Two Tickets to Paradise!!!

I know we've been back for a while, but life and laundry didn't pause to let me post about our 10 days in heaven. Now that weddings, reunions, girls camp, and some of the laundry is done, here are the highlights from our trip to Hawaii!! This is a view from the plane of the first island we went to (if you don't count our half hour layover on Oahu): Kauai!

This is our first morning and our first rainbow, also the "ocean view"
from our condo deck. If you squint and look really far you can see it above the foliage to the right. We were actually in Princeville on the north shore, right next to some cliffs that dropped down to the ocean. There was an awesome (and steep) trail right out our backdoor leading to the ocean, a secluded small beach and cave. Too bad we found it on the last morning here, just after we'd packed to go to Oahu. Oh well, we saw many other amazing sights! The first was a short but beautiful, as well as muddy and steep, hike to a place called Queens bath.


There was a small waterfall to the side of the trail and lots of volcanic rocks and boulders with tidepools and many creatures, especially small dark crabs, scurrying around the rocks. We were right on the edge of the ocean, got splashed on, watched a few others snorkel, and decided to go find us a sandy beach to be our first ocean dip.

So we went to Tunnels beach, infamous for it's snorkeling, and experienced the ocean's coral reef and it's inhabitants up close and personal! It was a little unnerving at first, okay, I was scared finnless, the fish would swim inches from you face! But after a while you realized they couldn't care less if you were there, and I was able to relax and really enjoy myself!!! Then Nate got after me for getting too into it and wandering too far away, but I couldn't help myself, it was like being the plastic diver inside the dentist fish tank, but better! And sitting on the beach felt like sitting in a postcard!

The next morning we went for a breathtaking and beautiful hike at the beginning of the Napali coast, about 2 miles, to a semi-secluded beach. The hike had the best views, was through amazing jungle foliage and smelt like maple syrup, don't ask me why, it just did. When we were approaching the beach there were signs warning of killer waves and it numbered 80+ deaths on this beach. Nevertheless, we went on and found a picturesque beach with moderate waves that Nate and Chris found perfect for bodysurfing, and Brittany and I got quite a few laughs! (Chris is Nate's younger brother and Brittany is his wife.)

Wow what scary waves! Our hike back, we were dripping sweat and sick of Nate taking pictures!


After the hike we drove up the coast to the National bird refuge and lighthouse, really pretty! Later that day we found a very steep path to a beautiful, nearly secluded beach Right in Princeville. It had lots of small sand crabs. Then we tried to go to bed early because we had an early morning the next day, but it was like Christmas Eve, the night before our trike flight and ATV rides! We finally managed to get some sleep, despite the anticipation and sunburns...

Chris trying to catch a crab, and Nate trying not to fall off the trail!

Bright and early the next morning we arrived at Birds of Paradise and signed our life away for a 30 minute view of the south end of the island, the way the seagulls see it! Here's our attractive, prison-like jumpsuits, and our trikes! It was a blast, though I got a little queezy!
Then we drove through the nearby CANYON. Also known as the Grand Canyon of the pacific, or something like that. It really was a lot like Zions, only green.

Then we got to our hands-down ,favorite activity of the whole trip, the ATV's!!!! The money spent was well worth the tour, driving your own ATV's through the barely seen land on a private, once royal, ranch. We drove through wild plants and animals while learning a lot about the culture and heritage of the ancient people that lived there. It was so fascinating! And so much fun for a first time ATV-er, they took us on some pretty bumpy trails, and when they weren't bad they let us go pretty fast, Nate couldn't keep up with me!
We got to stop and pose at some famous scenery in movies that had been filmed there: the backdrop to Jurassic Park scenes and the rope swing from Indiana Jones! After it was all over we compared our dirt lines! Too bad Nates best tanline was about to wash away!

The next day we went to a beach and tried our hand at some more boogie boarding, and Chris obtained the worst injury of the trip! Then later that night we decided to take dinner to the beach in time to finally watch our first sunset from the beach! It was breathtaking, and quite romantic!



When we got back we had an exotic fruit tasting party with some fruit we had bought at a street market earlier that day, it was very... interesting! Quite educational, we liked pineapple best!
The next day was Sunday and after church Nate and I took a drive around the island waterfall hunting. We found a few pretty ones and had fun posing with them:



The next morning was when Nate and I found the coolest cove by the beach right below our condo, with tidepools and views!! Of course the day we're leaving the Island! Good excuse to have to come back someday!



So we left Kauai and went back to Oahu, going first to Pearl Harbor while we were on the south end of the island by the airport, before we drove to our place up north at Turtle Bay. The tickets to go out and see the Arizona were already sold out, so we went to the "Mighty Mo". It was the ship with the big guns and also where the treaty was actually signed. It was very cool!





The next day was Tuesday, Brittany's big day at the temple, and Nate's small day, since he forgot his recommend had expired 10 days before. So the rest of us had a neat experience in the Hawaii temple, and Nate got some good pictures outside.




The next day we got in a little trip to the beach at Turtle Bay before we left for another fun filled day! First, Geovanni's Shrimp Truck, for a famous shrimp plate lunch, messy but delicious! Then the rest of the day at the Polynesian Cultural Center!!!





The PCC was awesome!!! It was neat to learn about all the different cultures among the different islands, play games, and get temporary tribal tatoos. We got fresh flower lei's entering the banquet dinner, and Nate and I got to dance on stage with (with alot of others) for celebrating an anniversary (6th). Then we had a fabulous buffet with some authentic island food, and then the high point of the night, the big show at the end of the night showcasing all the islands, and the FIRE DANCERS!!! It was definately a great finally to our trip!


All the different islands came through dancing on boats: Hawaii, Tahiti, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga and Fiji.





The last day in Hawaii :( We had some time to kill before our late flight out so we first went to an amazing Buddhist temple. It's entirely built without nails, and home to the fattest and most aggressive coy in their pond. That first part's a fact, the fish part is just my opinion. We also got to ring the gong, that was cool!



Then we wandered through Chinatown. Saw some rats running through crates of seafood, ate some really good Thia food, and did a little shopping. Then we hit a beach to play in the Hawaii sand one last time, and say Aloha and goodbye, before flying back home!