Turtle

The Big Island is mostly volcanic rock.  

Fewer sandy beaches like we left behind at Waikiki,

but the rocky shoreline is great for snorkeling.

In the first moments at the first beach . . . the first sea turtle.

(Can't you just hear Crush raving about the EAC?)

There was some fantastic shave ice too.  :)

Off to Kailua-Kona

Breakfast at the Hard Rock Cafe,

then off to the airport again for a flight to the Big Island,

a long wait for rental vehicles, 

a wait to check into (beautiful) condos,

and BBQ sausages and hot dogs

(because that's what Carrie said she really wanted for her birthday dinner.)

Waikiki

It was a long day for the kids with a lot of sitting during on a tour bus and at the Arizona Memorial.  They were sure glad to get some beach time.

The pictures don't represent the waves well.  They were awesome!

That is, until one of them threw Mom down.

This is the beach where she broke her hip . . .

(To clarify - she is OK.  She chipped the bone, which caused a lot of pain and slowed her down, but she's tough as nails and will be just fine.  She was still able to walk around . . . slowly.)

Arizona Memorial

First, looking around some of the stuff on shore before the ferry to the memorial:

Then, touring the USS Bowfin submarine:

Close quarters for even little ones! 

So many gadgets!  We weren't sure we were going to get Cameron off!

The Arizona Memorial: 

(My grandmother was here in Honolulu that Sunday, church interrupted by the bombing.)

To the memory of the gallant men

here entombed and their shipmates

who gave their lives in action

on December 7, 1941 on the USS Arizona.

Honolulu, Oahu, HI USA

 Honolulu

King Kamehameha statue, decked out in flowers because 6/11 was King Kamehameha I Day.  

I can't look at these statues without hearing my dad sing,

"King Kamehameha, the leader of the islands

became a famous hero one day.

He fought the native army, and pushed them over Pali,

And crowned himself king of Hawaii-a"

(Travis and I were both singing it.)

Conor, however, knows that this spot is actually Steve McGarrett's Hawaii 5-0 headquarters.  

He is singing, "Da da da da da da.  Da da da da da"

Wynn, Gabrian, Conor, Cameron, Ariana

Ben!

Off to Hawaii!

 Waiting at the airport.  Even early-riser Ari thinks 3:30 am was too early to crawl out of bed!

Excited to be on a plane . . . 

. . . for a little while, at least!

Spokane . . . Denver . . . Honolulu . . . 

and a long wait to check in because the rooms were messed up.

Oh, but doesn't the view of Waikiki beach make it all worth it?!

Ari ends the day as tired as she started, not making it through dinner.

HI time, it was only 6, 6:30, but Ari time, it was 9, 9:30, and she HAD gotten up at 3:30.

Jr. Lilac Parade 2014

This was a very busy day for us:  3 soccer games and two kids in the Jr. Lilac Parade.  Worse, Mom was down with the flu this day, so (thank you, thank you!)  Andrew and Mandy helped with the transportation arrangements.

Easter 2014