Down time in Hawaii

 After a very busy week, we needed a little down time at the vacation house.

Bryson and John trying to play a game of pool with cheerleaders, Edward, Ethan, and Kadence

Then for a dip in the pool

And a round of Edward ball.

 And Kadence ball

And Austin ball

Bryson ball doesn't work as well as it used to...

Nathan and Rachel decided to go out for dinner and left Jane in our care.  They'll know better next time.

"Hula Jane" (yes, it's a coconut bra)

"Hawaii Jane" sporting a nice sarong

Top it off with a Taco Salad courtesy of Dorothy, and it was a perfect evening.

Visit to the Volcano

Up until now, our trip has consisted mainly of water-centered activities.  But you can't ignore the fact that the reason this paradise exists is because of the volcanoes.  So we headed to the top of the biggest one on Maui, Haleakala.  From sea level, that was a steep climb to 10,000 feet with lots of switchbacks.  But we made it to the top.


John, Little John, Dorothy, Kadence, Austin, Edward, Ethan, Bryson, David, Chris, and Nathan (the other girls stayed home)
Below is a picture looking out over the top of the volcano and at the many cinder cones that pop up out of the landscape.  Notice that we are significantly above the cloud line.  That was a little strange.  As we were driving up there was a sign that said, "Turn on headlights in clouds"

Austin and I at the top

Then we took a hike down into the valley.  Compared to the lushness of the rest of the island, it was a stark contrast.  Only volcanic ash and rock.

 

Nathan, Edward, Chris

Ethan, John, and Edward

Bryson

David holding Austin on the hike back up

Little John carried Kadence most of the way back up.  This was a rare instance of her actually walking.  The kids got pretty bored on this hike. There wasn't much to see or do.  Then we split up to try to get a Jr Ranger certification for Ethan and Edward while David headed off with a group to hike another trail that was less desolate than the first.

Bryson, Dorothy, Little John, and Nathan

Diving and Snorkeling Molokini

 For our second dive trip we planned to go out to Molokini Crater which is a very popular dive and snorkel spot.  We chartered a boat for our big crew, found a babysitter for the littlest ones, and we were off.


First we had to get a briefing from our dive master on our way out to the crater.

 

 You can see Molokini behind John and Ethan in the picture below.

 

Getting all geared up and ready to go.  John, Nathan, and David

And Chris and Hannah

Once the divers were in the water, the snorkelers (everyone else) went in and saw an amazing display of fish from this personal aquarium.

Our dive master had recently purchased a new underwater camera, so David talked him into practicing on us.  He got some fantastic pictures.

From the left you see Hannah's flipper, David, Chris, Nathan, John bringing up the rear and Ben at the bottom of the picture.

Ben with his GoPro mounted on his mask.  He got some awesome footage of the dives.

Molokini was a fantastic dive.  Then we headed over to Maluaka Beach for our second dive and snorkling.  This beach is well known for the sea turtles which are constantly found here.

So, do you remember Jacques the cleaner shrimp from the fish tank in Finding Nemo?  Well apparently they are compulsive cleaners.  On our first dive earlier in the week, our dive master found one and got close to it and opened her mouth and it jumped in and started cleaning.  Eww!  We mentioned it to the dive master on this trip and he found a cleaner shrimp to clean our teeth.

Hannah

Ben (he kicked up a little sand so it blocks the picture a little)

John

Nathan

David

Chris (I wasn't going to do it, but then everyone else did, so I gave in to the pressure)

Then we spotted a couple of sea turtles

John, Ben, and Hannah

David up close and personal

Nathan, Ben, and Hannah as a turtle swims overhead

The whole diving group Nathan, John, David, Chris, Hannah, and Ben

Luau anyone?

So of course we have to do the cheesy Hawaiian tourist thing and go to a luau.  I guess I think they're overpriced because I'm not drinking from the open bar.  But they gave us a great excuse to get dressed up!

John and Mia

Hannah and Dorothy

Rachel, Nathan, and Jane

Little John and Dorothy

Princess Kadence

David, Austin, Bryson, Kadence, and Chris

Holy cow!  Is that really a picture of Ethan and Edward with them both smiling!?!? And they're touching each other at the same time.  It's a miracle!

Diva Kadence wearing Dorothy's sunglasses.

Ben and Emma

Little John was game for learning Poi movements

And then we watched as they unearthed the kalua pig for the feast

There was a beautiful sunset just behind our table

And we settled in with our Hawaiian food for a show of dances from different islands of the pacific

Can you guess which monkey is Ben?

A nice evening to top off a great day!