sweet home

Day 5

This was my favorite beach day. We found this beautiful beach with the help of the condo guy. (I forgot his name.) The sand was soft and pretty, and there was lots of it. The water was gorgeous. The waves weren't too big or rough, and it was shallow far enough out that the kids could play in the water. Poor Cate wasn't feeling great that morning. We discovered early in our trip (flight out there) that she had an ear infection. She and Abs got on antibiotics this day and perked up soon after.

A and B caught tons of waves. Tons.

The three babies. Abs is the smallest and the oldest. And the bossiest.

For lunch? I'll just have some sand please.

Chaliese and her girls:

The three siblings riding a wave together. Actually, Clint didn't catch this one, but I like this picture.

When everyone (except me because I can never get enough beach time) had had enough we headed back to the condos for lunch and a break. Then we went to this state park that was once a place of refuge. Back in the time of the kings there were lots and lots of rules. If you were caught breaking a rule, like eating with a member of the opposite sex, you would be chased by the warriors and if they caught you they would kill you. If you could get away to one of these places of refuge you would be safe. You would spend a couple of days there, be absolved but a priest, and then be back on your merry way.

We also stopped by this little church, "The Painted Church". It was really neat.

Day 4

We stared off the day at Magic Sands beach to boogie board and body surf but quickly decided the surf was too rough for the kids and the beach was too crowded for us anyway.

So we headed back to our little cove. This time we had company! Not at the beach, luckily, but just in our view.

I was feeling bad, like we were wasting a day, but the kids were thrilled to be back. They made up a game where A and B hooked the boogie board leach up to their leg and pulled the little kids around. It was a win-win.

Brooks picked up a sea cucumber and a hermit crab. This is the hermit crab. The sea cucumber just looked like a giant poop.

Of course we tried out another shave ice place. Lewis has to try each kind.

That afternoon Tiana, Chaliese and I got to spend some kid free time shopping and exploring. A crazy guy sold us the hugest avocado I have ever seen and we also ended up at Target and Costco. Leave it to me to go all the way to Hawaii and still make a couple of trips to those stores anyway!

Day 3

Day 3 was a big, long day. We started out with cousin pictures in the matching outfits Grandma Dee got the kids. They are all so adorable.

Then we made our way around the island to Volcano National Park. The drive was gorgeous. The landscape is so unique because there are parts where it is completely desolate and lava rock and then it will be totally lush right next to that.

Tiana and Jason rented a Jeep and my kids kept calling it "Sir Axelrod".

We made a stop at the black sand beach. It was amazing. I have a slight obsession with sand.

We saw a turtle here too and even got a picture of just Lewis and me!

Here the kids are sitting on the edge of the caldera looking in. Unfortunately the closest hot, flowing lava was a 6 mile hike across lava rock and that just wasn't happening. We did watch a movie and saw lots that way though!

This is hiking into the lava tube. Apparently when the lava is flowing it forms it's own tubes to flow through. Then when all of it is gone the tube remains.

We decided to hike down into this volcano. Cate was wasted and Abs was asleep so we decided to head back up while the rest of the group walked across to the steam vent.