Hawaii Spring Break 2011

Hawaii Spring Break 2011

March 21-28

Hawaii here we come. This was no small deal getting a family of seven ready for a once in a lifetime trip. Here we are at Chicago O'hare airport with our million pieces of luggage. We flew to Oahu and we were quite the spectacle. We decided to take a big family vacation before Ally heads to BYU this fall and we still have all our kids at home. We had the time of our lives and hope these memories will live on in our family for years to come. We felt so blessed to be able to do this.

Our arrival in Honolulu greeted us with a few showers and clouds. There was a perfect rainbow welcoming us to Hawaii as we pulled out of the airport. This was our first full day and because of the clouds we spent the day doing non-beach outings. First stop, Dole Pinapple Plantation. We toured all the grounds and had the best dole whip ever. Kids had a blast seeing how pineapples grow. Underground like potatoes.

Next stop. Waimea Bay Waterfall. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! Our two teenage babes on the bridge. This was definately the prettiest part we saw in all of Oahu. It cost a whopping $72 for our family to hike up to the falls, but boy was it worth it. The foliage in this valley was like nothing we had ever seen. So beautiful. Took our time getting up to the falls where we would swim in the falls.

I couldn't help but add this picture of the hottie of the pack. Wearing Allyson's fedora hat with no care in the world about how he looks. Good old dad.

Here we are swimming at the bottom of the falls. So relaxing and so fun. LOVED IT!

Our hike back down the valley with the beautiful fall in the background. What a fun way to start our trip.

After the falls, we went to the beach on the North Shore. The waves were wild. This picture does not even begin to show how wicked the waves were. Brian bought 2 boogie boards for the kids and Andrew and Tyler had a blast here with them. Yes, Brian bought the boards.

My favorite picture. Hee Hee. Andrew and Syd had so much fun burying Tyler and it looks like someone's head rolled off and is just laying on the beach.

Andrew showing off his svelte bod while pulling Ty's head out of the sand.

Our little Hawaiin babe.

To end the day, we stopped at the famous Matsumotos on the North Shore for shaved ice. I know one would not think one shaved ice is better than another, but we will testify that this surely is delightful. Ice cream on the bottom. Yummy to our tummies.

Next day was spent snorkeling all day at Hanauma Bay. Here is the clan at the top of the hill overlooking the bay. So beautiful again. Paradise actually. Perfect place for the little kids to snorkle. It was a shallow bay that they could easily get around in. Ty and Syd are petrified of sharks and did not want to go out too far.

Hanging Loose while snorkeling at Hanauma Bay. Andrew did not want to come in from snorkeling.

Our little 10 year old snorkeler having the time of his life. He stayed out almost the whole day.

The three sissies enjoying the crystal clear water and hangin together.

At Hanauma Bay. You had to walk down a big mountain to get to the bay. This is a pic from the bay.

Allyson modeling on her way back up the mountain overlooking the bay.

The whole clan on top of the mountain with the beautiful Hawaiin ocean in the back.

After snorkeling, we stopped at the Halona Blowhole. It was pretty awesome. It had a big hole in the rocks next to the ocean with water spurting our every few minutes.

Ally modeling again. This was a little beach we climbed down to next to the lookout. This is where they have filmed movies and do modeling shoots. Beautiful with sea turtles and tucked away.

Five out of seven days in Hawaii we had a perfect rainbow. No wonder they call it the rainbow state.

Of course the Zoobie family had to make a visit to BYU Hawaii. This was our next day which we spent at the Polynesian Cultural Center all day, but we stopped here and the temple grounds before starting the day there. Our future cougarette visiting her sister school.

Our next future Cougarette! She looks like a Hawaiin babe.

And our first Cougar, we hope.

Ally and Kenzie

We had arranged for the 3 oldest kids to do baptisms for the dead at the Laie temple, so I got to take them into the temple and watch them do them. It was so neat for them to have that chance.

Dad and Mom in front of the Laie temple. Beautiful grounds.

Ally and Syd in front of the temple.

On our way back to the Polynesian Cultural Center we found the famous Giovanni's shrimp truck. Brian was in heaven. If only I liked shrimp. They have tasty garlic shrimp. Brian loved it.

Arriving at the Polynesian Cultural Center. We spent the entire day here going to all the villages, then the luau and fianlly the night show with all the fire dancing. Tons of fun. We won't mention that Brian, Allyson and Mckenzie left us and went back to BYU Hawaii to watch the BYU basketball game on t.v. Thank goodness someone told them the wrong time so they were not gone too long. The nerve.

Inside the PCC

This was the village of Samoa and Andrew got called up on the stage to be part of the show. It was hilarious. He did a great job and was so excited. He even got to drink the coconut juice.

Our awesome coconut tree climber.

Village of Fiji

Village of Tahiti

Our awesome Luau! O.k. the kids wouldn't touch the food. But we had to say we went to a luau while in Hawaii. They put on a show during the luau and they parade the roasted pig across the stage.

Our PIG!

Posing after our dinner

Ally and Kenzie with their hottie! They were in heaven to say the least.

As if that weren't enough they had to live up again at the end of the night show. They were pretty excited!

Andrew and Tyler boogie boarding on Waikiki Beach. The three littles and Brian were out playing and a huge sea turtle swam right up next to them. They ran back like maniacs to tell us sunbathers what we missed.

Doing what Sydney loves most. Playing in the ocean. This is her happy place.

Tyler trying to stay occupied during our 9 hour flight home. Playing with all his army guys that he bought at Pearl Harbor. What a trip!!! WE LOVED IT!!!! The nine hour flight and five hour time difference made getting home and to school the next day a little tough. We are back and in our routine again with this trip engrained in our memories for a lifetime!