Hawaii day 9

we started waking the kids up at 6am. it took us a while to get them out of bed, but finally did and loaded them in to the car and we were off to diamond head. got there just before 7 and there was parking available! Matt took some significant persuading on the first portion, kaitlyn didn't like the heights, and I managed to hold back a panic attack in the tunnel. but it was worth it - gorgeous views! and neat old battlements. got back down, got a little lost on all the one way streets back to the hotel, but made it. we ate the rest of our Cheerios, had a last shopping trip to the px, rode the glass elevator for the last time and headed to the airport. 

Hawaii day 8

I got to do a boot camp on the beach after tony did his workout, since the kids were still sleeping. then we packed up, loaded the car and checked out but we were able to stay and use the pools and the beach all day! kaitlyn and I snorkelled in the rainbow reef. Matt did the dark body slide a few times and the lazy river, then was done - luckily tony was pretty waterlogged too, so they hung out in the lounge while kaitlyn and I did the beach and lazy river and more snorkeling. we finally packed it in around 6, headed back to Waikiki where we checked back into the hale koa. we headed out to my hula dog hot dog stand (and pizza for Matt and tacos for tony) and I bought a sea turtle quilt. the kids enjoyed the exercise equipment in the park heading back to the hotel. then we packed our bags and went to bed, ready for diamond head in the morning!

Hawaii day 7

breakfast with Mickey, Minnie and goofy! the lines were a bit long, but the food was good (even Matt ate a decent amount!) and the kids enjoyed the activities with the characters. kaitlyn tries loco moco (hamburger party with rice and poached egg on top, covered with gravy) I tried a local porridge with soy sauce, chili paste and peanuts - good!  then we got our suits on and spent the entire day in the pools and at the beach. Matt wanted to rent a double kayak, so we did for an hour and after 3 minutes he wanted to go in. managed to get him to stay out for ten minutes, kaitlyn for 20 and then I had it to myself for 30 min. it was a good upper body workout paddling against the wind across the lagoon, then I would just drift back to the other side. the kids wanted to stay out until the pools closed at eight but by 7:20 we were cold and starving. headed to the hotel to wash up. while kaitlyn was in the shower and I was getting dressed, Matt ate 10 macadamia nut chocolates! we headed across the street to monkeypod restaurant and had a good meal there. home with enough time to read a chapter of hardy boys before bed.

hawaii day 6

We checked into Aulani today!  we had the breakfast buffet at hale koa this morning so tony could get his s.o.s.  then we headed here - greeted with flower and pula leis and necklaces for the kids, checked in - room not ready, but were directed to lockers to change and we hit the lazy river and the tube slides and the dark slide (well matt did - he is the only one brave enough for that).  after several hours in the water we talked the kids into checking out our room - which was upgraded to a poolview and is close to all the action - sweet!  had dinner across the street - pizza and sushi.  then did some shopping in the gift stores and explored the hotel.  went to sunset storytime at the firepit and heard a native polynesian story which was pretty cool!  tomorrow we will check out the beach and the scuba pool and spend some more time in the lazy river - after breakfast with mickey!

Hawaii day 5

tony and I still waking up at 6, so we both squeezed in a workout before kids got up. then we walked to McDonald's for spam for tony and taro pie for kaitlyn. then off to manoa falls. it was a perfect hike - just the right length, about 30 minutes each way through a gorgeous rainforest. Matt didn't much like getting muddy, but otherwise the kids did great. got home in time for kaitlyn and tony to go to the lunch buffet at todai and Matt and I had macadamia nut pancakes at the wailana coffee house next door. then we relaxed a bit at the hotel - kids played I napped and tony did laundry. then we had almost 4 hours at the pool and beach before fireworks. Matt got cold so he and I got back to hotel and watched from the room and kaitlyn and tony watched from the pool. last night here and aulani tomorrow! (waterfall pics on the camera - post later)

Hawaii - day 4

drug the kids out of bed at 6am. got some junk food for breakfast at the px and made it to hanuma bay by 7 am. spent almost 3 very windy and chilly and at the end rainy hours there! but we did get to see quite a few fish, kaitlyn and I sort of got the hang of snorkeling and Matt and tony built a nice sand castle! when we (at least me) were all thoroughly chilled we headed back to the hotel. after showers and a change of clothes we headed into Waikiki shopping district for lunch. Matt got pizza, I got a veggie dog with mango jalapeño jelly and lili mustard, kaitlyn got chow mein and tony got barbecue. we took a free shopping trolley to Hilo Hattie's (an overpriced tourist store) and that worked well because we got a free ride, Matt fell asleep and napped on the trolley and on a couch in the store and kaitlyn got a pink pearl in the oyster she picked there. we then went to the army museum (would have been even better if kids would have let us spend more than an hour there) and played with some kids in the park. we then headed to the luau at the hale koa which was actually really good. they had crafts, kitty cat made a lei and both made leaf headbands. the coconut tree climber, the fire dancer (he was 14!) and kaitlyn doing the hula on stage were the highlights! no pics of hanuma yet - on the waterproof camera.