Hawaii - need I say more?

We were lucky enough to spend a week in Hawaii in October with our oldest son, Kayden and Beth's parents. Chad's parents came to Utah to spend the week with the 3 youngest boys and Aunt Cara came from Arizona to help out as well. It was a fun week for all! Here are some of our highlights from the big island of Hawaii!

SNORKEL and BEACH

As soon as we set foot in Hawaii, Kayden was asking when he could go swimming. Our first stop was to get snorkel gear and then we headed to our hotel and the lagoon there for his first try at ocean snorkeling (he'd been practicing in the swimming pool all summer). This is the view from our room where Chad and Dad were reading and sleeping and Kayden was snorkeling.

He was a champ from the beginning and we all couldn't stay out of the water from that point on. We swam with MANY turtles and beautiful fish.

The best snorkeling in our opinion (although it was really good all along Kona area) was near the Place of Refuge, called Two Step. Below is the from the Place of Refuge and then Kayden swimming with his first of many turtles.

MANTA RAY

We wanted to take one chartered boat trip and we let Kayden choose from a few different trips. He chose to snorkel at night in this bay where giant manta ray gather to eat plankton. This was a trip I will never forget!! They came belly to belly with us and were so graceful. The picture below is the ray going to belly to belly with Kayden and Chad is on the left and my mom on the right.

Because it is the newest island (thus the live volcano), there are so many types of beaches: green sand, black sand, mixed black and white, white, etc. Here's Chad at the black sand beach.

LUAU

We went to our resort's luau one night and all loved the dancing show and the food. Here's Kayden when they took out the pig.

TEMPLE

We were able to go to church on Sunday at a ward that met right next to the Kona temple. Then on Tuesday, Chad and I did a session at the temple in the morning and had breakfast together.

VOLCANO

We spent a day at the volcano. We were able to go to the lava tube and then hike across a flat bed of lava from the 50's for 4 miles. We saw the crater active with gas all day and then stayed until it was dark, so we could see the glow of the crater at night. Remarkable place!!!

HILO SIDE

We went to the Hilo side of the island for a day where there are lush rain forests and gorgeous cliffs and waterfalls.

KAYAK

On Friday, we rented a kayak and Chad, Kayden and I took it to Captain Cook Monument and snorkeled there. It was so fun to be out in the ocean and is so peaceful and clear there to snorkel.

This is a picture of the sign at the place where we rented kayaks. The nicest man owns the property and rents out kayaks, but some crazies try to come and take his business. The sign was a fun joke on the trip.

GOODBYE

We went to numerous beaches, wandered around Kona quite a bit, drove everywhere on the island, but gave you just a snapshot of our adventures. We also slept wonderfully and the weather was PERFECT!!

This is Chad and Kayden saying goodbye to Hawaii (for now anyway) and boarding our plane home from Kona. Amazing vacation!!