2011 ALOHA

Aloha! Each time I visit the islands of Hawaii I am amazed that there are atheists. When I experience the creations of God with my eyes and heart from flowers to huge volcanic land masses to sweet 8 year olds to rainbows and waves to dolphins dancing- I just don’t believe in atheists- I just don’t believe they exist.

We are spoiled to have friends on Oahu who have showed us for years now that there is way more to Oahu then Waikiki. Sure years ago we had done the Waikiki experience and it is a fun busy city beach but just not our thing. So the next time we went to Kauai we stopped first in Oahu to see if they were for real. They were. The Capinpins showed us main-landers island spirit. We have been excited for a repeat visit ever since. Part of what we love is seeing what real island life is like. We eat where the locals do and run errands like locals and we love it. Yes we also play tourist with them. They are the best we just love catching up and laughing and soaking up Sami- she is a little sunshine.

After we crashed there pad we forced them to come stay with us in Ko’Olina at the Marriott Beach Club. The black Pearl was dry docked as Disney will be opening its mega resort within weeks. I avoid it at all costs as I would think I need to buy Disney timeshare when I don’t so I did find myself drift that way all week I stayed strong and did not buy. But the Black Pearl was super cool. I talked Scott into driving into a restricted area so I could get a closer look. No Jack Sparrow. But Scott hung out at the marina with the cast and crew of the new series of Hawaii 5-0. We have not seen an old episode nor a new one but we hear it is good. Scott lives to deep sea fish and loves making friends with all the fishermen who happen to be attorneys. Why is it all Scotty friends are attorneys?

Scotts amazing mom and dad and niece came and met up with us. Seriously Scotts mom is an angle she is perfect. Kind, smart, funny, beautiful, warm, compassionate, she spends so much of her tie serving others be it Sir Optimist fighting human trafficking or friends who need help with tax questions to anti aging. I really look up to her and my hubby has the biggest respect for this woman. If you like Scott you can thank his mom who takes after. There is some of his dad too. His love for the outdoors and his constant joking and teasing we can thank Neal for. Thanks Neal.

Our niece we don’t get to see very often so it was sweet to get to know her as an 8 year old. I was really worried that she would be bored and I know grandpa would have a fit and make her start chopping wood like he did if Scott ever complained about being bored so I made up a special Kira activity for each day. I asked Scott for 50 bucks and went to the craft store. We did a stain glass fish, jewelry, sea creatures, coloring, fortune telling, journals, postcards- thanks to my bff Hilary for thinking up that idea! Kira is very talented with creating pipe cleaner animals they were whimsical and delightful and Sami went to town with a Cars and Chipmunks comprehension book. They were both kind to talk to grandma Marianne and make her some treasure from Hawaii.

We were so thrilled to have Sami come linger longer for a few days past mom and dads visit to hang with us. Sami won over Neal at breakfast one morning when the girls said they were bored and I said well I guess you will just have to go wash dishes in the back. Kira scream No and Sami jumped up and YES. Aunty Missy needs to be more firm as the two pulled an all nighters consisting of eating cake at 3am and putting princess tattoo on their eyes. I wore them out in the pool and delighted in not letting the sleep all day they slept get the next night. I then called my mom to apologize for all the sleep overs and cranky I had dished. She seems pleased to have some pay back. I deserve it and then some my poor mom. I was sure good at being a kid. I tell mom sorry often and did so to dad before he died also.

They had this amazing waterfall swimming pool with layer to explore and a dark long waterslide that I rode over and over. Kira was my little fish buddy and it was hard to pry us and our pruned hands after 15 hours of beach and pool some days.

Koa Pancake is my favorite Hawaii food. I LOVE it. We ate most breakfast there at like 6:30 am. Neal and Lynda are early risers but the girls would not eat and then in a few hours they were starving so one day I was naughty and slept in and I am sure grandpa had a fit but when we ate at 8:30 we had two little piggy’s. They made the locals laugh as we walked in the two 8 year olds recited all they wanted. Eggs, Bacon, Pancakes, Corn beef hash, rice, waffles, juice, potatoes, milk, chocolate chips, fruit… They then proceed to eat all we ordered. Seriously kids eat better when they are awake:)

At night I would sing the girls a good night song based on our day to a familiar tune but with the words changed. A favorite was the one about the stupid jelly fish keeping us from getting our snorkel on.

It was my first time to the Punch Bowl. What a peaceful resting place for our service men. Just beautiful and we went to Pearl Harbor again and again it suck my air out and leaves this sadness at what man is capable of. We went to the north shore several times and looked for turtles at Sharks cove. I had the best shrimp I have ever had at a local truck Miranda showed us. I don’t even in general like shrimp and they were so tender and tasty. We had shave ice Scott likes his with ice cream in the bottom.

Sitting on the beach with Kira by my side as we watch dolphins dance and the sun set was just pure bliss. Sami and Kira were both finalists in a hula contest out of like 45 kids they were up there shaking their booty like nobody’s business. Kira was really shy at first but with Sami by her side they made it to the end and won coconuts and tiaras. I am super sad we did not get photos of this they were so cute. Kira thought the crown was made from a pine tree and Sami said a money tree. I did not get a chance to read or relax but t be with kids as they live in the moment is priceless.

So my review of Hawaii—you need to go often over many years. Maui was the best snorkeling I ever have had anywhere we stayed at Sheraton by Black rock and walked out of our door on to the best spot ever. The road to hana and biking down volcanoes oh the tiny island Lanai. But it feels like I am in California when on Maui. Kauai is hands down our favorite island. We have stayed in several spots on the island and all were pure magic it feels like Hawaii to me. Ohau is where our hearts are with the Capinpins- the Temple is there and Ko’Olina the North shore OH even memories of staying in a high rise on Waikiki. But still the best island I think is Kauai but we have yet to see the big island and you don’t have to take my word for it- Go To Hawaii:)

The following is borrowed from my Miranda blog for my memories too. Aloha to you Miranda and Mano we sure love you!

Last week our good friends, Scott and Missy Riffle came to visit us along with Scott's parent's Niel and Lynda and their granddaughter Kira. It's always a good time when the Riffle's are in town. They stayed at the Ko Olina Marriott Resort and were kind enough to invited us over for a few days. We decided to take them up on their offer and have a mini "stay-cation" before Sami started school again. Here are a few pictures of our adventure.

Here is a view from the property. Not bad...can't complain...4 words...Lucky We Live Hawaii!

While we were there the Mermaid Kariel swam in to spend some time with the kids. Sami walked up to Kariel at first and said to me, "Mom, she's not real." However, Kariel kept Sami and Kira's attention for the next 2 hours. Not bad for a "not real" mermaid. Kariel started with a story about accepting people for who they are and not trying to change them. Next Kariel panted "scales" on to each of the children.

The finished product. Lucky for us they told us after they panted the scales that they were water proof. It's cool to go to church with scales above your eyes...right?

Karial eventually made it into the water...big fin and all. They stratigically kept the kids busy learning the rules while Karial made her way into the water.

ventually they let the kids in the water to swim with a mermaid.

My little Polynesian Mermaid

The island girl coming out in Sami. Kira was fascinated with how people could climb coconut trees. Sami wasted no time in showing Kira exactly how it was done.

"Help Mommy, I'm stuck!"
My handsome husband
View of one of the pools
Sami's favorite part of the property...the water slide!
Sami, Missy, Kira, and Miranda
Kira, Missy, Sami, and Mano
(I love Sami's face)
Aunty Missy and Sami

It was so wonderful to have a little taste of home here in the islands. Thanks to the Riffles for allowing Sami to stay with them while Mano and I worked. Thanks to the Riffles too for inviting us to come and stay at their time share. We had so much fun with you guys!