HAWAII ~ December 2012

Brandon's company needed an extra person to help with a seminar in Honolulu, so he volunteered!

It was extremely short notice...we booked it and were in Hawaii within 48 hours! We were amazed that it worked out being so close to Christmas and that we were able to get child care covered!

We stayed at the Modern Honolulu. My favorite hotel ever! Brandon's conferences were at that hotel as well, so we could meet for lunch or he could check on me at the pool! One day, I was content just reading my book on the balcony and the comfy couch until Brandon got off work!

 There was a handful of rainbows everyday!

 B hard at work!

Sunset on our 1st night...

 Dinner on the beach at Dukes

 It was weird being in Hawaii so close to Christmas. They don't have very many Christmas trees or lights.

This sailboat was in the harbor right outside our hotel room window...so it was my Christmas reminder for the week!

We had dinner at a restaurant at Aloha Tower. It was good, but small portions and super pricey!

We were still hungry! 

Dinner at Shorebird...B cooking his own meat! 

Macadamia Nut Pancakes with coconut syrup!

One morning, bright and early, we hiked Diamond Head. 

 We were hiking as the sun was rising!

The Aloha Stadium Swap Meet was open the entire week we were there! I went once by myself and had to bring Brandon back the next time!

 He found this ...hat??

 One rainy day while Brandon was working, I went to the International Market Place.

I didn't buy a single thing!

I went to Pearl Harbor one day on my own. We had 2 rental cars! 

I don't like driving much, but I didn't mind it in Hawaii...it's more laid back!

 An anchor recovered from the USS Arizona and the memorial in the background.

 The circle of plaques with all of the names of the lives lost.

After working 4 days in Honolulu, we cancelled our hotel and decided to go to the North side of the island. 

Waikiki was crowded with tourists and we wanted the isolated island feel!

We stopped at the Pineapple Plantation and tried everything...pineapple style!

We stayed at Turtle Bay Resort. Our room had an amazing view.

We slept with our door open every night to hear the waves and the perfect air!

 One thing that I've never done in Hawaii is hike to a waterfall!! 

We hiked to Weimea Falls.

 Brandon did a little swimming...

 The entire area is a Conservatory Park.

 We had dinner at the Weimea Farmers Market. 

Brandon loves this kind of stuff!

 We stopped at the Laie Temple and Visitors Center...Another great reminder that it was Christmas!

 We had the "must have" Matsumoto's Shaved Ice!

We ate really well and tried all of the great local restaurants and shopped at all of the great surf shops!

And last and certainly not least...we visited every beach on the North Shore! 

I also got to cross something off my bucket list...watching the surfers on the North Shore's Pipeline during the best wave season!!! Aahhh ;)

Brandon decided to go let the waves conquer him for a bit!

They were truly the biggest waves I've ever seen!

 The lifeguards would only allow professional surfers in the water.

The huge waves just kept coming in!

We saw a few rescue missions and heard Ambulances all day long!

 The surfers were pretty far out there, so I didn't get any shots of them riding in the waves.

I could stay on the beach forever!

We got home in time to have a few hours of sleep and celebrate Christmas with our great family!