Christmas in Hawaii 2011 - Day 5

Wednesday morning Rod, Alex and I headed to Kealakekua Bay which is a beautiful bay about 10 miles south of Kona. This is where Captain Cook got slaughtered and there is nice British monument on the site in his memory. To get to the monument, you have to rent a kayak and paddle your way there. It is about a 20 minute kayak trip there.

After a shady group of local pot head people trying to get you to rent their kayaks at the close-by parking lot, we decided to search for a better parking place. We found one just a little ways off and noticed a little old friendly guy renting his kayaks, right from his house.

Alex pulling the blow-up kayak from the condo to the water.

Alex is ready to get on the kayak.

Just look at the colors of the sky and the water. If that is not inspiring, what is?

Alex is kayaking fast to the monument.

Rod is paddling behind me.

Alex is paddling....and paddling.

Check out Alex's back muscles. Very impressive.

When we reached the shore on the other side of the bay, this little friend was swimming among the rocks.

Rod is going snorkeling. Wasn't the snake just there where he is standing?

Alex is having a great time snorkeling among the colorful fish.

Alex is on his way up to the surface.

Fun fish.

Yellow fish. According to my handy fish chart, these are called Lau'i Pala or Yellow Tang.

Coral

Alex is getting warm on the rock after snorkeling.

It is time to get back to the other side of the bay. Rod and Alex are now sharing the double kayak and I'm on the blow-up kayak.

Captain Cook Monument at Kealakekua Bay.

Rod and Alex are paddling back to the other side. Yes, a rope is hooked onto my kayak. I was paddling fast as well.

On the way back to the condo, we stopped by at the Donkey Ball Factory. I bought a couple of bags of monkey balls. They were very yummy.

We drove to Kona and met the Brailsfords who were on a cruise around the Hawaiian islands at the same time. Today they were at port in Kona so we met them at a nearby beach where they were having a great time in the shore break with their boogie boards.

Christmas in Hawaii 2011 - Day 4

Day 4 in paradise started with sunny skies and 80 degrees so no change, in other words. Today was the day when our troop wanted to learn how to surf. We drove to Kona to a place that Craig had found in one of the travel books and they signed up for a group lesson.

This lady is giving Craig, Elle, Alex and Rod a lesson on how to pop up from the laying down position. Easy as pie.

Alex is practicing the pop up.

Rod looks like a pro already.

What they forgot to tell us at the shop that you have to carry your own boards (about 50 lbs.) through a jungle. What they said was:"It is a nice 5-10 minute walk through nature". What they didn't mention was that "nature" was a lava field. Our 4 surfers were not happy. The walk was about 15 minutes.

Rod and Alex are ready to carry their boards.

Rod is still smiling a fake smile.

Here they went. Through a lava jungle.

The beach was not sandy. All lava.

Alex is surfing.

Alex is surfing.

Elle is surfing. Do you notice the swells? Not really best surfing conditions.

Craig is standing on the board. Very successful surfing.

A lady crashed into Rod. Rod is the one falling on the left side.

Alex got nauseous so he just wanted to hang out on the board for a while.

Craig had a tremendous crash. His board flying through the air.

Elle kneeling on the board.

Successful pop up with Rod.

Rod is falling fast.

Elle is paddling back to the shore.

Almost there, Elle.

Rod's last run.

Christmas in Hawaii 2011 - Day 3

Another beautiful day in Hawaii. No rain, just sunny cloudless skies.

Craig and Whitney are on their way to watch another beautiful sunset on Monday night.

Our private beach and the Canoe House Restaurant.

Sun is setting over the golf course.

So gorgeous

I'm also enjoying the sunset.

Rod is looking at Elle who was doing something silly.

Daddy-Daughter, Craig and Elle.

Alex is exploring the rocks.

Elle is watching the sunset.

Alex

Cousins Elle and Alex

Alex is so cool.

Alex is peeking over the rocks.

Peek-a-boo.

I could watch these sunsets every night.

So peaceful after the sunset

Elle, Alex and Rod walking back to the beach after the sunset.

It was time for dinner. We drove to Kona and found Bubba Gump's. Craig being retarded and Elle putting up with it. So funny.

Life is like a box of chocolates.

The whole gang at dinner at Bubba Gump's.