The lighthouse

We went to a lighthouse and saw Mr. B. Herm -- Mr. B's aunt -- told us it was 55 feet high (at the top). It was very hot up at the top with the big light. When we took a picture by the light, it made rainbows on our faces! Next we will climb Diamond Head on New Years Day. Hau'oli Makahiki Hou! Love, Maile

surf girls

We went surfing with our friend Jenn and Mama. We caught big waves and had plate lunch. Maile said "I do not want lunch. I want ice cream." After we had lunch, my mom said "Let's go to Lapperts." We saw Mr. B at a lighthouse. THE END. Love, MAKANA

It's like Chrismakah around here!

When leaving for the holidays, somehow we always end up having 6-8 days of presents ... what fun! We went to Meghan and Sarah's to start of the festivities, then had the cousins over (and present opening), then Grandma and Grandpa (and more opening), and then we got to open gifts from Mama and Papa ... soon Santa will arrive in both California and Hawaii ! From the snowman follies (thanks Auntie Kara) to the fleece (Auntie Mags) to the Snugglies (Grandma) to the soft new jammies (Kiwi and Sarah)... we are set for 2010. More to come from the islands!!!

Mele Kalikimaka!

Mele Kalikimaka to our wonderful 2nd grade class, Ms. Palmer-Loh and Ms. Mary! We're heading to Hawaii. We'll see you all in 2010. Feel free to check in from time to time -- we'll keep you posted on our adventures in Paradise! Love & Aloha, Ke'ale, Maile and Makana

Here Comes the Bride ...

We attended Anuhea's wedding in Kanehoe at the Ho'omaluhia Gardens. Very nice (except for the mosquitos who feasted on Makana - covered and now with hives - Kaiser awaits us tomrrow). Setting was very beautifiul - and kids enjoyed swinging from trees and spotting mongoose(s) -- I kid you not!

Little Surfer Girls!

Cowabunga dudes! We ripped it up on Oahu with a nice south shore swell earlier this week. Dana and Sarah rode the waves ... and then all the girls 13 and under joined in the fun the next day. Fats took on the trio, with Mama Dana catching the incoming riders and pushing them out to Fats. Megan and Sarah went with another instructor, and everyone shredded!

Maui's Finest!

Who said the finest pineapples don't come from Maui? Actually, we think they visited Maui but live in California. Here are some of our pre-flight snaps in the airport (we are now back on Oahu again ... and have already eaten manapuas, malasadas and ziggy is happy to see us). Enjoy!

Maui Wowee - In a coco-nut-shell

Here's the latest day-by-day/play-by-play:

July 13 - flew from Kauai to Oahu -- then on to Maui

July 14 - Kaiser Clinic (again) for Makana and Megan got into it with a Portuguese Man O War.  

July 15 - Rock the Boat -- see video for the adventure on the high seas.  Highlights were riding the waves aboard the Trilogy like cowgirls at a rodeo; Lala feeding the fishies; snorkling at Molokini; checking out sea turtles!

July 16 - Wongs tackled the Sleeping but Still Active Haleakala and the Youngs went to Wailea with the Daums (water slides, etc. , at Kealani - Lala lost goggles)

July 17 - Lahaina with the crew - Cheeseburger in Paradise and BBQ (Who Cut The Cheese stop) with the gang

July 18 - Coconuts for lunch (fish tacos) and hanging with the Daums (then Sansei for Sushi!)

Riding the Waves of Maui Wowee on the Trilogy

Talk about high adventure on the seas of Maui!  We were soaked, but happy!  Riding the waves like cowgirls at a rodeo!  We boarded the vessel in the am, one little triplet fed a few fishes (don't ask, not pretty, but will talk about it for years to come), saw amazing fish at Molokini Crater (a caldera of the still active but quiet for now Haleakala), viewed some sea turtles, and had a wild ride on Trilogy (see video).  The highlight for the kids (and moms) was the sailing back on the high seas (talk about saltwater shower!!)

Aloha for now -- more to come!!

Recap of trip thus far (Chron Order)

June 27/28 - Arrival of the Wong/Youngs - Woyoungs or Yongs!

Paddle Board pick up and used every day until return on July 3

June 29 - Zoo Camp Day 1 bugs and Surf (Sarah lesson; Dana hit the waves)

June 30 - Zoo Camp Day 2 birds; Kahala and Shave Ice

July 1 - Skip Zoo and did Field Trip to Laneakea (Turtle Cove) with Tiffany

July 2 - Zoo Camp mammals; Happy Bday Stan Wong; Surfing again; Ala Moana Picnic

July 3 - Zoo Camp endangered; Hanauma Bay and Kong Kee dinner with lots of vino

July 4 - Melissa's and then up to the overpass for fireworks

July 5 - flew to Kauai; Hamura's first stop and then out to the beach house in Kekaha

July 6 - Hanalei drive; caves, snorkling -- "sea snake aka. spotted eel"

July 7 - Baby Poipu and Poipu for more snorkling

July 8 - Wailua waterfall, lots of chickens, Hamura's AGAIN, made leis, Joel/Kendall pool - froggin 

July 9 - Spouted Horn, drove to "old" Embassy, and then Joel/Kendall pool (spotted big mama later that night - see video for her repeat performance)

July 10 - travelled to Waimea Canyon without "incident" and to Kokee State Park; Joel/Kendall's; then Hanapepe Art Walk

July 11 - Hanalei Garden Crafts Fair, crazy cool rain storm over the bay, "haunted hanalei house" opened mysteriously; Jojos shave ice and Laperts in Hanapepe; spotted and filmed Big Mama Mia and Squeekers

July 12 - packed up house and headed to Poipu Hyatt ...

Next recap coming soon!

Tonight we did our nightly Frogging...yay!!!

On this side we caught our famous Big Mama again!! This time 

she was even bigger!! And on the other side we caught

Squeekers. We also caught another frog but we let that one 

go. In this video when Makana lets go of Big Mama Mia, listen to Big Mama Mia

hiss... 

Waimea Canyon, Hanapepe Art Walk, and more Frogs

Here's our new favorite sign -- in honor of DA Wongs!  Today is Friday -- and we made it all the way to the top of the Waimea Canyon (aka. the Grand Canyon of the Pacific) and it was worth the drive.  Not a single "incident" (remember last Christmas and the "orange  projectile moment??")   Then headed to Joel and Kendall's pool for some serious RnR and board time.  Enjoyed dinner at the beach house and then off to the Art Walk! Pulling up to Hale Hihio -- we caught a froggy on our lawn and enjoyed another evening of froggin!

Ka-WHYEEEEE

More trips to Hamura Saimin, snorkling in Hanalei (and yes, lots of amazing fish and well, and eel or two), Froggin at night (check out the size of Big Mama Mia -- named by the girls), visits to Poipu, the Opaekaa Falls, Wailua and a sudden but welcome rain shower and more!  Here are some of our latest snaps.

Homura Saimin - Best Noodles EVA!

Aloha from Kauai.  We landed on July 5th and went straight from the plane to the cars to Hamura for grinds!

!  

Honus Galore!

On our field trip to Lanikea this week, we thought what better way for the kids to learn about sea life, than experiencing it live. We were lucky enough to see more than 12 Hawaiian Sea Turtles. They frolicked in the surf, slept on the beach, and even gave a few of us a close encounter that scared the you-know-what out of a few of us!

Rating Shave Ice Flavors

We've been several days in a row to Waiola Shave Ice, and will shortly head to Masumotos for comparison. Here's where we net out in terms of our fav flavs (Rating system is Ono -- good; Shaka -- pretty good; Junk -- neva order no more!)

Maile had Cotton Candy (with vanilla ice cream on bottom) and Bubblegum (with vanilla ice cream on bottom) as well as Guava.
Ke'ale had Cotton Candy, Chocolate, and Guava shave ice flavors.
Mak stuck to vanilla ice cream two times, but tried Watermelon with ice cream on the bottom.
Megan had Mango, Mango and then Orange Guava.
Sarah tried Rainbow, then Cherry Vanilla, and then Pineapple/Orange.

• Ono rating goes to Guava and Bubblegum; Shaka to Cotton Candy
• Ono rating goes to Guava and Cotton Candy, but Chocolate gets a big JUNK
• Ono rating goes to Watermelon; Shaka to ice cream.
• Ono rating to both Mango and Orange Guava.
• Ono rating to Cherry Vanilla and also Pine/Orange; Shaka to Rainbow.
  

Sarah's Surfin Safari

Today, we pushed our athletic abilities to the max.  We surfed (Dana and Sarah), we ran (Dana, Sarah and Magda), and we paddle boarded (all of the moms and all of the kids!).  Suffice it to say, we are TIRED, happy, SORE, happy, and well, HAPPY!  Here's some snaps and footage of Sarah in action!

Clean Sweep with Ziggy!

This morning the kids ALL woke up at 5 am -- suffice it to say, we are very much on California time but sporting the full Aloha attitude.  Check out Ziggy's new "boot camp" work out! Love, Dana

Surf's Up

We went to the beach at Kaimana.  We boogie boarded and we paddle boarded and we played with Megan and Sarah!  Love, Makana

Going to Hawaii for 30 days!

aloha everyone!

we are packing up

for hawaii.

we will miss you all.

we will travel safely.

we will update our blog.

we love you,

ke'ale, maile & makana

Aloha ʻOe (Farewell to Thee) Oahu (for now)

As we head home from the Islands ... here are a few of our favorite things to see, do, eat, and more ... from our trip!

Maile: "Froggy; boogie boarding was awesome; even the monk seals!"
Ke'ale: "Rainbow shave ice; hermit crabs; and toading; and the best one was Froggy the little frog in Kekaha at Maida's house."
Makana: "Swimming; playing with Makana Boo, Mikoa and Auli'i; in Kauai I saw a whale; and my friend froggy named Froggy who lives with Maida."
Papa: "Malasadas; Liliha Bakery; Homura Saimin; spending time with my family!"
Mama: "Running Diamond Head and Kahala; paddle boardin'; lau laus; and the Aloha Spirit!"

Tales of the Toads of Kauai

Yesterday, me and my sisters caught a little toad. We named him Froggy. He peed on my Mama's hand and we all screamed and we laughed. Love, Maile

Local Kine Lingo from Da Young Ohana (family)

Tonight we're going to post a cool blog about toads ... in the meantime, here are some of our favorite words/phrases (captured by Mama):

• Brah or Cuz or Sista is what you can say in place someone's name.
• Ono means good!
• Grinz or Grinds means food as in "Brah, you like get some ono grindz."
• Choke means awesome as in "Cuz, dez waves are choke!"
• Laters means See you later! as in, "We'll see you later this week!" said Maile, Ke'ale and Maile!
  

The Day We Went To The Grand Canyon (of the Pacific)

We went to Waimea Canyon & saw eleven goats. We also saw a waterfall and a rainbow. The end. Love, Keale

From the Kauai Visitors Guide: The Grand Canyon is a breathtaking gorge with dramatic ridges and deep ravines shaped by the process of erosion and collapse that formed Kaua'i. It is ~ 10 miles long and 3,600 feet deep and includes several scenic points inclding Pu'u Ka Pele - where the Waipo'o Falls are visible after a heavy rainfall.

Fly High in the Sky to Kauai

Makana said: "We are going to Kauai. The flight is this long - 'we go up, we drink guava juice, we go down and land.' I thought we were almost landing in the ocean. When we got there we went swimming and on Saturday we're going to see the Waimea Canyon (Mama said it's the Grand Canyon of the Pacific). We are excited."

Annual Trek up Diamond Head for New Year's Day

We came, we climbed (all 282 stairs), and then we got shave ice!