Leslie watched the kids while my dad took Andy and I to the Pillbox trail. The drive there was through a valley between mountains and was SO green and lush. My dad pointed out the staircase in the photo below and said it’s called the Stairway to Heaven and that it’s an insane trail people hike.
My dad let us borrow chains for our sneakers. I’m so glad we had them, while the trail wasn’t too extreme it was pretty muddy and slippery.
Dad leading the way!
There are several pillboxes on the ridge around the island. They were used as lookouts in WWII.
Views up there were amazing!
You can see the second pillbox on the trail in the upper right corner.
Andy had looked up several geocaches on the trail and we found one but couldn’t find the others we’d been searching for. Such a neat hobby to be able to do at home and halfway around the world!
We hiked to three different pillboxes, some smaller than others. Rain started moving in and my camera was getting a little foggy as we ventured on. The hike back down was even more slippery but we made it, only a little muddier than when we’d begun.
My dad treated us to lunch at a cute cafe afterwards. One of the signs on the window warned us to not feed the chickens. I laughed, but it’s true, there are tons of wild chickens and roosters walking around the streets. Just like you’d see squirrels back home, Hawaii has chickens :)
This was actually one of the first adventures we had last week. Sharks Cove was a neat spot on the north shore with tide pools and little pockets of water protected from the bigger waves. We explored, played and I got to snorkel for the first time too. It was very cool, like a completely different world under the water! Andy got some fun video on his gopro I’ll have to share once he uploads it. We timed it really well (mommy IS a planner…) and waves for high tide started coming in and filling up the pools by the time we were done exploring.
This is grumpy Cassidy being a grump. True to “three-nager” status one minute she’s a bubbly delight of squishy happiness. The other she’s scowling at Ben, ignoring grandpa and screaming that she doesn’t like the snack you gave her. Just so you don’t think it’s all rainbows and unicorns over here ;-) We love her anyway.
After the cove we headed to Green World Coffee. Actually, we’ve stopped two more times as we’ve passed it on other outings. Andy hit the coffee sample bar pretty hard and the kids enjoyed their shaved ice. It’s a neat spot!
There have been a few waves that scared them and some scraped knees and blood (or “blub” as the kids call it). We’ve had to explain that sometimes bandaids are part of the adventure!
We did the tourist “thing” and visited the Dole Plantation. We walked around the grounds and saw all sorts of beautiful plants and flowers too. It’s like God was trying to show off with all of the strangely wonderful looking vegetation. We also took a tour on the Pineapple Express and got to see the pineapple fields and different crops harvested in the area. Of course we all tried the dole whip afterwards, mmm!
We had the chance to visit Turtle Beach on the North shore of Oahu. Waves here were too big to safely play in the water, but we walked down the beach together. It’s the beach they filmed part of the show LOST, when the plane crashes in the first season. We walked about a mile down the beach to find the sea turtles. I saw a few in the water and then one sunning himself on the beach. It was really neat, I was expecting them to be little guys but they were really big and prehistoric looking! The kids thought the turtles were pretty cool too, but I think they had more fun running from the waves and sliding down the sand dunes.
Easter Eve (is that a thing?) we colored eggs with the kids.
Before bed, the kids helped make funfetti cupcakes with grandma Leslie. Ben cracked the egg himself and was so proud.
Easter morning the kids hunted for their baskets.
Leslie bought them Easter outfits and Cassidy was so excited to wear her sparkly pink dress. Leslie also did an “Elsa braid” for Cassidy, because I lack the skills ;-)
Playing with grandpa and her new duckies.
We went with my dad and Leslie to their church service. They had several dramas.
After church there was an Easter egg free for all for the kids. Last week their church had an Easter egg hunt for the community and there were a ton of eggs left over.
This guy nicknamed “Uncle Bubba” handed out eggs with money afterwards too.
My dad and Leslie :)
Annnnd, that’s us!
Easter dinner with family <3
One day the grave could conceal Him no longer
One day the stone rolled away from the door
Then He arose, over death He had conquered
Now is ascended, my Lord evermore
Death could not hold Him, the grave could not keep Him
From rising again
Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He’s coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day
Leslie took us to a break wall where she often sees rays and tropical fish. She’s even seen an octopus there before.
No such luck on the octopus this time, but we did feed some of the birds.
Cassidy thought they were just the cutest.
We visited a beach on base and the kids were excited to “surf”
Ben looking for things to add to his collection. He was particularly interested in the coral.
Enjoying the beach.
Andy trying to catch a crab.
He got one!
This was part of a little marina on base. The tree looked so cool and the color of the water here was unreal.
Leslie said some people kayak to work on the base to avoid traffic on the island. What an awesome way to commute!
We visited my dad’s office too.
Colonel Lute!
Benny felt pretty important.
One of Cassidy’s grumpier moments, Ben had sat in the chair she wanted ;-)
Love him!
A little splash pad had just opened up on base so we popped over to do that too.
So fun!
I’ve tried to keep a normal schedule with them (Cassidy has been off and on grumpy) so quiet time has been important. Silly girl fell asleep in the armchair in her room.
Andy enjoying the hammock one afternoon while the kids were resting.
