Ice Cream

Mckenna hardly talks at all. Last night she was really trying to tell us something while we were trying to read scriptures. The poor thing was trying sooooooo hard and Savannah finally figured out what she was saying.

Hawaii Trip 2012- Part 6....the End!

 It is time to say goodbye to Maui. We've just finished paying off Hunter's medical bills, we've been working on building our food storage and working to pay off our last student loan but I'm glad we decided (after much discussion) to take this vacation. Hawaii isn't cheap (and we couldn't do it without the free flights) but it is such a relaxing, peaceful, beautiful, exciting place. We are so thankful for our blessings that allow us to enjoy such a nice vacation.....I don't mean to sound cheesy but I don't want to take it for granted!!! The time spent with our two oldest kids is priceless and the memories we can enjoy for eternity!

Hard to wake this sunburned boy up for our flight!

Last family picture on the lanai

Powell showing Brinley that he really did bring her picture and he looked at it every day!

Hunter finally got up and ready to go. Notice his shark tooth necklace.

Can you believe she is 11? Looks much older to me.

Felt good to actually get dressed and do my hair and make-up

Flight delayed by 2 hours

Massage chair anyone?

Waiting for the shuttle in San Francisco because we missed our connecting flight.

Hawaii Trip 2012- Part 5

Honokeana Cove 

We found the BEST PLACE TO SNORKEL EVER if you are looking to see turtles. We must have seen at least 20 green sea turtles of all sizes. It wasn't the easiest place to get too. We went to Napili Beach, which is where we stayed last time we were in Maui and then followed the coastline around to Honokeana Cove. There isn't a beach so you have to climb in on the rocks which isn't easy with flippers on. Needless to say we did it! The extra effort was worth it. I actually think it was harder to get out than it was to get in.  The kids loved the snorkeling and stayed out there for about an hour. I got cold so I only stayed out about half that time. Because we had to hike around the rocks to get to the cove, we didn't bring our camera (we were carrying all of our gear). Here are 2 pictures I took off of the internet of a green sea turtle and also the cove.

Families of these wonderful green sea turtles were found in the cove.

Honokeana Cove

Napili Beach was busy! It is such a great white sand beach.

We found our own private beach near Napili after we were done snorkeling to enjoy our picnic lunch. I got this cute picture of Savannah and Powell talking.

He built some kind of structure but then the tide came in and washed it away!

We heard about a really good place for Hawaiian Shave Ice called "The Local Boys". We drove down to Lahaina to try it.

It was the best! Ice Cream on the bottom and cream over the top.

Not cheap!

Hunter wanted to watch this man carving turtles, tiki's, swords etc. Hunter bought a sword as one of his souvenirs.

The Gazebo Restaurant is known on the island as one of the best places to eat. It is really tiny so the wait can be long. We waited 45 minutes in line just to be seated for breakfast. Luckily the food came out really fast.

Inside the restaurant is kind of funky.

BANANA MAC PANCAKES WITH COCONUT SYRUP.....need I say more?

Maui Omelet (Ham, Pineapple and Swiss Cheese)

We went to Black Rock at Ka'anapali Beach and snorkeled some more. The kids found this funny sign to put their heads through by the Sheraton Resort near the beach.

Can't keep this kid away from his guitars! He bought a ukelele and played us some tunes.

New favorite drink is POG:Passionfruit, Orange and Guava

Aloha Mixed Plate is a restaurant in Lahaina with really reasonable prices with all kinds of Hawaiian food. Savannah got the rice and meat patty topped with a fried egg and brown gravy. It was actually the best of all the food we got!

Hawaiian mixed plate with pork and cabbage, rice, macaroni salad, poi, etc.

Last night in Maui......so sad!

Decided we better go back for another shave ice since it was our last night.

Hawaii Trip 2012- Part 4

 After the road to Hana day we were really tired. We took it easy in the morning and had lunch on our lanai. Hunter was chomping at the bit so Powell took him for a ride in the convertible. He is obsessed with cars right now and was really excited to have the car we got. He was the one who chose the color when we got to the rental car place. After lunch we headed to Wailea. It is where Powell visited with his family for 3 summers in a row and then they moved there for a year when he was in 6th grade. Wailea is such an amazing place. I wish we would have taken a few more pictures there. We played on the beach and walked around.

What a stud!

Lunch on the lanai overlooking the ocean.

We saw a turtle while we were eating lunch.

Polo Beach is next to Wailea Beach. The Polo Beach Club is where Powell and his family would rent a place each summer.

The condo they eventually bought and then sold is in the background. We are sooooo sad they didn't keep it!

We wanted to keep the Sabbath Day Holy but we still had things we wanted to see so we thought the volcano would be a good choice after church.

Lahaina First Ward

After driving through the upcountry (which is also very beautiful), we went to Haleakala National Park. Remember we went from sea level to 10,000 feet. It was quite a climb. The kids had fun watching the temperature climb from 80 down to 40.

Overlooking the crater formed by the volcano. It was huge!

If we weren't hiking around, we were pretty much freezing. The wind was super cold. Luckily we packed gloves, long sleeved shirts, jackets and warm socks.

We hiked part of the way down into the crater. Notice the volcano cones in the background.

 

Powell during the sunset

It doesn't even look cold but we were huddled together waiting for the sun to set and it couldn't come fast enough. It set at 6:59 pm that day.

We were ready for dinner after our day at the volcano. We stopped in Lahaina and ate at Cool Cat Cafe. The burgers were super good.

Powell had some kind of Southwest Burger that had jalapenos, guacamole, tortilla chips etc. on it.