Day 7 - Paddle, Pack and Eat

Well today is our last day here in the beautiful place called Oahu! The skies have been overcast most of the day at our rental house, but this morning we enjoyed the sun in Haleiwa.  Well not all of us, the twinkies and DD stayed back to sleep and work.

The three of us ventures to try stand up paddle boarding. First we had to do a little shopping, buy a few things we had seen a couple days prior through the window but the store was closed. We rented 3 paddle boards and they pushed us into the nice River.  It was excellent beginner level, calm and easy to navigate, well some of us had an easier time than others.  Lola may have ran into the trees and ran not MB a few times. We were told that we could pass 2 bridges and by the third one we had to turn around. We got the hang of it pretty quickly, and by the time we turned around and headed back, we felt like we could go into the ocean. 

It's selfie time.

Beautiful homes along the river.

We successfully went a little into the ocean, before Lola who was in the front decided she had had enough, and turned around.  MB and AA also agreed their arms were tired from the tiny little waves.  As we turned around, MB and Lola had a little crash, sending MB to hit the deck. She clames she was thrown in the ocean, but go pro video prooves that she was safely face first on the  board. 

We even got to see some turtles. AA was way more observant and saw 5 but MB and Lola only spotted the ones on the shore.  There were also lots of fishes and a bike tire you could see in the shallow waters! 

Even some crabs.

The experience was great and we had an excellent time.  I would do it again, but not sure about fully in the ocean... Those waves sure tire you out.  Reward for our experience was the free shaved ice that was next door.  It was delicious and why have we never tried this before.  It is rather in expensive, and we had to have a free one each to discover this delicious treat? It was good. Not passing that up again. 

We got back to the house, with a quick stop to get diapers and 2 was not enough to get us through the day and home. We had lunch consisting of all the left overs food that we hadn't prepared earlier, this included egg scrambles, hot dogs and fruit and yogurt.  We did a pretty good job eating the food we bought except we bought a few too many snacks, but I guess those can go on the plane with us.

Pre nap playing:)

Twinkies napped, DD worked, and rest of us packed, did laundry, and chilled outside. It is almost supper time, where we are going to go to a burger place a few minutes down the way, then load up the quest and head to the airport... Most of us aren't very happy to be going home, but I guess we will all have to. Wish us luck on the red eye home, and home the twinkies and adults all can get some sleep.

Day 6 - tired feet

Today was yet another successful day, and a busy one as well. 

We started off by taking some pictures outside with the babies in their Hawaiian outfits. 

Lola surprised MB when she came out wearing her Hawaiian dress which she thought she had lost in her house in Winnipeg shortly before leaving for the trip. But luckily she found it, on the floor in the closet.

Not to be outdone, the twinkies took some pictures with their mom and dad. 

After the photo shoot, we loaded the Quest and made our way to Honolulu. Our first stop was Pearl Harbor so we could (hopefully) go to the Arizona Memorial. Luckily, this time it was a GO. 

On the shuttle boat 

You can see the oil slick (bottom right of the picture) that is slowly continuing to leak

The names of the soldiers lost on the U.S.S. Arizona - over 1,100

After a short 15 min walk around the memorial, it was time to board the boat back to the visitor centre. 

Once back on dry land, the crew continued the adventure to Waikiki Beach for lunch at Lulu's where MB and DD had the best fish sandwich of their lives 5 years ago. And, they were not disappointed, although DD did claim that the sandwich was "different". The Mai Tai's were delicious and the babes enjoyed their chicken fingers and Mac and Cheese. 

The sandwich

B (aka Farley) devouring her food; MB already starting to feel the Mai Tai; Lola enjoying the fresh quacamole

Once lunch was consumed and bills were paid, it was time to go to the Honolulu Zoo and a quick diaper change for Turner (aka Simba). 

It was hot in the zoo and many animals were having their afternoon siesta. DD was regretting his clothing choice of jeans and needed to cool down, so the ohana (family) decided to hang out in the park outside the zoo in the shade of the trees. The kids were also introduced to a new, fun game called "fetch" and became quite good at it. 

We then decided to walk the 2.5 miles to the Ala Moana shopping center to eat at Bubba Gump. About an hour later, we arrived and navigated through the parking garage to get into the mall and then to the restaurant on the fourth floor. 

The ladies ordered their usual "pound of crab legs" and were as happy as clams. 

Simba and Farley shared some popcorn shrimp and fruit - they really enjoyed their dinner as well. 

After another 2.5 mile jaunt along one of the main shopping streets in Waikiki back to the car, we loaded up and made the 50 mins drive back to the house. The toddlers were asleep before getting on the H1 and were out without making a sound. They must have been tired. 

We are now back at the house with our feet up, enjoying the peace and quiet on the North Shore for one more night.

Aloha!

AA

Day 5 - fully successful

Well today we finally had a fully successful day, we did everything we set out to do, Waimea Valley hike and waterfall swimming, ride the train at the Dole plantation, and reward with Dole Whip, and finish off the day with a little shopping at a cute baby boutique in Haleiwa and supper.

The hike and water fall were wonderful start to the day.  We looked at wonderful plants, and dipped ourselves into the cold waterfall. Even Twinkies found infant life jackets refreshed in the water. T pretty much screamed the hole time he was in the water, but enjoyed the baby chickens and wearing the life jacket. B just lied on her back and enjoyed the ride the whole time. We went in shifts, so here's a few photos from the hike through the botanical garden and waterfall!

Oh and MB once again forgot to take her Fitbit off, don't worry she put it on her hat once she realized....

Easy walking/standing with a life jacket on.

We felt so refreshed and rejuvenated skin after that fresh water bath, that the Twinkie fell asleep. 

We walked our way back to have lunch but not before snapping a few shots of the hibiscus flowers we had missed on our way there. Here are a few.

We were hungry so off we went to the peacock resturant that was in the same valley,  first we stopped to look at the pavilion where many movies were taped, and the peacock.

Most of us know that MB is afraid of birds so she stayed far away from this one, but who would have known that she would scream so loud from DD pretending to be a bird and pecking at her ear.  She didn't handle that well, good thing the twinkies sleep through a loud scream of terror.

DD trying to comfort her.

Up the elevator we went, and had an amazing lunch, with French and Hawaiian dishes. 

The tiny lift.

Lola and her kalua pork fried rice and bacon and eggs all in one!

Off we headed to the Pineapple Express... It was a good ride, we learnt that one person can plant 10000 pineapples a day, and that they are not only hand planted but also hand harvested.

Before we got on we had a group photo taken, didn't look at it till we got back to the house, but we sure had a good laugh at it... Look closely for AA

After the train we had dole whip!

We all enjoyed the lactose, gluten and cholesterol free dessert!

Last stop for the day was Haleiwa for a little shopping and supper. Boys took the twinkies for drinks while the ladies quickly browsed as most of the stores closed within the hour we arrived.

We found out at supper that Bhad a dirty diaper and DD changed it in the Quest van, and forgot to dispose of the waste before sealing it up.  It was about 32 degrees and sat in the van for over 4 hours.... A little ventilation was required apron return. Here are a few photos from supper, where the twinkies at like champs and DD had too spicy of a buffalo chicken pizza. We also had a at the table dance party which was so much fun chair/highchair dancing to footloose!

We came back to the house, changed, fed and put twinkies and MB to bed, and DD, AA and Lola played cribbage and contemplated why the moon and the earths shadow are orientated about 90 degrees differently than in Canada. DD will hopefully continue to research and get back to us as we still can't quite figure it out. 

A successful day, and hoping tomorrow it continues!

Lola