Where do I even start?.. A week in Hawaii, first family vacation in years (if not ever). I will break it down day by day.
Saturday.
We are all packed and eager to head out. Luggage and car's long term parking is already prepaid. Off we go! Only a few blocks later we are shocked to find out that somehow Larissa left her insulin pump at home! How does she do it?.. Not happy, we turn around and drive back home. Needless to say, Larissa is in a bit of trouble.
Airport's check in is quick and painless. The only issue is that our luggage price went up and we have to pay $15 more that expected. Still, over an hour before the flight, so we get a treat at Starbucks.
The flight is smooth, service is excellent, kids are behaving, food is delicious (spinach manicotti and chocolate cake). Thank you Hawaiian Air! Not a bad start at all! We also found out that kids don't get wings on plain anymore, it's a chocking hazard!
Another quick flight from Maui to the Big Island, car rental, then we check into our hotel. Actually, it's a time share, and we have two one bedroom apartments reserved in opposite parts of the complex. That's one flaw of getting online reservation. We laugh at the idea of keeping kids on one apartment and taking the other. All jokes aside though, that won’t work. Lucky for us we can trade for one two bedroom apartment! Since we got a fridge and a stove, we stock up on some food and settle in for the night.
We are all packed and eager to head out. Luggage and car's long term parking is already prepaid. Off we go! Only a few blocks later we are shocked to find out that somehow Larissa left her insulin pump at home! How does she do it?.. Not happy, we turn around and drive back home. Needless to say, Larissa is in a bit of trouble.
Airport's check in is quick and painless. The only issue is that our luggage price went up and we have to pay $15 more that expected. Still, over an hour before the flight, so we get a treat at Starbucks.
The flight is smooth, service is excellent, kids are behaving, food is delicious (spinach manicotti and chocolate cake). Thank you Hawaiian Air! Not a bad start at all! We also found out that kids don't get wings on plain anymore, it's a chocking hazard!
Another quick flight from Maui to the Big Island, car rental, then we check into our hotel. Actually, it's a time share, and we have two one bedroom apartments reserved in opposite parts of the complex. That's one flaw of getting online reservation. We laugh at the idea of keeping kids on one apartment and taking the other. All jokes aside though, that won’t work. Lucky for us we can trade for one two bedroom apartment! Since we got a fridge and a stove, we stock up on some food and settle in for the night.
Sunday.
Today is Gabe's birthday! I almost forgot with all the excitement.
Our morning starts with a "Welcome" speech by the Shell Club. It's really funny when Jon steals the show, without even trying. As a presenter lady gives us her speech, she stops in mid sentence looking at Jon and suddenly she proclaims: "I just totally forgot where I was. I lost track of my thought watching this cute little boy..." Ha ha ha
(This is we get suckered into a time share presentation, without even knowing it. When I am offered a discount card for the island activities through the Shell Club, I am thinking it's a local generosity, but as it turns out, I should read the small print in the future. It is actually a "free gift" with a 90 minute presentation commitment...)
We rented some snorkeling gear and a viewing board for Jon and head out to the beach. Hawaii beaches are nothing like the Oregon ones we are so used to. It's rocky and slippery. You might as well keep your water shoes or sandals on. Plus, the sand is extremely hot. This is my first time snorkeling. I have some trouble adjusting to breathing underwater; my instincts are telling me that it's not an option... I also find out that since neither Larissa nor Jon can swim and we don't have swimming vests, I can only handle one kid at a time. But once we all get going, it's a great experience! Water is warm, and fish is plentiful. We also spot a huge turtle feeding on algae.
Sadly, we didn't realize the strength of Hawaiian sun and despite our best efforts applying the sun block, we all got a different degree of sunburn.
Today is Gabe's birthday! I almost forgot with all the excitement.
Our morning starts with a "Welcome" speech by the Shell Club. It's really funny when Jon steals the show, without even trying. As a presenter lady gives us her speech, she stops in mid sentence looking at Jon and suddenly she proclaims: "I just totally forgot where I was. I lost track of my thought watching this cute little boy..." Ha ha ha
(This is we get suckered into a time share presentation, without even knowing it. When I am offered a discount card for the island activities through the Shell Club, I am thinking it's a local generosity, but as it turns out, I should read the small print in the future. It is actually a "free gift" with a 90 minute presentation commitment...)
We rented some snorkeling gear and a viewing board for Jon and head out to the beach. Hawaii beaches are nothing like the Oregon ones we are so used to. It's rocky and slippery. You might as well keep your water shoes or sandals on. Plus, the sand is extremely hot. This is my first time snorkeling. I have some trouble adjusting to breathing underwater; my instincts are telling me that it's not an option... I also find out that since neither Larissa nor Jon can swim and we don't have swimming vests, I can only handle one kid at a time. But once we all get going, it's a great experience! Water is warm, and fish is plentiful. We also spot a huge turtle feeding on algae.
Sadly, we didn't realize the strength of Hawaiian sun and despite our best efforts applying the sun block, we all got a different degree of sunburn.
Sunday night is spent at the Bubba Gump Shrimp restaurant. It is Gabe's 11th birthday and what better way to celebrate, but to try some lobster and crab legs? Our waiter is really entertaining and finishes our dinner with a Happy Birthday song and an ice cream for Gabe.
He is thoroughly embarrassed
Monday.
By Monday morning I finally figured out locations of all the places we want to stop by and planned out the rest of our week.
I start my morning with an early run. I actually manage to put in seven miles. Not too bad for vacation!
Today we have a Sea Quest snorkeling adventure scheduled at around noon. Even though we are sun burned, the trip is great! We take a fast boat out to the Captain Cook Monument, which is an animal and a coral preserve. Again, it's beautiful!
By Monday morning I finally figured out locations of all the places we want to stop by and planned out the rest of our week.
I start my morning with an early run. I actually manage to put in seven miles. Not too bad for vacation!
Today we have a Sea Quest snorkeling adventure scheduled at around noon. Even though we are sun burned, the trip is great! We take a fast boat out to the Captain Cook Monument, which is an animal and a coral preserve. Again, it's beautiful!
On Monday night we are scheduled for a Luau, but when we get there we find that all the appetizers are gone and there is no place for us to sit. 
This is not our idea of a dinner, so we take off looking for some local food. We come across L&L Hawaiian BBQ. It's a fast food place, but portion are big, so we order a few dishes and take them back to our apartment patio. 
After dinner we all fall asleep on a couch watching TV. This is life!
Tuesday.
We head out to the next scheduled event at Ocean Sports Glass Bottom Boat ride. We get there early and get to relax at the beach. This part of the Big Island is a little different. I like it. The beach is sandy and waters are shallow. May be next time we could stay here... or may be not, based on the pricey shops around the hotel...
Our boat ride is not long enough... While looking at turtles and fish we keep getting things dropped onto the glass bottom by other passengers... No bog deal , except that it is getting on my way of good photos.
We head out to the next scheduled event at Ocean Sports Glass Bottom Boat ride. We get there early and get to relax at the beach. This part of the Big Island is a little different. I like it. The beach is sandy and waters are shallow. May be next time we could stay here... or may be not, based on the pricey shops around the hotel...
Our boat ride is not long enough... While looking at turtles and fish we keep getting things dropped onto the glass bottom by other passengers... No bog deal , except that it is getting on my way of good photos.
Once finished, we continue with our scheduled adventure and head out to the Upolu Point. I think we are really lucky with the weather. It seems like wherever we go, it's clear and sunny, but out where we are not, it's either raining or overcast. Yeah! We stop for lunch at a French restaurant Daniel Thiebaut. 
The food is fancy and expensive, but so worth it.
Next stop is Wiapia Valley. We decided against hiking down the trail. Today we are not prepared for it...
On the way home we stopped at the Kona Mountain coffee shop. Sampled some coffee flavors and decided that Hazelnut one and Coconut Mocha are the two we "must have".
Another great day comes to an end.
Another great day comes to an end.
Wednesday.
Again, early run (five miles) and drive, drive, drive. Today's points of interest are South Point (most South point of United States) and the Volcanoes!. Not to forget a Punalu'u Bake shop, where I admit I had THE best ever salmon teriyaki burger! That along was worth the drive!
Again, early run (five miles) and drive, drive, drive. Today's points of interest are South Point (most South point of United States) and the Volcanoes!. Not to forget a Punalu'u Bake shop, where I admit I had THE best ever salmon teriyaki burger! That along was worth the drive!
Tim ends up jumping off the South Point cliff twice, because my camera battery gives out in the middle of his first jump...
But I don't think he has any regrets.
Volcanoes National Park is next. 
Walk through a lava tube (tunnel), followed by a looooong hike across the bed of a volcano crater. Needless to say, by night time we were completely out of steam... (the light line in the picture is the trail)
Walk through a lava tube (tunnel), followed by a looooong hike across the bed of a volcano crater. Needless to say, by night time we were completely out of steam... (the light line in the picture is the trail)Thursday.
As if we didn't have enough fun for the week, another trip lays ahead. Today it is UFO Parasailing for Tim
and a crazy drive to the top of Mauna Kea Mountain to the Astronomy observatory. Despite all the warnings from the rangers about the "four wheel drive must have" Tim takes a change (and his family along) for a drive up the 13,000 ft elevation up a gravel road.
Surprisingly, we make it up without getting stuck, but everyone (especially Jon) are feeling light headed, so we quickly get down the mountain (yet another crazy drive).
Glad it's over with...
Lunch at McDonald's and we finally make it to Hapuna Beach. So nice, can't get the 'boys" out of the water. Jon is fearless and has to be watched closely.
Friday.Vacation is almost over and we put in almost 700 MILES in driving! That's insane... I must get a chance to bake by the pool side. I do just that with Jon and Larissa, while Gabe and Dad go Kayaking.
After a while though Tim picks us up and I get a chance to go out there with one kid at a time too.
Saturday.
What? The vacation is over?!! No! Oh well, off to Oregon we go. Till next time. 
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