Aloha, Hawaii

Thursday morning Jon got up early so that he could watch the BYU basketball game. It was a good thing he did since they ended up winning their first NCAA tournament game in almost 20 years in double overtime. It was a fun game to watch! We spent the rest of the morning at a Marriott time share presentation so that we could get free tickets to the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC). It ended up saving us $150 so we figured it was worth it. We really hate those things, but it's always nice to get free stuff! Needless to say we didn't end up buying a time share.

We made the drive over to La'ie stopping along the way to get some more Malasadas and more Shave Ice. We eventually got to the temple which was really neat to see. It's a beautiful temple, but apparently it was the fifth one to ever be built so it needed some renovations. It's been closed for a year and isn't supposed to reopen for another 6 months so we just got to see the outside of it.

We were able to go inside the visitor's center where one of the sister missionaries showed us around and had us watch a couple videos. There weren't a lot of people there that day so I think she was just excited to have someone to talk to!

We didn't get to the PCC until almost 4:00 in the afternoon so we only got to see 2 of the villages. We were pretty bummed that we didn't get there sooner because both of the presentations we saw were so good. For some reason we were thinking that the villages were more for kids, but the presenters were really funny and entertaining!

Jon got to participate at the New Zealand village presentation- he did a great job!

That evening we went to the luau that the PCC puts on. Most of the food was delicious and the atmosphere was really fun.

After we ate we had about an hour before the evening show started so we got a chance to just walk around the center and buy some gifts for the kids in the gift shop. We weren't allowed to take any pictures of the show, but it was really good. It talked about the circle of life and made us a little melancholy for our kids (just a little)! We were really impressed with the Polynesian Cultural Center and will definitely have to spend some more time there if we ever make it back to the island.

Friday we slept in and then drove to the East side of the island over to Lanikai Beach which is one of the most beautiful beaches in Hawaii. These pictures taken with our water camera do not do it justice. The water is a turquoise color and the sand is almost white. We rented a kayak and rowed out to a little island and then to another beach. We only fell out of the kayak 3 times, but we got really good at getting back in it while out in the middle of the ocean! It's a good thing we rented the waterproof bag for all of our stuff. We didn't understand why we were the only ones that we saw falling out! Kayaking was definitely one of the highlights of the trip for me. It was just so peaceful and beautiful. I loved it.

After getting some lunch we drove the Pali Highway to the Pali Lookout which gives you a good view of that side of the island. We were wet and it was cold and windy up there, but it was really cool to see the beautiful view.

On our way back around the island we stopped at a little place called Kava Roots at got an Acai Bowl. It was a smoothy made with the Acai berry and then they put honey, bananas and granola on top. It sounds gross, but it was pretty good. We watched the surfers at North Shore while we ate it and then we drove back to our hotel.

That night we went swimming at the Ko Olina Beach Club which was right next to our hotel. They had a lot of cool pools and hot tubs with water falls all around. We went around swimming in each one and then would sit in the hot tubs since we were pretty cold. It was so much fun. When do you ever get to just go swimming without your kids?! Jon even perfected his under water handstand (something he's been working on for a long time)!!!

Saturday was our last full day there and I was determined that we were not going to drive anywhere! So we slept in and then I went running and Jon swam laps. We then played tennis and I'm ashamed to say that Jon beat me! This is only the second time in our marriage that he has won. He won 6-5 (our time ran out so we he couldn't beat me by 2) so I guess you can say that it wasn't an 'official' win!

After tennis we put on our bathing suits and I pretty much made Jon lay on the beach with me! He is so not a 'lay in the sun and read a book type of guy'. He seriously layed there with his hat and shirt on and then covered his legs with a towel! He's a little afraid of the sun!

I, on the other hand, loved just laying in the sun and reading my book. It was so relaxing.

Jon made it until 2:00 when he went up to the hotel room to watch the BYU basketball game which sadly they lost. I stayed out there for a few more hours until I had to go up and get ready to go out for our last night. Before Jon headed up we bought lunch and ate it on the grass overlooking the ocean. Again, I'm not sure why Jon has a towel wrapped around him- maybe he was afraid his legs might actually get some sun!

That night we got ready and drove down to Waikiki where we ate dinner at Lulu's Restaurant which overlooked the pier. We watched the sunset while eating good seafood and just enjoyed our last night in Paradise!

What a good looking guy!

After dinner we walked down the beach and then went to a Hawaiian comedy show! I wish we had pictures of some of the comedians- they were pretty funny!

Sunday morning we got up and got ready and then took one last walk around our hotel. The week went by so fast- I couldn't believe it was already over.

We went back up to our room and packed up and then took a few last pictures of the room and balcony.

We stopped and got some Malasadas on the way to the airport and then it was back to reality.

It was so much fun to spend a whole week with just Jon and get to do so many fun things. It really was a dream vacation for us and we can't wait to go back!

Til next time... Aloha, Hawaii!