Diamond Head

We got to spend one last day with the Coco, Nate, and Vivi.  We did a hike up Diamond Head which is the mountain just above where they live.  We enjoyed our day and then we went to airport for our redeye flight back to San Francisco.

Backpack kids.

On the way up.

Looking back at Honolulu.

Looking the other way.

10pm on the flight out.

4:30am San Francisco time.

At 5:30am good moods all around.

Meet Mickey

Since Aulani is a Disney resort, they did have some of the requisite Disneyisms including a character breakfast which delighted Maya and Dexter.  After our short Aulani visit, we made our way around the island and headed back to Coco, Nate, and Vivi.

 Mickey greets Dexter.

 Hug!

Maya and Dexter with their newest favorite mouse.

Family fun.

Now with Minnie.

More Minnie.

Goofy jokes with Maya.

A visit to one of the famous North Shore beaches.

  

Maya and Dexter take a swim in a little tide pool.

Fun!

The fam.

Time for some North Shore shrimp!

Happy eating.

Watching a surprisingly cool demo of some traditional activities of the Hawaiian people at a macadamia nut plantation.

Dexter and Maya get some cool headwear.

Maya and Dexter on a boat in a fishing lagoon as the plantation tour continues.

This area has been the site for many shows including Fantasy Island, 50 First Dates, Lost and more.

Back to Honolulu and beautiful sunset.

Aulani

We took a little break from Honolulu and headed west to the Disney Aulani Resort for a couple nights.  The weather improved and we had a lot of fun!

Aulani Beach

The Aulani resort is comprised of the brown buildings on the right.

Maya becomes a freeze frame.

Dexter enjoying the water.

Happy brother and sis.

The Aulani has many pools, a lazy river, waterslides, and water play areas like this!

It's party time.

View from our room.

An evening stroll.

Dexter explores.

Dexter, master of the stone.

Two awesome guys.

Rain Rain

The weather was unusually rain for two of our days in Hawaii.  We made the best of it, but it was wet out there.

Rainy fun at the zoo.

Elephant butts.

Maya's disintegrating map.

Dexter and Nate inside a fish viewing tunnel.

Storytime.

Aquarium visit.

Beautiful Byodo-In Temple.

Coco by the huge koi pond.

Dexter and Vivi feed the fish.

Massive Buddha inside.  Beautiful.

The Ski Week Alternative

Our school district gives a week off in February that many term as ski week since so many families head to the mountains for skiing that week.  We decided to head for Hawaii instead.

Dexter at 11:45pm in the Honolulu airport

Past midnight getting our car rental.

The next morning, the cousins unite! Little Viv is getting big.

Just down the road, THE BEACH!

A little bit excited.

Happy Dance!

Time for a little Hula dancing at a Waikiki hotel.

Nate, Coco, and Momma enjoying the sunset.

These two want to say...

We love Hawaii!