Leaving Hawaii Too Quickly

We checked out Monday morning and returned the rental car at the airport. We actually got a lot of sun, but we look the same in the before and after photo.

I love Alaina so much and am so proud of her. I don't know how she got to be this old, but she is such a wonderful young woman (she hates it when I say that, but it's true). We really enjoyed this time away to grow closer and have time to visit without daily life getting in the way of conversations. I love our traditions and am grateful for my family!

Polynesian Cultural Center

We had a great Sister Missionary in our Ward, Sister Avea, and her parents got us tickets for the Polynesian Cultural Center on the North Shore of Oahu. I actually found it without any problem but was a little over an hour away from our hotel, so it took a while to get there. It was great to meet them and they were so kind. We got there just in time for the Canoe Pageant, then we took a canoe ride through the 8 polynesian villages.

We walked slowly back through the villages, stopping for amazing coconut in Fiji. YUM! We watched a tapa cloth demonstration, fished and threw spears in Tonga, watched a drumming performance, and on a bamboo raft. Alaina got a traditional tattoo (that washed off the next day in the ocean!)

We went to a delicious Luau and enjoyed Kahlua pork, chicken, pineapple, and coconut cake. We had smoothies in pinepples, too. Then we went to a huge stadium theater and watched the performance of Ah: Breath of Life. It was fantastic and the performers were great. The fire dancing was incredible! I was so tired, but managed to find the way back to our hotel, only getting lost a little.

We went to church on Sunday morning, then, since we had to eat out, I let Alaina talk me into IHOP. She had been asking to go there for a long time, but we never go out for breakfast, so this was her chance! We layed out and walked along the beach. It was a beautiful day and I am so grateful we had the chance to take this trip.

Alaina's Going into High School Trip

We have started some really fun traditions with the kids. When they turned 8 Dave took them to a place they wanted to go...Andy chose Utah for a BYU football game, Alaina and Becca both chose Disneyland, and Ryan chose Legoland. Then, when they turn 10 they get to fly alone to Idaho and spend a week with Dave's parents. And when they are entering High School, the boys go with Dave and the girls go with me, anywhere in America they want for a quick weekend. So, this was the first time I got to go and Alaina chose Hawaii!

For as much as we travel, I was surprised to realize this was the first time I have ever rented a car. Dave always does it. So, I figured out how to drive to Waikiki and we unloaded our things at the hotel. We stayed at the amazing Hilton Hawaiian Village and our building was the one Michael Jackson and Elvis had stayed in. We spent Friday night shopping and eating sushi!

It was such a fun trip. We were able to do whatever we wanted and Alaina got to pick all of the restaurants and activities, without any other opinions or desires. All of these animals were at our hotel.

We went jetskiing first thing Saturday and Alaina proved to be quite the driver! She almost tipped us at first, but got used to it quickly and was really fun to ride with. It was her first time on a jet ski. We saw an amazing sea turtle swimming right next to us in the ocean!

We went parasailing afterwards and did the "Extreme Ride"... 1,000 feet up! The driver dipped us in the water several times and we had a great ride. Alaina said it was the best day!