Today we were off for our history lesson...finally?? We visited Pearl Harbor. We spent the morning at the Arizona Memorial learning about December 7, 1941 and the Japanese invading our beautiful Hawaii. There were displays, movies, ice cream... and of course a trip to the Arizona Memorial.

Our next stop was the Pacific Aviation Museum where we took a ride in the flight simulator and saw lots of airplanes, bombs, and even got to try out a cock pit. See the videos for the great sounds and the action.

We have return tickets for yet another day....so, no worries, we are getting some history lessons along the way.

Today was a real treat. We went to have a close up and personal encounter with the dolphins. Sea Quest at Kahala. It was a great time. First Autumn and Nicholas learned about sea life and then they got up close with a sting ray and finally the dolphins. Later you see us all climbing in the trees at Kahala. We spent the entire day relaxing at the beach. A perfect day in Paradise. Autumn made her house there. Do watch the videos. After seeing them, I wish I had taken more. What fun.

Today was Autumn's Choice. And like her mother, she chose to STAY HOME. We had a slow morning, pancakes for breakfast, did some cleaning, and Autumn wanted to do some journal writing. We had a snack, and lunch and then off to her favorite place in Hawaii---the library!! When we got home, Autumn and Nick read, Nanna slept. We watched a movie, had dinner, another movie and cried....and then Autumn did a Bible lesson with Nick and bed.

Autumn's idea of a perfect day. What a happy girl she was. She even decided what we would eat all three meals: pancakes, pizza bits, and cooked oatmeal for dinner. What could be better??

Back to Pearl Harbor: USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park was first on our list. Then we went to Battleship Missouri Memorial Battleship. It was another good learning day, Mom!!

They are winding down. Nana is still going strong: Nick chose for his day to stay home and go to the pool. We spent most of the day at the pool. He also wanted bacon for breakfast, lasagna for lunch, and hamburgers for dinner. Autumn chose to go to the library, stay home and have bagels for breakfast, cereal for lunch, and cooked oatmeal for dinner.

One of the most beautiful beaches in the world is right here on Oahu. Today, we were off to discover it. Wind sailing, para-sailing, and canoeing, riding the waves and a visit with Roy and Sue, our friends here on the island. After a stop at Island Snow...for an ICEE of course...at the same store Obama stops for his icees when he is on the island.
Nick has his all time favorite: Lemon-lime...and Autumn has a rootbeer/wacky watermelon. Then Nana has a surprise.......off to the famous LEGO store. eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Hawaii Wet and Wild. Need I say more? They loved it. Yes, Erica they had sunscreen on and I made them wear tops besides to keep the sun off their shoulders.

KoKo Head Gardens. Great Place to hike.....You'll notice that Nick is doing what Nick does best.....reading the map and telling us where to go....and Autumn is....well....she's posing for pictures.

First we headed out for Wahiawa Botanical Gardens. It's on the North Shore and a wonderful Rain Forest. Of course, we had rain, what else! But that did not stop us at all. We walked all the paths, and even played some hide and seek.

Next stop was Haleiwa Town home of the MOST famous shaved ice store: Matsumoto Shave Ice. Just a "hole in the wall" sort of place with long lines, and no where to sit inside.....we found out why it is the most famous spot for shaved ice on the island. [Do check out the video also under videos with Nick and Autumn talking about their treat].

We had to take in the Artist Wyland's gallery* and a great demonstration of glass blowing to boot and then what is locally known as "turtle cove" where it is possible to see turtles on the beach and in the water everyday. We were not disappointed. We returned to eat at the famous Hale Vietnam Restaurant. The children tasted their first Pho and loved it. Nick even ate everything with HOT sauce!!

Home for showers, a movie and bed!!.....On the lanai!!

*Since 1978, Wyland Galleries has been the art community’s preeminent showcase for the finest in marine life paintings, sculpture and photography.

It is a long day to get to Hawaii. We leave on Wednesday morning at 7:00 to drive to Raleigh/Durham. Arrive in Atlanta @ 1:41
Arrive in Los Angelos @ 4:51 And finally Honolulu @ 8:00 PM Hawaii time or 2:00 am North Carolina time. We get to our condo and collapse in bed.

On Thursday June 2, we take a slow day. Breakfast in downtown Waikiki. A worker fixes some plumbing in Nana's other unit ..and then we are off to Kahala for our first day at the beach and a look at the Dolphins.

Nick asks a million and one questions of the trainers and is in Heaven. Autumn enjoys the water. No need to worry...it is perfectly safe for them to roam the grounds of the Kahala Hotel and in short order everyone knows them both.

On Friday, Nana has a worker in the other unit re-glazing the tub. He gets tied up in traffic, so he comes late. We watch movies and get ourselves organized in the studio, enjoy the roof top pool, and shop for groceries.

At night, we hit the streets of Waikiki to observe the action starting with the bird man. Then all of the street "artists" and a Hula show at the International Market Place.

Autumn is amazed at the beautiful plants everywhere and takes lots of pictures. Nick dances on the street and earns some money too. It's a fun evening

We spend all day at the Bishop Museum. First the dinasours, a planterium show, and the Hawaii Culture area. Autumn and Nicholas get to use their journals to record what they are learning. The last stop is the hands on science lab. where we learn about volcanos, scuba diving, and sea life. It's a fun day and lots of learning

We are off to Kahala for a wonderful day of relaxation at the beach. We decided to park ourselves near a large tree that proved to be a great climbing place. Nick made friends with two grils; had a great time, and even ended up "borrowing" a canoe for another adventure. It was a great time.

Hamanua Bay here we come. Nick and Autumn had never snorkeled before, but they sure learned fast. We spent the entire day and enjoyed it so much. We brought some frozen peas and the fish were swimming all around us. What great fun we had. Grandma snorkeled the entire time.

Chill day. Who could have known that the library would be so fun. The kids loaded up on books and we spent the entire morning reading and relaxing. What fun.

After the library, it was snack time and the off to the Ward center to see Kung Fu Panda2 in 3-D on the big screen. WOW....that was a blast. Even Grandma enjoyed it.

Dinner at Buca di Beppo Italian. We had a great tour of the kitchen and then a supper dinner. What a great day.

Another one of Nana's favorite mornings.....a slow morning. We had a big breakfast and ate on the lanai. The zoo is close enough for us to walk and we enjoyed the nature on the way. What a large Banyan tree we found. Great for hide and seek.

The zoo was a lot of fun. When we came home Katie, Autumn's new friend, called and we were off for our first swim on Waikiki Beach!! You just can't go to Hawaii and not swim at least once in Waikiki.

Our final stop on the way home? Of course....the bird man gets a visit.

First.....A breakfast for champions! And that we are. We meet up with our new friends.... We're off first to climb Diamond Head....a must do when you come to Oahu. Through tunnels and up stairs to the very top.....and the views below are wonderful.

We then take Katie and her grandma, Linda off for a trip snorkeling at Hanauma Bay for an entire day of adventure. Katie even spends the night after. What fun!

We were off first thing in the morning for another stop at the library. Oh, my was that needed. And so welcomed. Then we tried out the mall. After all what fun is vacation without some shopping. Nicholas got ???? you guessed it a toy and Autumn clothes. Boys will be boys; girls will be girls.
We stopped to eat at a Japanese place and had UNDO, of course. Great. They closed all the streets of Waikiki for a festival and we enjoyed it before collapsing in bed.

We've placed all our videos in one spot. Take a look