The Final Day

The Final Day

June 14, 2011

We checked out of our house (boohoo!) We took the scenic highway through the beautiful mountains. It has quite a view from the top.

Pearl Harbor Part Deux

Our biggest goal was to get back to Pearl Harbor and take the ferry out to the USS Arizona Memorial. We went through this wonderful museum and it was so fun for me to see my children excited about history. Kayla was particularly interested. I always hope that we have been able to teach them to respect what has happened in our history and respect those who have served and who do serve in the military to protect us.

(Using the code breaker machine)

(Torpedo wreckage found in the 1990s when they dredged the harbor)

(A piece of wreckage from the USS Arizona)

The tour starts out with a very informational movie which really explains why the Japanese attacked and included real footage which I always find fascinating. Then we took a ferry ride out to the USS Arizona. The memorial is beautiful and touching as you can see the actual ship beneath you. It is humbling to think of all the soldiers entombed there and see the thousands of names engraved on the wall. We were able to see the USS Missouri from a distance as well.

(The view if you look up from the memorial)

We also hit Walmart for some awesome souvenir shopping and I even broke down and got a sarong and Marisa got the ukulele she has been wanting.

We made it Home!

Our plane left Honolulu at 6:40PM and we had a long, bumpy flight that arrived in Dallas at 7:00AM. Our flight to Cedar Rapids was delayed, but we made it home safely. We were all a little home sick and happy to be home again. But we miss Hawaii terribly!

The FINAL Beach Day

The FINAL Beach Day

Sharks Cove

We knew we had to live it up on the final day! First, we went snorkeling at Sharks Cove. Tyler and I went exploring into some pretty deep places and saw the most amazing things including a sea urchin about the size of my head and a grouper about the size of Tyler- which made me freak out, panic, and scatter to safety! I probably scared him more than he scared me. We saw trumpet fish, silver fish, clown fish, and they all swam super close so we could almost touch them. It was incredible!! Alayna even learned to snorkel and she loved being able to swim next to so many fish! I wish I had an underwater camera so we could have shared the experience with you!

(See the cool bird that was pecking fish up out of the water?)

(You cant tell but that’s me and Tyler)

Bob, Kayla, and Alayna crossed over to the other side of Sharks Cove and discovered the most amazing toilet bowls (when the ocean rushes in and out). It was beautiful and Kayla with some of her amazing camera work was able to capture some of the beauty we were able to see.

By the time we left, it was pouring rain. We tried Goat Island but the waves were too high to try and cross. So, we went home and had lunch.

Pounders Beach and “I have a Coconut in my butt!”

The afternoon was gorgeous! It was sunny so we headed to pounders which had KILLER waves and I am NOT kidding when I say I now know why they call it “Pounders”! The waves were GINORMOUS, but I am proud to say Tyler, Bob, and I braved it and it was exhilarating. The waves would lift you up and practically drill you into the sand like a fencepost. I was pretty proud, especially when I caught the big ones and didn’t die or lose my swimsuit!

The waves were so strong that at one point Alayna turned to Kayla and said, “I think I have a huge pile of sand in my butt” and then she pulled out this giant coconut that had gotten shoved into her swimsuit. So funny!

We went back to Hukilau beach with the softer waves for the rest of the girls to Boogie Board. I wish my camera could have captured even half of the beauty.

We finished off the night with lots more Lost! So fun to actually see where they filmed. Only 2 episodes left to finish off the 1^st season with the kids.

Temple and Enjoying Nature

Temple and Enjoying Nature

Sunday June 12, 2011

We spent the morning at the visitor center again to see anything we missed. Then we walked down to the Contemplation Circle just down from the temple right by the beach.

(Reading the Hawaiian BOM)

In the afternoon, we went and walked along Laie and Hukilau Beach. Obviously Alayna cant quite read the waves yet because she ended up soaked in her Pjs.

Trying to Crack a Coconut Found at the Beach: