Family Vacation - Part 2

At the end of Jared & Stephanie's driveway and across the street is the Laie Temple Visitor's Center.   One block north is their church building.  The elementary school is a few blocks east.  The BYU-Hawaii campus where Jared works is a few blocks south.  No wonder they have survived 5 years in Hawaii with one car and hardly spend any money on gas!

Brinley and Anna walking to 8am church Sunday morning.

We enjoyed a beautiful Sabbath Day attending Jared & Stephanie's ward with them, walking around the temple grounds, playing games with cousins, combining efforts for a yummy orange chicken and curry dinner and taking a few family pictures on the beach that evening.

Monday morning the cousins returned to school and we headed to the Dole Pineapple Plantation in the middle of the island.  We rode the Pineapple Express through fields growing various crops while listening to narration.  Then we explored a horticultural maze together.

As soon as the cousins were out of school, we grabbed the boogie-boards and headed to Castle Beach which has the best waves for boogie-boarding.  The cousins brought along their surf boards and impressed us with their skills.

We spent all afternoon riding waves until Sariah and Jantzen felt the sting of blue-bubbles (jellyfish). It was nothing serious but enough that we called it a day at the beach.

For FHE, the kids played games and the adults went out to dinner at a nice restaurant together.  Then we all watched some of the Olympics and parted ways for the night.

At the end of our delicious meal, the waiter told us that Jared and I ordered the same dish President Uchdorft requested a few months prior.  It's a fairly new restaurant built on PCC land.

Brinley, Anna, Jantzen, Heather, Tanner

We brought along some family names to do work for at the Laie Temple.  Quinn and Elsie hung out with Aunt Stephanie.  It was fortunate we had some female names so I was able to perform baptisms along with Brinley and Anna.  Aaron baptized and Tanner was the recorder.  With tourists frequently coming and going, this temple knows how to utilize their resources.  At the recommend desk in the baptistry, we were greeted warmly by the sweetest Hawaiian man, Bro. Sam.  As soon as he saw our names, he recalled that Aaron was Jared's brother and that he had been to the baptistry two years earlier with Tanner & Brinley.  We later ran into Bro. Sam at the grocery store and he gave us hugs.  I don't know that I have met a more genuinely loving man in a very long time.  It was a beautiful morning for us to spend in the temple.

After the temple, we ventured back to Waimea Valley to visit the sacred valley/botanical gardens and take a nature walk up to waterfalls.  Initially, we planned to jump in and swim but it was pretty crowded and the signs warning us about a local bacteria in the water changed our minds.  Never mind the fact that we had already swam in local watering holes a few days earlier!

An historic village had been reconstructed on site with various huts and plaquards explaining the sacred significance of this valley to the Hawaiian people.  The grounds were beautiful though we didn't spy any of the peacocks the cousins told us to watch out for.

These canopy trees were so impressive to us.

Lunch back at the house and a little R&R before returning to Castle Beach with cousins for more boogie-boarding.  That was probably the kids' favorite activity of the trip.  Anna wanted to snorkel again but we ran out of time in the North Shore area.

Jantzen & Aaron at Castle Beach

I want to remember the Castle Beach miracle.  Somehow Jared's best pair of goggles ended up at the beach (via the back of our car after snorkeling) We had no idea they have a family rule against taking goggles to the beach.  I later learned they lost several pair in the ocean when they first got to Hawaii hence the rule.  Unaware of this rule, Tanner handed them to Isaac who happily accepted and went on his merry way.  During an exchange to Sariah, they were swept up in a powerful wave and disappeared.  Stephanie assured us we would never find them with the current and size of waves at the time, etc.  Aaron, Jared, Tanner and I started searching.  After some time had passed, I noticed Tanner running towards me.  He shared with me how he felt awful about handing the goggles to Isaac (though he had no idea about their rule) and was fervently praying to be able to find these expensive goggles.  At the end of the prayer, he felt something in the water near his foot and pulled out the goggles.  It was such a powerful reminder of the Lord's ability to help us and His willingness to answer our heartfelt prayers.  We all felt grateful for the Lord's tender mercies that day. 

After dinner, Aaron and I took Quinn and Elsie to Alligator Pond to play in the ocean for one last time.  Anna and Brinley attended YW with Alison and Sariah then the kids played night games until past bedtime.  Then cousins said their good-byes as it was the last time they would see each other.

Jared, Tanner, Stephanie - saying good-byes

Jared, Stephanie, Heather, Aaron

It's pretty sad that the only picture we took of the four of us together was in our pajamas on our final night in Hawaii.  We enjoyed hanging out and catching up with one another.  We certainly appreciate the many accommodations that were made while we were in town.  Thank you Jared & Stephanie for a wonderful week in your neck of the woods!

Stephanie in front of their house.

While Aaron loaded up the car, I had Stephanie give me a foot zone before we left Laie Wednesday (Aug. 17) morning.  Our flight didn't leave from Honolulu until 10pm but our check-out time was 10am.  We had one final day left for a few more adventures in Hawaii.

Hens and rooster roam parks & roadsides everywhere in Hawaii.

We drove to the Pali look-out where the wind never stops blowing but the views are incredible.

We explored the weekly swap meet that takes place around the University of Hawaii Aloha Stadium.  The kids each selected a souvenir they purchased with their own money.  Most were useful items (sandals, purse, hat, shirt, tie) but the collector's spoon and snow globe managed to find their way back to our house.  My kids know how I feel about souvenirs...

Even with the late start into Honolulu, we managed to get tickets for the 2:45pm tour of the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor.  The children were touched by the documentary shown prior to the tour and felt the significance of what happened on December 7, 1941.

USS Missouri in the background

Knowing we had several hours before we needed to be at the airport, Aaron and I consulted with each other and did something we have never done before.  We took the family to a full-price matinee to watch "Pete's Dragon".  Even the kids were shocked by how expensive it was which explains why we have never done that before:).  Clearly, a Wednesday afternoon when school is already in session is not a busy time at the mall theater.  I laughed at the way everybody sprawled out and claimed an aisle seat since we had our pick of the place.  So I may or may not have teared up at the end.  Aaron and the kids got a kick out of that but that's a momma's heart for ya!

Dinner at Chili's -  a repeat of our Florida trip.

Final meal before returning the rental car and catching a shuttle to the airport.  I don't love that Delta flights are always red-eyes from Hawaii to the mainland.  Nobody slept much on the plane to Seattle nor on the leg to Boise.  Then it was a brutal 5 hour drive home.  That's when the kids finally fell asleep.  Aaron and I wanted to but somebody had to drive and somebody had to keep the driver awake.  We rolled into home by 5pm on Thursday - happy to sleep in our own beds.

It took a few days for us to get our sleep regulated once again.  You know this boy was exhausted when he fell asleep mid snack at the kitchen counter the next day.  We certainly enjoyed our time in Hawaii and felt grateful for the relaxed atmosphere and our ability to reconnect with family far away.