Hawaii 2011

We had the great fortune to spend the end of 2011 and early 2012 in Hawaii.  Our friends joined us and we celebrated Christmas and New Years in the Aloha sun.

We should have called this our Hono trip.  As we saw lots and lot's of Hono or turtles this time.  We even saw them in the waters right off of Waikiki beach.

To accommodate school, airline miles and timing, we all came and left at slightly different times.   Brad arrived first, then I arrived a few days later then Maria and Nate came to join us.  Shortly thereafter Lilia and the kids arrived, then Brad left, then Mike Arrived, then the Cottles left and finally we left.

Here's Brad enjoying the view at Hanauma Bay.  Can you believe he actually went in the water?

Nate's an old pro at Hanuama Bay now.  We've got lots of photos like this one.  Although this year we got to hear him get REALLY excited and scream as he saw fish with his mask and snorkel.  He really took to the snorkeling.

In addition to the turtles we saw lot's of rainbows this time.  In this case a double rainbow from our dining room window.

There were some pretty spectacular sunsets too.

Nate got a tattoo, of a Hono of course.

Nate, Lilia and Shayne at the Dole plantation

Group shot.  Couldn't do the maze because it was too wet and they kept it closed.  But we did go on the train ride this time.

For a small portion of the trip we had Lilia's underwater camera and got some good photos.  That is until it stopped working.

Nate, Shayne and Chloe all took to paddle boarding.

Nate in his Santa hat on the beach of Hanauma Bay

Here I am at the Blowhole with Nate, Shayne and Chloe.  Behind us is the beach where From  Here to Eternity was filmed.

Chloe's attempt at a sand/snowman.  

Girls do what girls do.  And on vacation, or pretty much anytime they get together, that usually involves a drink and lots of talking.

We did take time to bury the kids in the sand.  Here's Shayne with his sand boobies.

The kids taking another turn on the paddle board.

We tried our best to have a traditional Christmas.  See our tree behind the Cottles?  Small, but it fit just right.

An excited Christmas morning.

Nate's favorite gift was his Heelly's.  He's gotten really good with them, loves to ride them everywhere.

Christmas day we walked to the beach in front of the Hale Koa and kicked it on the sand with our Santa hats.

They had this sleigh setup for photo taking, so we hopped in.

We played a little football on the beach.  Nate through his first  real pass.

Of course we made it to Hanauma bay several times.  This time we hiked  and got a different view of the crater.

Mike at the top, enjoying the view.

Proof I made it as well.

Shayne and Nate analyzing the swells, trying to find the right set.  We didn't see any big waves, but enough to get some surfing in.

For the first time since I was here with HP entertaining the Japanese we hiked Diamond Head.

Mike and Lilia joined me while Maria stayed back with the kids.

The view from atop Diamond Head.

Not satisfied with a hike, Mike had to hang out and get an upper body workout.

We took a boat ride out of Kaneohe Bay and they took us to a sand bar, where they setup a volleyball net and we played for awhile.

On the boat in the bay.

Nate had a few more surfing lessons.  He really enjoys it.  Although they made him paddle out this time.

He's getting really good.  Actually had him flipping back and forth on the board.

We were all feeling a little Hawai 5-0 ish, so we rented the outrigget.

Surfed some waves.

Had a great time

With some spectacular views.

Maria rented a paddle board, Nate likes to use it as a diving board and goes running off it.

For Christmas dinner we went to the Luau across the street.

Brad and I woke up one morning and the Hawaii Marathon ran right by our building.  I might have to try that one year.

Nate loved to be buried in the sand.

But when he couldn't get himself out, he needed help from me.

Overall it was a fantastic time.  Can't wait to do it again, although it may be awhile before we get another chance.  Loved spending the holidays with our friends.  Thanks for coming and sharing it with us.
Aloha.