Thanksgiving in Hawaii

WOW! So I know there are a TON of pictures in this post, trust me this is the short version. We were fortunate enough to be in Hawaii for 10 days over the Thanksgiving holiday this past year. It was nothing short of amazing! It honestly was better than I had ever imagined. I found myself very emotional and thinking of the people I love who weren't there and how I wished they could see what I was seeing through my eyes. It was probably Dwayne's favorite place he was stationed throughout his Army career and he was excited to share things with us as well as explore new things he had never done.

Nicole, Jerry, Noah and baby Paige our dear friends that welcomed us into their home and lives for ten days! Thanks guys we love you!

Waimea Falls, okay so we were dorks and hiked all the way to the falls only to find out we could swim and didn't have our suits!!!

Kids and I at Waimea Falls

Sunset Beach (North Shore), the Triple Crown of surfing was going on while we were there AWESOME! Events were held here and at Haleiwa.

When we wished we had a better camera lense!

Our CHEESY Hawaiian photo op, c'mon we HAD to!!

This is Rainbow Falls, (Hilo) on the Big Island

Hiking around Rainbow Falls.

Emma found a pretty flower, she LOVED doing this while we were there.

Pretty peacock at Waimea Falls, they walk right up to you like nothing (and they'll steal your food too!)

The girl peacocks shopping of course!

Sea turtles resting at Punalu'u black sand beach on the Big Island

Our coconut postcard we sent to my parents hee hee!

They got a good chuckle!

Emma with her plumeria flower the lady selling the coconut postcards gave her (from her very own tree). She wanted to keep it forever!

Kids and I at Rainbow Falls.

Arriving at Punalu'u

Punalu'u black sand obviously because of the lava rock

Sea turtle resting on Punalu'u

Peyton and Emma keeping the required distance from the turtles

I hopped in to join them

The kids sitting near a broken lava rock bubble

Thurston Lava Tube at Kilauea

Dwayne and Emma entering the lava tube

In the lava tube

These are steam vents at the top of Kilauea and they are HOT!

Just took over everything!

New growth coming through
Hiking out across the lava fields is pretty dangerous, it sounds like glass breaking under your feet, and this was a BIG OL Hole.

Pretty view of the lava rock and ocean

Cool to look back up at how the lava has flowed down

The end of Chain of Craters Road and beginning of our hike

This was just cool looking lava rock
We couldn't believe these crazy palm trees sticking up through the lava rock

Extreme danger beyond this point, gee ya think?

Starting out.

Steam vents (and the smell of sulfur).

Kilauea Caldera

An offering to Pele'

Chain of Craters Road

Ahhhhh starting to get closer to the shore and fresh air!

At the Polynesian Cultural Center luau (which from here on out is referred to as PCC)

Dumb Dumb want gum gum.

This was a shot Dwayne got at the night time Horizons show at PCC (VERY COOL)!

Ummm you can read what this is HA HA

The kids learning the story of Pele' and Kilauea

Emma playing drums in Tonga (PCC)

Dwayne got to rub two sticks together to make fire and husk coconuts in Samoa (PCC)

This guy in Samoa (PCC) was AWESOME! Coconut juice NOT MILK!

NOW...with the cocunut shredded you get milk.

Samoan with Emma and Peyton

Fiji (PCC)

Inside the Fijian exhibit (PCC)

When I say Moo you say My, Moo, My, Mo, My, Mooooooooo, Myyyyyyyyyyy

Peyton and Emma get a raft ride with our "Cousin" Jasmine

I can't believe they let Peyton steer for a quick second!!!

Aotearoa (New Zealand) PCC. Offering Dwayne the peace leaf.

Dwayne came in peace and was Chief for the day.

Emma with her Hula teacher after Hula lesson (PCC).

Hawaiian bowling (us girls won OF COURSE!)

Hawaiian checkers (PCC).

Pearl Harbor, I can't even describe.

It's sooooo quiet out there.

Leaving the memorial.

Hanauma Bay, the snorkeling here was AWESOME and the kids did so well! Poor Emma had a faulty snorkel which we didn't find out until we were out in the water, they were dry snorkels and she could breathe out but not in. Once I realized and we got her a good one she was able stay under and got soooo excited, she came up snorkel in mouth yelling,"I SAW MY FIRST FISH!" stuck her head back down came up immediately again and said,"I SAW MY SECOND FISH!!!" (it was the same fish but we just clapped and said YEA!!!!!!)

The beach at Hanauma Bay

Leaving WAY TOO early in the morning to go deep sea fishing for the day!

The sunrise was worth it!

Emma, Daddy, and deckhand Gary waiting for the BIG fish.

No caption necessary

Peyton and Emma learning about the USS Arizona. Peyton was suprisingly VERY interested in this, after watching the film before heading out on the boat to the memorial he said, "I hope we whooped their asses!!" To which I had to have talk with him about language!!!!


This was our ten days in a nutshell, educational, lifelong memories, fun, warm, relaxing, family, friends and of course ALOHA! It was AWESOME!