Drove the southern half of the island heading toward Volcano National Park. It was a long drive with lots of stops (kids did not love all of them 😆):
1. Mountain Thunder Kona coffee plantation
2. Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park
3. Fruit & Smoothie stop
4. Southernmost tip of the US
5. Punalu’u black sand beach
Enjoyed the hotel pools and a snorkel trip off the west coast of the island. Highlights included seeing dolphins, finding and holding an octopus, pincushion starfish, sea urchin and sea cucumber and swimming with a sea turtle. Aaron and the girls did a night excursion to swim with manta rays – water was chilly but the rays swimming belly up against them was pretty incredible!
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The kids are on fall break is this week so we are on the big island for a few days! Landed in Hilo at 9am and had a nice (and informative!) drive across the top of the island thanks to the Shaka guided audio tour…with stops at Akaka Falls (484 ft tall), Laupahoehoe Park (site of the tsunami in 1946), Waimea and wild goats (where the paniolos/hawaiian cowboys started cattle farming in the late 1700s), and our first stay of the trip at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott – the water slide and infinity pool are a hit with the kids!
On Saturday, we had a neighborhood baseball game with the parents in the outfield and the kids alternating at bats. The rest of the day was spent in the pool and watching the Phils (bummer loss). On Sunday, we had some friends come to church with us. We were planning on going to a water park afterward, but we misjudged the weather and ended up going hiking! We hiked up Diamondhead crater, a huge volcano and that was created by one big explosion. The Phillies also won their last game of the season against the Nationals 6-3, so hopefully they’ll be just as good in the postseason. -Eden
I’ve been enjoying being able to get around by bike – to school, for groceries, to the beach, to hike, to town, etc. – I can sometimes go days without using the truck 🙌🏼
Hikes up Lanikai Pillbox trail and explored the Kailua Marsh trail this week. Great ocean and Mountain views!
Headed out for the afternoon and evening to try out the new SUP 🤙🏼
Went back to Bishops Museum and hit an annual intertribal powwow event. None of us joined the dances but we enjoyed the food, crafts, vendors and museum!
The girls are trying out aerial acrobatics (I tried it a little bit – it’s not easy), Graham is doing sports club – starting with track & field events (shot put next week 😳), and Aaron and I went to a school fundraiser night. Was fun to meet some more parents and enjoy the night out at He’eia State Park overlooking Kane’ohe Bay.
Not pictured: Brooks, although not wanting to join any clubs or sports, having lots of play dates with new friends in the last couple weeks to keep him busy.
Aaron and I tried surfing twice last week – definitely works some different muscles 😅 I’ve been volunteering in Brooks’ computer class on Fridays which has been fun to get to know some of the kids and teachers! Eden got to go with a friend for an overnight birthday trip to a beach cabin at Bellows Air Force Base, in Waimanalo (20 min south of us). We all went for the afternoon Saturday to check it out. Brooks and Olivia had play dates, revisited a potential church…it was a good weekend of getting to know some families/parents better!
Graham and Aaron enjoyed a Friday afternoon pool viewing of the Phillies and Eagles from the pool. The girls made a good profit on their lemonade stand in the neighborhood with friends. We tried out a new water park – not quite the same level of thrills as some Kalahari rides but still lots of fun! Evening bike to the beach for a beach walk and dip, and multiple playground visits…
Enjoyed the long weekend in the neighborhood and at the beach.
The playground at school is big and shady and a 3 minute bike ride, making it a popular spot for our crew on evenings and weekends.
Hawaii Vogelzangs 