Snorkeling Fools

My kids love to snorkel.

I don't know why this should surprise me, as so far they have loved boogie boarding, swimming in the ocean, splashing in the waves, and basically the beach in general. (However, they are not fans of visiting rocky beach areas where you just watch the waves crash into the shore. "Boring," D says.)

As you might guess, we went snorkeling this morning. I've been hesitant to do this, since I still worry a bit about the boys drifting away, drowning, etc. (All part of being a mom, I think. Perhaps I need a t-shirt: "I'm a mom, therefore I worry.") I also worried about my own skills in the water, which is probably the bigger part of my neurosis.

So, as I said, my kids had a great time. Both of them float like it's nothing, propel themselves all over the bay to look at various fish, and handle the snorkel mask and tube with no problems. Steve took a couple of tries to get the hang of it, but he's doing pretty well too. And me? Well, let's just say I'm destined to view other people's pictures of all the pretty fish they saw on their snorkeling and diving trips.

It's not that I'm bad at snorkeling. It's more that I can't seem to get started. Putting my face in the water, quite simply, freaks me out. Maybe it has to do with the fact that I can't wear my glasses when I try snorkeling, so I feel really disoriented from the start (like, walking into the water from the shore). But, it's not all about me, so right now I am happy that my kids have found another thing that they love.

After snorkeling today, we had lunch again at Quinn's Almost-by-the-Sea, which serves the best ono and chips in the world. Then, we randomly stopped to watch some surfers take on some monster waves (and one woman with fake boobs frolicking in the surf) along Ali'i Drive.

The rest of this afternoon is being spent relaxing (read: Steve's taking a nap!) while we anticipate the arrival of the Turpens. (Their flight gets in late tonight.) Tomorrow we are planning to visit Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.

Wow, the sky is clear up here!

We made it to the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station without incident. (Well, the Jeep apparently tried to overheat a bit on our way up the access road, but since I didn't notice until after we'd stopped, I'm not counting that!)

On our way up, the sun was starting to set. Talk about beautiful (and a bit blinding, since the air was so clear). Of course, I was driving and there really weren't any pullouts, so you're going to have to take my word for it. (Or come here yourself to see it, which I highly recommend!)

The staff at the center was certainly ready for us (and all the other folks who came up tonight): they had 3 very large telescopes ready to show us the celestial sights--Venus, Saturn (complete with rings - wow!) and Jupiter with several moons. The best part was that we basically had the place to ourselves for at least 20 minutes, so the staff and volunteers were very willing to explain lots of stuff to the boys, who ate up all the attention. (One guy asked me if I homeschooled, when I was asking M what he knew about Venus and he was rattling off about 20 facts. I had to explain that, no, he just liked space.) They also had smaller telescopes that you could aim yourself.

Last night was an almost full moon, which apparently cut down on the number of stars we could see. So, we only saw about 20 constellations during the laser-pointer enhanced star tour.

I had worried a bit about how we might handle the 9,200-foot altitude after being in Hawaii for a couple of weeks (high point previously on the trip--about 2,500 feet), but everyone did great. And the crisp 59-degree weather was a nice break from 85 and humid. (Not that I am complaining, as I hear it's topping 100 regularly in Colorado right now. I just enjoy not sweating sometimes.)

David loved the idea that we were above an entire layer of clouds as we watched the moonrise. He thought it was ocean he was seeing from the patio area:

Another high point (and another thing I couldn't get on film, despite trying several times) was the moonbow we saw on our way down. It seemed to only have about 3 different shades of light, but it was very cool. There also was a corona around the nearly full moon, which I am learning (from my Google search for a similar moonbow picture to show you) may be called a moondog. Again, my camera hardly does it justice, but here it is:

Looking to the Skies

Well, the Lopers (Steve's parents, that is) have been dropped at the airport and should be well on their way home by now. Team Klida should be getting on their plane shortly, and we are getting ready to head up to the Visitor Information Station on Mauna Kea, the 13,796-foot high mountain where several world-class observatories are located. We can't go all the way to the summit because the boys are too young to deal with the altitude, but we will be at about 9,200 feet. It will be interesting to see how our bodies deal with that altitude, since the highest we've been in the past two weeks is about 2,500 feet.

At the visitor center, we will be able to check out the nighttime skies using one of their telescopes. If the weather is clear, the viewing tonight should be awesome. I don't know what kind of pictures I'll manage to get from this, but I am looking forward to it. I really think that M will enjoy it, as he has been interested in space since he was about 4 years old.

On a completely different topic, have I talked about the geckos here? Apparently, geckos (yes, like the insurance commercials) are considered good luck and are welcomed into Hawai'ian houses. There are at least a half-dozen geckos that we are sharing space with, ranging from the teeny one that likes to sun itself on the porch steps to the big guy that runs around near the fridge. Since they are cold-blooded, we don't see much of them early morning or late at night, but come afternoon they scrabble everywhere. Today I got some good closeup shots of one guy that decided to explore our table and another that was peeking at me from the kitchen curtain.

Overall, the geckos seem to be pretty harmless. They eat bugs and fruit and are pretty much afraid of people. At night, they click and chatter (sounding a bit like frogs), which is so much better than the rooster that crows whenever he feels the urge (like at 3 a.m.)! Of course, they do poop, so you find little black balls around the house. Erin was freaked out by them for most of her stay, but D loves seeing them.

Relaxing in the Tropics

We were going to go snorkeling today. We'd planned all week that we would go this morning, first thing, while the ocean was calm and the sun was a bit weaker. (I'm still a bit timid after scoring the killer sunburn.) But, when we awoke, it really didn't feel like a snorkeling day. Instead, it felt like a "hang out and do nothing" day. One of the true benefits of being here for a month is that we can have those at least once a week.

So, we took it easy. Reta & Ellis got back mid-morning from their trip to Kaua'i, so Steve picked them up from the airport. Joe & Erin went sea kayaking and snorkeling near Captain Cook, and they came back mid-afternoon. I did laundry. We hit Walmart and Safeway for the supply run. But mostly we vegged. I really like it here (to visit, not to live, but that's a post for closer to the end of the trip).

Last night we were able to go out AGAIN without our kids, this time with Erin & Joe. (Thank goodness for grandparents!) We hit the sunset bar, where we enjoyed pupus (appetizers) and Mai Tais, Big Island Ice Teas and Patriots, made up of Strawberry Daiquiri, Pina Colada and Blue Hawai'ian. (Amy, that pic's for you!) Sadly, there was a bit of rain, but we did get to see lots of fish just by peeking over the rail at our table.




Next, we went into "downtown" Kailua (there's not really a downtown, but a more touristy strip/boardwalk kind of area) and decided to eat at the Kona Inn. After enjoying the sunset at the bar, we grabbed a table for dinner. Steve & Joe both had this awesome ono (also called wahoo, for those of you at home) stuffed with a cream cheese and lobster mixture. It was incredibly rich (and so full of dairy that I would have been sick for a week. I got a bite, though!)

Steve's parents and the Klidas all leave tomorrow, leaving us sans houseguests for about a day. (The Turpens arrive Saturday night, fresh off their dive trip to Bonaire, near Venezuela.)

The 2nd Part of our Beautiful Day

Have I mentioned yet how awesome it is to have house guests while we're in Hawai'i? We were so lucky to have Steve's parents keep the boys for us while we explored the north and east parts of the island last week. Then, tonight, Joe & Erin offered to take the boys to dinner (to Bubba Gump's--yummy!) and watch them while Steve & I went on a sunset dinner cruise.

For those of you who have never been on something like this, I have one crucial piece of advice--don't take your kids. I was so relaxed, especially since it wasn't my kids about to roll through the spaces in the rails every 10 minutes. (There were only 2 kids, and they were little, and the crew even had to tell their parents to keep a hand on them. SO glad they weren't mine.) Oh yeah, the Mai Tais, Pink Pirates and Champagne probably helped a bit too!

Our cruise was on board the sailing catamaran Seasmoke, which apparently was quite the stuff for many a year. (If you sail, maybe you know. If not, you could look here.)

Being on the ocean while the sun was setting was incredible. And the service was awesome. I don't think I went more than 5 minutes without a drink in my hand (unless I wanted to--like when I needed that hand free to hold my dinner plate)!

After the cruise, we sat on the beach at A-Bay for awhile to finish enjoying the sunset (and to sober up for the drive home). It was so peaceful and enjoyable.

(Tonight's pictures are courtesy of Steve, who took both of them with his phone, since our camera battery was dead by this point.)

A Beautiful Day from Start to Finish

Steve & I visited Waipi'o Valley the last time we were on the Big Island -- almost 6 1/2 years ago, and it was definitely on our "must see again" list. Today we made it, with the Klidas accompanying us. (And thanks to Joe for the great family picture, above.)

The valley is at the bottom of a 900-foot descent down a 4WD road that's at a 25 percent grade. Steep doesn't begin to describe it. Then, once you're at the bottom, you need to navigate ruts and rocks for another quarter mile or so. From the top of the road, the valley is beautiful. From the bottom, it's spectacular. (Now, there are a few residents in the valley. Steve equated it to Ward. Those of you in Colorado will know exactly what we mean!)

In order to get to the cool part of the black sand beach, we needed to cross a stream that, the last time we were here, was about a foot across. Today it was much wider and much stronger. Thank goodness Joe & Erin were with us, because I am pretty sure I would be floating in the ocean with M or D about now, hoping for the Coast Guard to send a rescue boat soon!

We spent an hour or so enjoying the beach and watching the boys play in the surf. Too soon, it was time to wade back across the stream and head up from the valley. What an awesome place to be.



After leaving the valley, we decided it was time for a different kind of beach--Mauna Kea (or Kauna'oa). This beach is hidden at a closed resort (complete with dead grass golf course) in the Kohala Coast resort area. There are only 30 spaces allocated in the parking lot for beachbound cars, so you know you will not have a lot of company here. With the same type of white sand as Hapuna, but a ton less people, this beach gets my vote for my favorite white sand beach. I think Joe has some pictures of this beach on his blog (or maybe in his photo album - look around). My camera battery was dying at this point, so I didn't take any here.

"Don't Hate Me 'Cause You Ain't Me!"

That's the bumper sticker we saw on our way into dinner tonight. I think that sums up our trip -- having lots of fun, but missing our friends (well, the ones who didn't swing the trip this time).

This morning, the boys and I revisited the cool park we found last week. After that, it was time for a snack -- ice cream cones! I've never seen a child enjoy a cone as much as D did.

This afternoon, we explored Ali'i Drive, which is the main drag in Kailua-Kona. We wandered past all the historic sites (none of which we went into, since the kids were, well, being kids), shopped in a few tourist traps, and spent a few bucks at the Fun Factory. (Think Chuck E Cheese with a tourist trap spin -- every game was at least 50 cents, and the good ones were a dollar.)

For dinner, we chose LuLu's, which is basically a bar that's upstairs on Ali'i. Decent drinks and awesome appetizers, with a great view, except for a few power lines.

Sunset tonight took place during a downpour, so I just grabbed a quick shot from the porch. Since it wasn't anything great, I'll share a shot my father-in-law took on a beach in Kaua'i (another Hawai'ian island).

Another Day, Another Beach

Bet you think that by now we would be tired of the get up, eat breakfast and head to the beach routine. Nope.

Steve had to do some work this morning, so the boys and I explored some new areas. We hit a couple of the nearby hotels to see the (non-swimming) beach areas there. I took advantage of the settings to take some photos of the boys. It always amazes me how hard it is to get two kids to look at the camera and smile at the same time.


This afternoon, we decided to revisit Ho'okena Beach, one of our early favorites, for a short beach visit. The boys had a chance to boogie board, Steve got to relax after working, and I got to try out my new long-sleeved rash guard (to give me a chance to be in the sun without feeling like I was a vampire about to burst into flames!).

When we came back to the house, we caught up with Joe & Erin (They spent the day exploring South Point.) and grilled some burgers for dinner. Afterward, we enjoyed an especially gorgeous sunset.

Team Klida arrives!

Joe & Erin got here around breakfast time today, several hours earlier than they had planned. So, we met at Denny's and enjoyed some Grand Slams and such, then took them on the grand tour of Walmart & Safeway (required for every new arrival!).

Since I was still recovering from my bee-yoot-ee-ful sunburn, I chose to hang around home and veg while the rest of the gang hit Kekaha Kai State Park and the awesome beach there. (You'll have to check out the Klidas' blog at http://klidascope.blogspot.com/ for more details on their adventures.)

We grilled some steaks and enjoyed some fruity drinks, caught the sunset, and had a chance to catch up with our friends.

Highs & Lows

Saturday was quite the day for the Loper family. Steve's parents were scheduled to leave on a 4:30 flight for the next leg of their vacation, so we decided to spend a little time at Hapuna Beach State Park before they left. Hapuna is often voted the best beach in the U.S. by various travel magazines and guidebooks.

I don't know that I'd call it the BEST beach I've ever been to, but it is what you tend to think of when you think beach. Miles of white sand, clear blue-green water, and TONS of people. Not an ounce of shade on the beach, which I'm sure is why my back ended up scorched despite my excessive sunblocking. Sunburnt seems like too mild of a description for what I've got going on. Ouch. (Steve and D have a bit of redness too, but not nearly as much. And M seems to be fine.)

We didn't really realize the level of our sunburns today because we ended up dealing with another situation when we got ready to leave the beach. Reta & Ellis were getting ready to pack up around 2 p.m. when they realized that their rental car key was nowhere to be found. Apparently, it floated away in the ocean sometime when they were frolicking with the boys. Oops. (FYI, car rental companies charge big bucks to replace those electronic keys.)

Luckily, Steve was able to run Ellis to the airport to get an extra key for their car, and they made their flight after all. While they have enjoyed their time here, I think they will be very glad to be done with rental cars, airplanes and the like.

Tonight's sunset, while pretty, didn't really yield any spectacular pictures. So, instead, I'd like to offer this sunburn.

Joe & Erin arrive tomorrow, fresh (or maybe ripe) from their 18-hour layover in Las Vegas. We are excited!

Separate Ways

Reta & Ellis took the boys for the day today, allowing Steve & I to explore the island on our own.

Their group hit a beach on Ali'i Drive in Kailua-Kona for some wave time, and the boys had tons of fun, as usual. It was a great opportunity for them to catch up with each other--for the boys to hang with Grandma & Grandpa and for G&G to see how the boys are changing as they grow older.

After spending the morning at the beach, Grandma & M came home to relax, while D & Grandpa went back for some snorkeling. This was D's first time snorkeling, but Grandpa said he picked it up in about 5 minutes and was a natural at it. (Good. Now he can teach me when we go.)

Steve's parents leave tomorrow for Kaua'i, which is the fourth-largest of the Hawai'ian Islands and the farthest away from the Big Island. They'll spend several days there and then stop back by mid-week before heading back to Illinois.

Steve & I had planned to take a great (sounding, at least) hike just outside of Waimea. It was supposed to go to a sweet lookout over Waipio Valley. Sadly, the access road had been fenced off and an official government sign informed us the access had been closed due to "safety" issues. (This usually means someone local petitioned to have access closed because they didn't want so many people tromping around near their land.)

So-oo-oo, we found a nearby state park, where we took a slightly less exciting hike, then drove on to Akaka Falls (near Hilo), where we walked down LOTS of steps to a very tall waterfall.

Later, we went for dinner at a nearby resort, where we enjoyed a Kona sunset (slightly different from our Holualoa sunsets). The bar where we had some pre-dinner cocktails was awesome, and we plan to take everyone there to enjoy the view. So, my sunset shot tonight is from a different, but still beautiful, locale. Enjoy!

Dolphin Days

The boys took part in a Dolphin Quest adventure today and had a great time. For about 90 minutes, they learned about dolphins (did you know they are a type of whale? that was new to me!), the proper names for all their various fins and such, and their habitats. For the last 30 minutes, they got to go into the water with the dolphins, touching them and learning different hand signals designed to tell the dolphins to swim different ways.

For the adults (Steve and I and Steve's parents, Reta & Ellis), the day was a lot of sitting around and waiting. But for the boys, it was chock full of fun. We took a few pictures (OK, I took about 150 pictures, but deleted at least a third of those) and watch the boys have fun.

During the time the boys were in the dolphin classroom (as opposed to the pool), the rest of us took a boat ride through the grounds of the Hilton Waikoloa Village. Wow, is that place a trip!

After helping grill BBQ chicken for dinner, Reta & Ellis got a chance to enjoy our nightly sunset ritual with us. Here's a sunset shot that Steve's dad, Ellis, took with their new camera:

A Lazy Day

We chose to take it easy today. Steve worked in the morning, so the boys and I drove down to Kailua-Kona to check out the public library. For the grand sum of $10, we now possess our own Hawaii State Public Library System card, good for three months.

After browsing the library for a bit, we went to a must-stop destination -- Hilo Hattie's. This Hawaii souvenir/clothing store has it all, including complementary shell leis when you walk in the door. (A few more trips there, and I'll have free souvenirs for all of you!) Then, a quick trip to Safeway (our home away from home, it seems) and we were headed back to the house.

Our original plan for today was to make a quick beach trip this afternoon, before Steve's parents arrived. (More on that below.) But, we quickly realized that we've been going pretty much nonstop since we got here and decided to relax around the house instead.

So, we played a little Uno, read some books, watched some Three Stooges and Pokemon (the boys, not me), and basically just chilled out.

Now we're waiting for Steve's parents to finally get here. They have had nothing but challenges on every leg of their travels. At this point, we hope their last flight (from Honolulu) will arrive around 10:10 tonight, putting them technically here today. I can only imagine how wiped out they will be when they get here.

Tomorrow the boys will be taking part in a 90-minute Dolphin Quest program that includes 30 minutes of time in the water with the dolphins. The program is being held at Hilton Waikoloa Village, known as the Disneyland of Hawaii. The resort features a tram (think of the Disney monorail) and boats (actually designed by Disney engineers) that sail through the canals throughout the resort. Last time Steve and I were here (in 2001), we spent an afternoon just riding around the place taking it all in. (Plus, the tram was air-conditioned, I was newly pregnant with David, and it was HOT.)

Paying for this dolphin program is probably the biggest splurge I've ever done for my kids (not counting paying for private school for M, which I don't really consider a splurge). But, we're on the vacation of a lifetime and, honestly, I will probably never do something like this again with them. So, watch for some photos from the dolphin time in tomorrow's post.

The sky started off very clear for tonight's sunset, but a few pesky clouds moved in right as the sun approached the horizon. Still, I think it was another beautiful night. Enjoy!

A picture of our house in Hawai'i

This picture is of our house in Hawai'i. I hope you like seeing our house. I took this picture at night. I also took a sunset picture.

Tuesday's sunset

OK, I didn't forget my sunset photo for the day. I just wanted to end the previous post with that awesome shot of South Point.

Are you familiar with the green flash? Apparently, at the moment the sun slides below the horizon line, you are supposed to be able to see a flash of green. (That's all I know, as I haven't bothered to look it up yet.)

Well, so far I haven't seen it, as most nights the sun has set into some clouds, rather than actually into the horizon. It was really close tonight, but no green flash yet.

Southernmost Point in the U.S.

Steve's parents were supposed to arrive today. However, they encountered idiocy at its most idiotic in Springfield, Ill., where they were unable to check in for their flight because the ticket agent was busy loading baggage. Yes, folks, this is where Steve and Jennifer are FROM (key word here - from!). Long story short, they will be here tomorrow around dinnertime. The boys are so excited to see them, since it's been almost a year.

Today we decided to drive down into the Ka'u District of the Big Island. This area runs from south of Kona down to the south end of the island (basically, to just before Hawaii Volcanoes National Park). Our first destination was Road to the Sea, a 6-mile 4WD road that led to a black-and-green-sand beach.

(OK, the sand is not green like a golf course, but rather more of an olive color from the olivine deposits. If you want more details, Google it.)

D was pretty disappointed that this was not a swim-in-it kind of beach, but it was beautiful. If we lived here, I could see driving down, watching the sunset, and camping overnight. (As Steve pointed out, the road would be a bitch to drive out on at night.)

This area was quite desolate, with lots of rocky lava deposits and few trees. In fact, I felt like I was in a Jeep commercial. Check out this picture to see what I mean.

Next we drove to Ka Lae (literally, "The Point"), also known as South Point. This spot is the southernmost point of land in the United States. (Not the Florida Keys, as many people believe, which is the southernmost point in the continental U.S.) The drive is quite long, about 12 miles down a paved but narrow road, but it is worth it for the beautiful views. Craggy cliffs with waves splashing high combine with green, lush lands (this spot is out of the shadow of the mountains, so it gets more rainfall) to make a photographer's dream spot. Apparently the fishing is good too, as we saw several local fishermen set up in the area.

Spencer Beach State Park

Steve spent the morning working (and fighting fires with Joe), while Jennifer
and the boys went to a nearby playground. The boys met some kids their age and were able to run around for an hour or so. (In fact, M was so tired out that he fell asleep on the way TO the beach!)

After lunch, we took off for some beach time, this time at Spencer Beach State Park. This beach allowed camping, so there were some very interesting characters there--including a man who looked like Rip Van Winkle and his wife, who should not have been allowed to wear a bikini at either her size or age. (Sorry, no picture, as I need my camera for the next 3+ weeks!) We also saw what grandpas do when there is only 1 Walmart in the area--work as lifeguards! (The lifeguard at this beach was probably in his 60s, but he could still hoist the rescue board.)



M & D got another chance to practice their newest skill--boogie boarding, and of course didn't really want to leave. After a couple hours, though, it was time to head back to the house.

We had a bit of a scare when the tire pressure light came on in the Jeep. However, after stopping to check the levels and learning that, if anything, the tires were OVERinflated, we decided not to worry much about it. (The light quit flashing at us by Tuesday morning.)

In Hawai'i, you learn to just roll with the changes tossed your way. That's why we ended up at Denny's for dinner, rather than at the house grilling our teriyaki chicken as planned. Oh well, it was probably the best view at any Denny's, ever.

I like to end my posts with a sunset shot, but we were driving home during sunset last night. So, I'll just have to tell you that it was beautiful, as always.

Happy Father's Day

We've started today by taking Steve out for breakfast to Aloha Angel Cafe. Great food (breakfast burritos, loco moco and pancakes with coconut syrup!) and geckos hanging around everywhere. We'll go back again.

Right now, we're getting our fill of NASCAR on TV while we hang out at home for a bit. Later, we're off to a coffee tour at Royal Kona Coffee Co. No beaches today, as we all need to recover from a few spots of sunburn. (D looks like he has a huge birthmark on the side of his face, while M has raccoon eyes where we didn't quite get the sunblock close enough on the reapplication.)

Huge rainstorm last night (our house is at about 1200 ft. elevation, where it rains a bit more often), but that just helps keep everything lush and beautiful. We have papaya, mango and avocado trees just outside the house.

Here's a sunset shot I took from our house's deck two nights ago:

It's now about 4 p.m., and we're back from our coffee tour where, amazingly, we met a woman from Longmont. What a small world. She and her husband moved here 2 years ago and recently bought a coffee and macadamia nut farm. They hope to have their own Kona coffee available starting next year, and she offered us a tour of their farm during our stay. We thought we'd wait for some of our coffee-loving friends to get here before we go.

We also visited Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park this afternoon. This "Place of Refuge," as it is known, was a place where someone accused of crimes against Hawai'ian royalty could try to reach to be blessed and absolved of their crimes. (Sounds a bit like confession, huh?)

Kekaha Kai State Park

It's Saturday, June 16, and we've just finished another awesome day on the Big Island. Today we drove to Kekaha Kai State Park, located just north of Keahole Airport. The park consists of a a'a (pronounced ah-ah) field (which is hardened lava rocks) with a 4WD road running through it.

We made a quick stop at Ka'elehuluhulu Beach, which is a sharp sand beach that, while having a pretty view, was not the place for us to spend our day. Instead, we continued on to Mahai'ula Beach, for which we had to walk about 10 minutes on a hardened lava trail through the a'a field. Once we got there, however, we never wanted to leave. It was a beautiful beach, mostly white sand with a bit of black mixed in.

What excited us when we first arrived were the sea turtles! There were at least 3 of them that swam in our area for hours!

The boys spent lots of time running in and out of the ocean, and then they discovered their boogie boards (borrowed from the house we are staying at). I don't know if they will be surfers by the end of this trip, but they seem to be having fun trying!

Finally, after spending 4 hours there, we decided we had to leave for the day. But, this one definitely makes our list of beaches to return to.

EDITED on 6/19: I realized that I really want to share the gorgeous sunsets with you. So, I'm going back into my earlier posts to add a shot or two. I'm dedicating this one to Elvis... .

(Steve thinks my "Blue Hawai'i" reference was too obscure, so let me know what you think.)

Hawai'ian Animal Update 1

We have seen animals in Hawai'i. This daily section will tell you what animals we have seen since the last update.
1. Gecko
2. Roach
3. Rooster
4. Chicken
5. Mongoose
6. Small grey bird
7. Grey bird with yellow markings
8. Turtle (Is in picture)
9.. Fish
Items with two dots are questionable

1st Full Day in Hawaii

Today was our first full day in Hawaii. And I definitely mean FULL. After our late night arrival on Thursday, we were in bed by about 8:30 p.m. or so and up around 5 a.m.! (The boys actually woke up closer to 3:30 a.m., but they kindly played quietly in their room for awhile.)

After getting up, eating breakfast and showering, we felt like it should be time for lunch (that 4-hour time difference meant our bodies were still pretty messed up). We spent the rest of our morning doing all those settling-in kind of things -- unpacking the suitcases, hitting Walmart and Safeway for some groceries and then having a quick lunch of hamburgers grilled on our house's deck. Then, even though our mind's thought it should be about time to start thinking about dinner and bed, we decided to hit our first beach: Ho'okena.

Ho'okena is a salt and pepper colored neighborhood beach south of Kona. The surf was a bit rough, since the tide was coming in, but the boys enjoyed their first exposure to a Hawaii beach.

After the beach, we decided it was finally time for dinner. Talk about a comedy of errors! The first two places we tried didn't open for dinner until 5 p.m. -- and it was only about 4:15. The third place, although highly recommended in several guidebooks, seemed to be closed (or at least renamed and unable to be found!) We finally ended up at a Thai restaurant on Alii Drive, where we sat outside and watched a giant cruise ship turn around and head out to sea.

Overall, it was a great first day in Hawaii.

The Longest Day, Part Deux

Thursday truly was the longest day we've experienced in quite a while. Between three airports, messed-up seat assignments, flight delays at every opportunity and pouring rain on our arrival in Kona (the open-air airport), you'd think it must have been awful. But, it really wasn't.

The boys really seemed to enjoy themselves while traveling, probably because we made sure they didn't get to spend a ton of time together. Michael sat with Steve and mostly played his GameBoy, while David and I drew pictures, listened to the in-flight music stations and napped a little bit. Both kids were real troopers to last through such a long day.

One of the neatest parts of my day was meeting a sculptor from Maritius named Dick Jean Lewis. He was our seatmate on the San Francisco-Kona leg of our trip and was on his way to take part in an artists' competition in Waimea. He and I talked about his art -- he uses wood to carve realistic figures often based on historical events, as well as the school he started in his village of Bambou to help give new options to children who otherwise would be lost to drugs or prostitution.

His government paid for his ticket to the artists' competition, choosing the cheap but long route of Mauritius to Dubai to London to San Francisco to Kona. When we talked, he had been flying for about 27 hours, including a 5-hour layover in London. And he was going to begin his demonstrations and competition work the next morning!

We had some other interesting conversations as well. He asked me if I thought Hawaii would be like "Hawaii Five-O," and if there were lots of cowboys in America like J.R. from "Dallas." I explained how what he was doing by operating his school was a way to pay it forward (great book; awful movie).

While I was talking to him, I really felt like I was in one of those once-in-a-lifetime moments. I mean, how often do you meet someone who is basically an activist, someone who saw a real problem affecting his world and did something to fix it? Honestly, I felt a little ashamed as well to be taking my hard-earned, long-saved-for vacation trip, when I started thinking about how many causes out there could have used this money. But then I realized that, had I not come to Hawaii, I probably would have never met Lewis.

So, long day, long post. See you tomorrow.

The Longest Day

I woke up at about 5:30 AM on the day of our flight to Hawaii. Not for any really good reason, just because my mind started thinking of all the things I needed to do. So, by the time Jenni's mom showed up (early), we were all just sitting around with nothing left to do. So, we ended up loading up the car and heading out to the airport at 10 AM for our 1:30 PM flight. So after flight delays, baggage delays, switching planes in San Francisco, etc., our travel time from Longmont to Hawaii was about 13 hours. Needless to say the kids were exausted! Jenni and I were a little cranky as well, but very happy to be in Hawaii.

Going to the Big Island!

We're going to be spending 4 weeks on the Big Island of Hawaii this summer. We're flying from Denver International Airport on Thursday, June 14th. (Actually, we're already there, but we didn't get around to setting up the blog beforehand.)