Pololu

Okay, I know, enough of the travel log already. Sorry this is my journal/scrapbook. Feel free to skip.

We did eventually make it to Pololu. It was a spectaculary beautiful day when we went and we kept stopping to take pictures of the emerald pastures in Kohala. We had a fabulous view of Maui's Haleakala too. Once in the valley we hunted for the old rope swing but the tree fell down. We did find some other swings, so that was good.  The river was so low it didn't make it to the ocean, and the waves, as always were spectacular.  We picnicked and then hiked up the other side of the valley for a peek at the next valley. It was amazingly beautiful and we got to eat strawberry guava along the trail. The boys had fun with the walkie talkies, and the hike made me very excited for the new season of Lost!  I love Pololu.

Hualalai and the coast:

the cows that graze here have a pretty unreal view:

Maui looks close enough to swim to:

Ahhh, lovely Pololu:

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Christmas Eve we woke up to a serious rainstorm that seemed to be covering the entire island. We were optimistic and headed to Pololu Valley for a hike, but when we arrived it was too rainy, windy, and cold (yes I know cold is a relative term here). We attempted the beach, but the wind was too much and so we headed to Merriman's restaurant for lunch/baby shower for little baby Mango. In the evening the kids opened the traditional Christmas P.J.'s and we all sang carols until the kids went to bed.

Rained out:

Gifts and Food in honor of baby Mango:

P.J.'s:

Christmas morning finally came and the kids loved their gifts and Clara especially loved her new purse filled with all kinds of doodads from Grammy.


The weather was more co-operative (how would you like to have that view out your kitchen?).
So we headed to Hapuna beach where the rest of the residents and most of the tourists seemed to be.  That was okay, we had a nice time anyway.  Uncle Todd helped the kids make sand snowmen. The kids had a lot of fun boogie boarding.  Anders, reportedly told Auntie Whitney regarding boogie boarding, "I guess I have a new talent.  Now I have all the talents in the world except singing and dancing."

We walked over to the blow hole and just beyond it to the cove where Courtney and I spent almost the entire summer of 1998.  I love that place. 

These brave swimmers decided to swim back to the beach rather than walk. (Notice the clouds coming back, the weather wanted to be Christmasy I guess).

After the beach, we ate a delicious turkey dinner.  Thanks Tutu.

Adventures Close to Home

There is no shortage of things to do on the Big Island.  But the kids had just as much fun exploring Tutu and Papa's yard as they did at the beach.  They spent an entire afternoon exploring under the house where they found all kinds of good stuff, like old bikes, and chairs, and who knows what else.

Then there was the toad we found in the grass.  Clara nearly had a coronary when she almost stepped on it.


And of course there was plenty of chocolate and other goodies to be had.

We had a grand time decorating the ginormous Christmas tree Tutu bought.  It smelled soooo good!

And then there was star gazing.  There are no city lights and at night the stars are so amazingly bright and plentiful it is hard to even find the big dipper, which is about all you can see here.

The kids and some of the grown ups made some gingerbread houses on Christmas Eve.

Anders found this crazy dead chameleon in the yard.  

Puoko

We had a great time searching for honu, opihi, urchins, sea cucumbers, fish, crabs and more at Puoko. Honus (sea turtles) are supposedly endangered, but we saw so many it was hard to believe that they still are.  I think we saw on this day alone around forty.  I don't ever remember seeing so many, ever and at so many different beaches.