The Notorious North Shore

The Notorious North Shore

Today was beach day at the North Shore. We stopped at many different beaches and saw so many cool and amazing things today! I know I say this every day but today was my favorite day so far!

“Lost” Beach (Papa’iloa)

I was dying to see this beach and it was all I hoped it would be. We could picture the plane crash and everything! So flipping awesome!

Tour of the North Shore

We went through all the North Shore beaches and stopped to take pics. We found a hidden beach with a super cool tide pool that we played in for a while. It had crabs and all sorts of fish.

Waimea Bay

We stopped here for the rest of the morning and Bob and the kids caught some amazing waves to boogie board on. I tried to get good pics, but my camera didn’t do it justice. Alayna even caught a huge one but crashed and it scared her to death. But Tyler, Bob and Kayla seem to have no fear!

We went to Pizza Bob’s for lunch because we felt like we were starving to death.

Turtle Beach

We went back to the Lost beach and a little farther down to Turtle Beach. When we were there in the morning there weren’t any turtles. Some locals told us they come out in the afternoon for the sun. So, we went back and we were NOT disappointed. It was AMAZING! Tyler and Alayna got to swim by a few and we took pics of some on the sand.

(It’s a race!  Tyler lost!  jk!)

I went in with the kids to snorkel. Even Alayna tried. Tyler is absolutely fearless and was discovering things all over the place. He even had a turtle swim over and smack him in the head and swim away.

The water was amazing and it really is heaven here!

Food

We stopped at the fresh fruit stand and got a mango, fresh pineapple, and taro chips. We also stopped at Ted’s bakery for the legendary Chocolate Coconut Pie. I will let you know how it tastes.

A Buddhist Temple, a Mormon Temple and Where They Filmed lost! (Day 5)

A Buddhist Temple, a Mormon Temple and Where They Filmed lost! (Day 5)

Kapena Falls

We decided to go on a short hike to see Kapena Falls where they filmed parts of the TV show “Lost”. It was NOT marked so we were the only ones up there and found such a beautiful area (thanks to that kick butt book!) Long story short, we had to “blaze” our own trail but it was so worth it and so dang fun to see where parts of “Lost” were filmed. I think we with all the mosquitoes there, our family donated at least a gallon of blood- mostly from poor Kayla! Marisa and I practiced running like the “others” were after us. It’s a good thing they didn’t cast me…

(You like the trail we are blazing?)

(Save me from the Black Smoke Monster!)

(Picture Sawyer swimming??)

Another waterfall (I cant remember the name)

Punchbowl Cemetery/Crater

We went to Punchbowl Cemetery with this AMAZING view over Honolulu! Look it up on google if you are interested, but basically it is the memorial ground for historical Hawaiian royalty and 45,000 soldiers who have died in war in the Pacific. All their names are carved out on the stones leading up to the main chapel area. Its quite beautiful!

(See the names on the walls?)

(Statue at the opening of “Hawaii 5-0”)

Byoda-In (The Buddhist Temple)

This is a scale replica of the temple at Uji, Japan that is over 900 years old. This Buddha is 18 feet tall and thought to be the largest figure carved since ancient times. We decided to go visit it in “The Valley of Temple”- I mean when will we ever chance to go visit a Buddhist temple right?

We had to ring the giant bell before entering.

Then the kids were able to light the incense by the statue as a manner of honor and respect. It was a beautiful area and neat to go show respect for another religion different from ours.

LDS Temple in Laie

Definitely one of my favorite temples!! The weather was so perfect and it’s only a couple of minutes from our house. The view from the temple goes directly out to the beach. It’s quite stunning. We also went through and enjoyed the visitors center.

(Marisa in heaven with all the Books of Mormon in many languages)

Laie Point

We took Jonathan and Diana to see the cool hole in the rock. Then we hung out at our beach, had a pot roast dinner (thank you Bob!) and played Crazy Uno while listening to the sound of crashing waves. Great day!

Storm