Last Day in Paradise (3/2/09)

Our last day in Hawaii :(. It was, however, a very busy day. We had a late flight out, so we were able to spend the entire day sight seeing.

Here is my photo of the last morning from our deck.



The neighbor dog even said good-bye. He had a mean bark but was a friendly guy.




This is us saying good-bye. So sad.




We finally stopped to get a photo of the pineapple field we passed everyday.

There was quite a bit of wild life spotting on this day. Can you see the mongoose?

Then, this lazy guy was just hanging out when we came up over the hill to go surfing again. I probably got too close, but he barely moved during the 2 hours we were there. This is a Monk Seal--he must have had a long swim because he was pooped. This was so amazing to see in person.

Heath really wanted to surf again on the last day--he loves it!! He thought he would go with a smaller board--ya know, he already had one lesson in, why not. He didn't have such good luck on the smaller board--but he tried.

Then he tried his luck with the paddle board. Our wonderful host, professional surf instructor, volleyball coach, photographer, etc.... Darryl in the red shirt.

After surfing we went to Hawaiian Fire headquarters (this is the surf school that Darryl works for) and had some lunch and shaved ice (which was actually really good and in no way tasted like a snow cone). Then we were off to Hanauma Bay to do some snorkeling. The only bad part was that it was a bit chilly. The next two photos are just a couple of stops we made on the way.

Here is the Hanauma Bay for public snorkeling. It was so beautiful. We did have to watch a silly video on proper snorkeling etiquette.

This is the state fish of Hawaii.

This is the name of the state fish of Hawaii: Humuhumunukunukuapua'a. Try to get that out??

I do have a few snorkeling photos, but they are on another camera--so I will share those later. Below is after snorkeling and we were freezing. Heath was the winner--he stayed out the longest. It was really too bad, because there were cool fish and giant turtles.

Just a stop we made going back up the hill. It was nice to have Darryl along to take photos.

Heath and I with the crazy named fish.

After leaving Hanauma Bay, we drove to the side of the island we had not been to yet--I want to say East but I really have no idea. There were amazing house and miles of beaches.

Just a touristy lookout spot to stop and take photos.

The blow hole.

The kids (and adults I guess) at this beach were boogie board surfing. That is what I would call it, but maybe it has a cooler name. It was just interesting to see that each type of water activity was done in different places--they didn't really mix.

On the same beach with a large hill behind us.

I was just always amazed that there could be so much beauty in every direction you looked.

It was a great last day but so sad to think about leaving. This is our sad faces at the airport waiting for our flight.

We did miss Layne so much and it is always nice to be home.

Thank you to all our gracious hosts in Hawaii and for the help of Jessica and Zach back in the Springs--who didn't have much of a vacation while at our house. Two trips to the emergency room and some puke!!!

Aloha.

Hawaii Day Four (3/1/09)

Sunday was a rather eventful day--at least looking back at all the photos from this day--it was. Heath had an early tryout and I decided to drive him into town and then come back to the North Shore. There were some things I wanted to do. First, here is my morning photo of our view. It was a wonderfully beautiful day.

On our route into Honolulu, we pass the Dole Plantation and this was something I wanted to see. I didn't go on the train tour but there was plenty to see.

Some newly sprouted pineapples.

There was, once again, beautiful vegetation to see.

There was a cute little pond and some more strange trees.

This tree was so unreal to me--the colors under the park just looked fake. There was lime green and a vibrant reddish color--this photo really doesn't do justice.

Another pineapple--I really did not know how they grew before this.

A very friendly sign on the way out.

I really just loved these strange little trees--I guess they are a version of an evergreen?

After the Dole Plantation, I went back to the house and took a walk. This time I went down the beach the other way--the way we hadn't gone yet. Sunday seemed to be family day--there were many large groups of people hanging out at the park--eating, playing, enjoying the day.

I am not 100% sure what was going on--but it seemed to be a surfing competition. I took this photo for my uncle Dan who works for Billabong.

It appeared to be a youth event--the kids out first were pretty young, maybe 10-12?

These two boys (a little older--14?) were getting ready for their turn on the waves.

I headed back into town, after watching the surfing for a good hour, to pick up Heath and we decided to go to Waikiki Beach. We found some sand volleyball right away.

Heath on Waikiki Beach.

Our first speedo sighting.

A lovely sand castle.

Diamond Head in the background.

We really wanted to catch a sunset and it was necessary to be on the opposite side of the island from where we were staying. Waikiki Beach was the spot to be. We got some food from a small vendor and found a great place to sit and eat. It was cloudy but we managed to see a very nice sunset.

The moon.

Leaving the beach, we waked past some military stuff--Heath would know exactly what it was.

It was a lovely, laid back evening on the beach. Only one more day in paradise--tear!!

Aloha.