Kauai Trip: Aloha!

It was August 17.  In exactly one month from that date, our oldest son would enter the MTC.  A year from now, Nathan. By the time he gets home, the twins will likely be out.  As exciting as that all is, it also means that we will not all be together again as a family for a very long time, and certainly never again just Mom and Dad and 6 kids.  Though it once seemed like it would never happen, this magical time all together is quickly coming to an end.  We knew we needed a grand finale.

I also believe in the value of the good old family vacation, that special memories and lasting bonds are formed in sharing these experiences together away from everything and everybody else. (Pleas note: I also believe in great value of the kid-free vacation as well.  Yeah, baby!)  

That is why even though we are right in the middle of building a house and selling a house; even though cash is extremely tight as a result; even though school is starting, and we will miss the first few days -  we packed our bags in the car that morning, went to church, and drove to LAX.  That is why on this day of August 17th, we were on our way to our very last adventure together on the beautiful island of Kauai!

Still mostly in Sunday dress, we had rushed straight from church to LAX, and didn't get a chance to change until we got to the airport via parking shuttle.

Everyone, that is, except Derek, who seemed comfortable enough to stay in his white shirt and tie. He looked like a missionary, or if he were a little older, a businessman. As we were getting off the plane after the flight I overheard one flight attendant tell the other, "That guy needs to loose the tie!  There is NO need for a tie in Kauai."  Haha.

The flight went well.  I sat with Alex (Yay!  Any time I can spend with that kid before he leaves is a good thing.) and Luke, who was disappointed that he did not get the window until he realized that all you could see on a trip to Hawaii was a wing and the water - and then it got dark.

When we arrived it was very late: nearly 10 PM Hawaii time, and 1AM our time.  It was dark and we couldn't see anything as we sat outside and waited for Dennis to arrive with the rental car, but we could feel the lovely tropical evening air, and we could just smell it too!  From the very moment you arrive you can smell that you are in a very wonderful place!  Kauai just smells wonderful!

After getting all packed up into our lovely island mini van, we found our way easily to our resort, got our room keys, made a quick assessment that our room (which had room enough to sleep all 8 of us comfortably) was awesome, then quickly all selected one of those beds, and crashed.

I woke early, with the sun.  I couldn't wait to finally SEE this place that felt and smelled so wonderful!  As soon as it was light enough, I made my way out onto the lanai and saw this:

Yes, that is the ocean right there between those buildings!  We had a beautiful view of lush colorful gardens, a lagoon, swaying coconut palms, and the Pacific Ocean to boot!  I was so excited!  We were truly in paradise!

We were staying at Marriott's Waiohai Beach Club on the sunny southern shore in Poipu.  It was awesome!

Soon my younger ones were awake and joined me out on the lanai to take it all in.  Wow!

One thing we noticed right away were roosters crowing.  We noticed several chickens and roosters down on the grass below us.  At first we though it was interesting that the resort kept a hen house, but we soon came to find out that those are all quite literally free range chickens.  Back in 1992 Hurricane Iniki hit this island hard, causing a lot of damage that is still in evidence today, including destroying a poultry farm on the island, freeing all the chickens whose descendants are still running around ALL OVER the whole island!  You can't even hike into the deepest darkest jungle here without coming across a hen leading her chicks around (Yes, I know - very exotic!)  In Kauai, the sound of roosters crowing is constant, (not just first thing in the morning.)  Then again, if I were a rooster living free in paradise I might feel like crowing too!  It is such a part of life here that I will never again hear a cock-a-doodle-do without thinking of Kauai.

The view from the balcony was nice, but I was SO anxious to get out there and SEE this beautiful place.  I tried to wake up the rest of the family.  At first they were very hard to rouse, but then when they remembered where they were, they were just as anxious to check it out as I was, so we all went out to explore the resort, and the island together.  Yippee!

In the lagoon there was a swan and koi fish, surrounded by beautiful exotic plants and flowers.  Nice.

And at the far end of the property - the beach!  We stood there for a moment and just looked out at it in the morning sun.  So beautiful!  The water was so much bluer than it is in California!

But we only gazed at it a minute before we HAD to get our toes in that sand!

The sand was golden and gritty and felt wonderful underfoot!

Oh yeah!  Definitely worth waking up early for.

A stroll up the beach to Poipu Beach park right next door.  It is a beautiful family beach with lots of grass and chickens, and folks were already starting to show up with their snorkel gear or surfboards.  We were all anxious to get our swimsuits on and join them!

But we were also really hungry.  Really hungry!  With no food in the kitchen, and Costco still hours from opening, we decided to bite the bullet and buy breakfast there at the resort. (a rare treat for a family of 8, I assure you.)  

And while we were there, I discovered that the resort had a great list of activities!  And the first activity of the day?  Mom insists on it.  Hula lessons!  Oh yeah!

At first my boys were, well,...reluctant (to put it mildly), especially when the gal showed up with a big basket of hula skirts.  Dennis suggested that maybe the guys would all just watch me do it.  But the instructor insisted that hula was for men as much as it is was for women, and showed them how to make it manly with stuff like fist pumping and grunting; no hula skirts required.  Yep, they started out just watching my pathetic attempts at dancing, but it only took them moments to all decided to join in.

Judge for yourself.  I think they really, really enjoyed learning the huki lau.  Don't you?  I know they were singing it and doing the moves for the rest of the day.  Thanks, Mom, for forcing us to do something fun.

So I was pleasantly surprised when Nathan informed me that he had signed the two of us up for the next resort activity: a craft, no less!  

Yes, Nate, my huge manly man, senior wanted to try his hand at braiding ti leaves.  It was actually really fun, and Nathan was a natural - like he had been braiding his whole life.  I'm pretty sure his turned out better than mine.  And although the class was described as making a Hawaiian "hair decoration" and he was the only male in the room, we decided that the ti leaf braids looked very manly when worn on the wrists, especially when you make a fist and scowl.  Island tough.

And as great at the resort activities were, the ocean kept calling my name.  So when this cute kiddo invited me to come snorkeling with him, you know I couldn't resist any longer!

I bought an underwater camera just for this trip, and I was so excited to use it, especially once I saw what was down there!  The water was so clear and the colors so vibrant.

The giant slug Dylan put in his mouth in Oregon was so tasty that he wanted to see how a sea slug compared.  Weird kid.

After our dip in the ocean we found Dennis and Luke hanging out in the pool.  Luke borrowed my waterproof camera for a bit, as you can see by these underwater selfies.  These are just a few samples - he took dozens.

All this water was making us hungry again so Dennis ordered up some Hawaiian nachos by the pool.  Eat them quick before all your brothers find out and we'll have to share!  (Large family survival skills.)

Later I found some time to just relax and enjoy the cool late afternoon breeze hanging out on a hammock on the grass next to the lagoon.  (This is when I was glad I got my toes done before I left!  Thanks Shari!) That is actually our room right where my toes are pointing, and the top right picture is the view up from the hammock.

It was so nice to be able to catch my breath and contemplate all the crazy wonderful things that are going on in my life while stepped away from most of them:  Life is good.  God is good.  My family is everything.  That is what is all pretty much boils down to.

Later I found the rest of the crew hanging out in the lobby lanai, looking relaxed and happy: happy to be here, and happy to know that we still get 13 more days in this beautiful place.  Aloha!