Fish

I "borrowed" these photos from someone else on the internet to show you some of what we saw while snorkling.  

Leaving Hawaii

We decided since Carter wasn't feeling well, we'd go back to the beach that wasn't great for swimming, but had fun sand and that great shade tree and try snorkling.  Carter was done with the water, but we adults had great snorkling.  There were probably 3-4 times the fish of the other day and more of them and brighter.  My parents went out just on the other side of the reef, where it was still shallow and said it was even more phenominal!  I'll have to find some pictures on the internet of the fish, they were bright and lots of them.  I'll also have to ask my mom the name of the beach.  The snorkling was so good, you could probably walk in until your waist and just stick your face in the water and see 15 varieties of fish, not even swimming around!

Dad and I ended the afternoon at the Kauai coffee plant visitor center where we saw the coffee being grown.  It's very, very rich (they had tastings) and was in bloom.  The small, white flowers smell like jasmine.  It was a very environmentally friendly operation.   They also process there something called peaberry.  Coffee normally forms with two pods, like a peanut, but 7% only one side matures.  They call these peaberries and turn them into supercharged coffee.

Then of course we had to end our day across the road from where we stayed with a sunset.

A trip to the north of the island of Kauai

Surimi from McDonald's.  Eh, it's alright.  Seems like a healthier fare item...

Carter trying coconut milk from a coconut at the farmer's market.

 We drove all the way north.  Just to find most of the beaches closed due to high surf that happens in the winter months.  The kids made a house of stickds while we ate some lunch.

 We finally found a beach we could go on to.  It was shallow pretty far out and Carter tried body and board surfing.  He LOVED it even thoguht he got dunked a LOT.  He swallowed a lot of sea water and ended up vomiting in the night.

It was a quiet, sleepy ride home, it was a lot to do all in one day!

Henri's Head

What happened to Henri's head?  He stood too close to grandpa and Carter making smooshed pennies.  You know the machines you put in 2 quarters & a penny?  Then you crank this huge crank to smoosh the penny?  Yeah, he was too close to the huge crank.  There was blood and ice and bandaids involved.  But really, what is Henri without having a huge bump on his head???

Lydgate Park and Kauai Plantation Railway

First up today was Lydgate Park, known for two baby pools and an enormous play structure...

then headed to the Plantation, enjoyed a fresh tangerine...

on the train around the plantation. 

the plantation house-6000 sq feet, 3 bedrooms

 they grow a row of each different plant, with sugar cane as a wind break in between.  All the food grown is used at their restaurant, 22 north (think the Herb Farm).

Pineapples below.

They started with 4 wild boars.  now they have 60 and you can feed them.

then we hit Hilo for some souveniers and our free mini-sarongs, then Costco for macadamia nuts in every imaginable variety in huge packages.  Paul will be very excited to get his presents!

Waimea Town Celebration

This afternoon we visited Waimea Town Celebration we had corndogs that were dipped in batter and fried right in front of us.  Fried Poi balls, we tried a yummy coconut with rice flour fried then covered with honey and Portugese donuts.  Also a flying saucer which was like sloppy joe meat in between bread and toasted.  The boys each got a slide whistle and Carter & Erin tried the super-trampoline.

Waimea Canyon

We drove up to view the Canyon this morning...

view from the end of the road, over the ocean

Same area, looking towards the island, near one of the wettest places on earth.

The trail, slippery, muddy and no guardrails.  I made it about 3/4 of a mile, decided it was not a kid-friendly trail.

Henri sporting his latest band-aid.  What would he do without a bump on the head?

View towards where we are staying as we drive down the mountain.

Hawaii Videos

Hawaii Day 1 & 2

Introduced the kids to shaved ice.  Valerie liked the spoon straw more than the ice.  Henri had strawberry, Carter had coconut.

Henri wasn't giving his up for anything until it was done.

 Valerie modeling her new swimsuit in the pack 'n' play we got at a resale store for $10.Valerie's Cabana

the "bay" to the left is only about a foot deep, so the kids hung out there the rocky part on the right out across the water is full of tidepools with fun fish to see and check out.  The boys went out there with grandpa & I.

Hawaii hasn't changed Valerie's happy disposition.

Waiting in the car with a sleeping Henri.

2nd beach, the babies had enough of the sun, so we found this great tree to hunker down under, a cabana with places to hang up all our stuff, put the pack n' play and play in the shade.

Erin & Valerie at the first beach.

Henri at the first beach.

Carter at the first beach playing with the trucks we got at the resale shop.

 Snorkling at the second beach, it was near the beach, shallow and easy snorkling, there were many more, colorful fish than this...