Scott and I just got back from a great two weeks of vacation! While we were in Hawaii we did a million things and I did not keep a journal about any of it, which means that this is going to a long blog post! Sorry about the trillion pictures, but I want to write it down while I still remember everything that happened!

We flew in on a Saturday afternoon and had plans to get out and see Hawaii. These plans did not happen because we did not realize how tired we would be, with the time change and everything. We ended up finding some groceries and going to bed.

Sunday we went to church. After church we went to Pearl Harbor to visit the Arizona Memorial. It was really neat, especially because just weeks earlier I was in the classroom teaching 5th graders all about Pearl Harbor and WWII. It was great to be there where it all happened. It really hits you when you see the ship lying in the water.


After Pearl Harbor we decided to go on a nice hike to Manoa Falls. The hike was one of the most gorgeous hikes I've ever done. The hike was actually better than the destination. We felt like we were on the set of a movie. It looked just like Jurassic Park. It was a complete rainforest, with all of the mosquitos and everything!




Monday we woke up bright and early to go snorkeling at Hanauma Bay. Wow! We decided that snorkeling is one of our favorite things to do. We saw some amazing fish. We actually saw a sea turtle! We tried to get pictures using an underwater camera, and unfortunately they didn't really turn out like we had hoped. You'll have to take our word for it, that it was awesome!

This day was one of our favorites because after we were done snorkeling we just drove up the east coast of Oahu and pulled off the road whenever we thought something looked cool. We stopped at a blowhole, a bunch of beaches and did a little hike. We went to Makapuu point and hiked up to a light house. You could see beautiful beaches for miles.


After the little hike we drove to what they say is the #1 beach in the US, and I'd have to say that I agree with them on that. I have never seen more turquoise water with white sandy beaches. It was also great because it was one of the least crowded beaches we were on the whole trip. In the distance are two islands that are bird preserves. We actually kayaked out to these islands later on the trip.

After we'd decided we were exhausted and wanted to head back to our hotel we made one last stop. We were driving through the mountains and Scott saw a sign that said scenic lookout point, so he quickly got off the freeway. We didn't know what to expect at this place, but it was breathtaking! It was called Pali Point (I think). The cliffs were complete faces and you could see nearly the whole east coast.



Tuesday morning we hit the International Marketplace. While we were there we stopped at a pearl stand and Scott picked an oyster out of a tub. The guy at the stand pried open the oyster and there was actually a really awesome pearl inside! It has a pink shine to it. We had it put into a necklace that has a setting that looks kind of like lava. I love it!

After the marketplace we went up to the North Shore. We went to the Laie lookout point.


Then we went to the Polynesian Cultural Center. Scott learned how to start fire with two sticks. He was actually really good at it! After learning about all of the Polynesian cultures we went to a Luau that has a roasted pig and all the pineapple you could eat! After dinner we got to watch the amazing show that they put on there.




Wednesday we went back to Lanikai beach and kayaked out to those two islands. Kayaking was a little more work than I originally thought it was going to be! It was fun kayaking on the waves of the ocean.


After kayaking we went back to hotel and got cleaned up. We went out for dessert at the Cheesecake Factory and got a delicious white chocolate raspberry truffle cheesecake. Yum!


Thursday we went up to the North Shore again and went beach hopping. After a day in the sun we decided to go to Matsumoto's famous shave ice stand. They were awesome! I got one with ice cream in it and Scott got everything in his, which included beans...very interesting. He loved it so much that we had to go back the next day too!


On our drive back we decided to stop at the Dole Plantation. We bought a couple of souvenirs and took a ride on the "Pineapple Express." It was a pretty quick trip, but you can't go to Hawaii without going to the Dole Plantation!


The next day, our last day in town we went to Waimea Bay on the North Shore and had a blast! At Waimea Bay there is a rock that you can climb on and jump off of into the ocean. It was a lot of fun, but very packed! While we were on the rock getting ready to jump we saw something right where a girl had just jumped. We thought it was a rock, then we noticed it had four stumps sticking out of it and it started to move! It was a sea turtle! It was swimming around and actually came to the surface so we could see it really well! We took videos of us jumping off the rock, but I don't have the patience to upload them right now!

Our last night in Hawaii we wanted to have dinner on the beach. We decided to go walking to see what we could find. We found a really cool restaurant in one of the hotels. It was a restaurant where you grill your own food. You order the meat you want and they bring it out raw. You take it over to this huge grill and season it up and grill up! We also grilled some pineapple and, of course, we both got tropical smoothies! it was definitely a unique and fun experience!



After dinner, we enjoyed one last walk on the beach, before we flew out the next morning! It was a great vacation and we can't wait to go back in 20 years (we don't think we'll get away again before then with a kid coming and all)!