Humuhumunukunukuapuaa

Last year on our visit Daniel and I were fortunate enough to see a turtle swimming around Hanauma Bay. No such luck this year, but it was still a great visit. The boys had a ton of fun, and even though I am starting to get pretty tired, I had a lot of fun as well.



We got up early this morning (who am I kidding, we get up early every morning) and were out the door by just after 8 AM. After sitting through the 9 minute orientation movie we trekked down the hill and set up camp in Tutu's favorite spot. Sammy and I played in the shallows while Suzy, Papa and Daniel headed out to deep waters. Many fish and one very cold boy later they waddled past Sammy and I on their way in to warm up and snack away.



Showing the resiliancy of youth, Daniel was soon ready to head back out, so I got my shot. Out Daniel and I went to find Papa, while Suzy took a turn chasing Sammy around. I particularly liked seeing the humuhumu, and we also got to see some cool fish that mimiced rocks. Speaking of mimicing a rock, I soon did my best rock impersonation, catching some much needed rest before the surprise of the day happened. Sammy, my anti-water boy, continued his surprises of yesterday by asking to go out in the deep water.



After getting out there, he decided that actually sticking that big head underwater might scare all the fish away. So, being the nature loving kid that he is, he declined to actually snorkel, but he did let me pull him around the bay for a while.


The boys then had a lot of fun playing in the shallows and sand together before we headed up the hill.

Proof that we actually made it up the hill (and didn't even take the shuttle, which was a mistake...) After that busy morning we snuck over to Hawaii Kai for an early lunch (Korean BBQ) and some treats at Zippys and Bubbies. Sammy was busy enjoying his pastry from Zippys, when his Mama came out of Bubbies with some more mochi ice cream. Needless to say, the pastry was soon forgotten as his begging kicked in.

Hawaii Kai is a pretty nice little community, with a waterway that we were enjoying during our lunch. After lunch we headed home for some much needed downtime, during which only Papa was able to sleep. That is, he was able to sleep after getting his first victory at Mexican Train, a domino game we have been playing a lot of.

What's going on tomorrow? Glad you asked, I think that we will be having some yummy food and finding some pristine beach. Wish us luck in finding the food and beach.

Day 3: Fishing for Sammy

What a day.

It started out early, although not as early as yesterday. The boys first started stirring at 5:30 or so, and we didn't have to start dealing with them until six something. So yesterday I got to enjoy the sunrise with my wife, but today I got to sleep 'in' a bit, it's a toss up as to which I enjoyed more.

After a great breakfast of bacon and eggs cooked al a Papa, we headed down to the beach for a morning stroll. The first discovery (of many) was this squid, which to me was pretty big, the picture just doesn't do it justice.


After the stroll along the beach we headed into Hawaii Kai, just 20 minutes away around Makapu'u Point, to pick up some more groceries, and any other yummy things that we could find. Suzy had scouted out this mall yesterday on her way to Costco, and had quickly zeroed in on Bubbies, a mochi ice cream place she frequented while spending a summer 'studying' at the University of Hawaii.




After quickly finishing off the dozen packets of goodness (and an additional three more just to make sure the first twelve were accurate representations of true mochi ice cream), we took care of business at Foodland, and stopped in to pick up some sushi for lunch.

We needed to hustle home because we were having our first guests of the season at Hale Terry, Auntie Bonnie, Cousin Amy and Granpa Burge we coming. Daniel had a hard time sitting still during the sushi lunch (yes there was ika, no it was not the ika from that morning on the beach), because one of the main reasons he was excited about coming back to Hawaii was to build legos with cousin Amy. Wish granted.


It was such a busy morning that Suzy and Sammy needed to take a quick nap to rest up for the evening's festivities. Once there power nap was done we headed to the beach for some time in the water.



Yesterday was fun in the water, despite the flat conditions. Today was great. Stupendous. To quote one of my favorite TV characters, 'Awesome'. Why? Glad you asked. For the first time in his life, Sammy rode a boogey board wave into shore. Last year was great, Sammy went out in the surf with me, but hung on to my neck so tightly there was no chance he was riding a wave in. This year, it started out much the same, but to my surprise he got braver and braver the longer we were out there. Lo and behold, after half an hour or so, we had caught three waves. Amazing.


I thought my day was done after that, but nope, I was wrong. Daniel decided he wanted back on the board, and he then shocked me by agreeing to catch a wave in by himself! I had him out there, found a good wave, and gave him a shove. He even got clobbered once, shook his head, wandered around the beach for a few seconds, then turned around and ran back in with me.

Couldn't believe it. What a day.

So, why the 'Fishing for Sammy', title? Well, after his second successful wave ride I was getting a bit cocky, and picked a bit of a bigger wave for our third try. Not a great idea on my part, and we got pounded. I think it was mainly on the followup wave after our ride was mostly over, it knocked me over, and thus down went Sammy, with the board on top of him. I reached out with my hand underwater, grabbed the first thing I could, and up came a Sammy leg, thankfully still attached. I had caught myself a thoroughly wet, a bit scared, but still mostly happy Sammy. I decided not to throw him back in, he is a keeper!

Day 2

I slept well last night, but woke up early and just couldn't get back to sleep so I decided to watch the sun rise. I love being awake in the wee hours of the day. I love the quietness. I just sat and listened to the roar of the wave as the sun slowly made its way over the horizon.

After breakfast and a nice stroll along the beach Papa, Tutu, Sammy and I made a Costco run and loaded up on lots and lots of food.
Papa and Sammy napped together after lunch and then we put on our bathing suits and headed down to the beach. Daniel and Sammy jumped waves and Daniel even did a little boogie boarding with Dan and Papa.

We made it!

As I write I am looking out the window at an amazing view of the beautiful Pacific Ocean washing up against the beach at Waimanalo. Yes, we are back in Hawaii for our second annual gathering at the House of Stones. We had a great trip yesterday. Did I really just say that? And we even had the boys with us. It was the easiest trip with the boys yet. We had no delays or problems. The boys were well behaved. The lines were short and amazingly the flight went by quickly. I couldn't have asked for a better trip. Well, maybe first class, but that would be pushing my luck.

It took Sammy all of 5 minutes before he was begging to go down to the water. Of course Papa couldn't resist the pull of the blue water either and the two of the hit the beach as soon as all the bags were unloaded.

Papa took Sammy out to wave jump. This involves Papa helping Sammy jump over the waves as they roll in (poor Papa's back). By dinnertime Sammy and Papa were drenched and had sand in every crease of their bodies.

The boys were wiped by the time bedtime rolled around and fell right asleep.

It is good to be back.

Cub Scouts

Daniel and Dan had their first scouting event last weekend. As you can tell from the pictures Daniel was very excited. Dan was too, but not as much as Daniel. They had a fun filled day at Balboa Park: going to the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, watching glass blowers at the Spanish Village Art Center and watching and making puppets at the Marie Hitchcock Puppet Show.

I don't know much about Boy Scouting. I know you do stuff and earn badges, but that's about it. A pack, den or whatever it's called, of boys sounds like a scary thing to me, but Dan enjoyed his scouting years and is excited to begin this journey with Daniel. And I know Daniel will love being a Cub Scout.