into the crater...

The top of Haleakala from the helicopter.. they call this Science City with several observitories...

On the drive up Haleakala...

Looking up at Haleakala.... Hard to see the road but it is switchback all the way up!

At Kula Farms road side stand.. found purple carrots here.. but when you skin them they are orange underneath. =-( There were several of these cacti.. neat!) Looking down at Kehei, where we stayed.. The desert side of the island...

Another rainbow around Lahina..

West Maui moutains from the heli...where the really rich people go...

On the road to Hana... a botanical garden called...the Garden of Eden.

Another of that rock from Jarassic Park..

I think this is West Maui mountains too.. From the heli...

Waves crashing on Jurassic Park rock..

Taking off from the airport and looking up towards Kahalui... The beaches below are where we watched the kitesurfers..

Look at me! I am in a helicopter! =-)

The end! Thanks for staying for the whole program! =-) Maui was neat... I'd go back. It has it all, from family oriented to couple oriented to those that hide out from it all. Next time though, I'd like to take the kids.. and when they are older and would enjoy snuba and such!