Hale Family Spring Break (2nd Spring Break)

So our friends left Saturday morning and my brother and his family flew in on Sunday morning. We had 12 hour rest and we were ready to party with our cousins. My older brother Brad and his family were on Park City's spring break, and they rented a house just a mile up the road on one of our favorite beaches-Castles Beach. The kids were especially excited about having cousins here. 

We kicked off the week with surf lessons for the kids. Here they are practicing their surf paddling. 

      Kate, ready to take on the waves.                                    Maggie with Jake, waiting her turn.

This is an awesome and rare picture. Both Sam and Ben caught the same wave. Surfing cousins.

 After surfing we couldn't resist some more boogie boarding on Castle's beach in Laie. Its a perfect boogie boarding beach and the kids played for hours in the waves. They spent most of the day in the water.

Day two- we hit the North Shore. Here are the Hale's enjoying the view at Pipeline. This picture is unedited. No photoshop here. Check out the blue skies and water. So incredible. What you can't see in the picture is that they are sitting up on a 40 foot sand ledge. The drop down to the water is steep and the waves were crashing in front of them.

  Here we are.

 Jayne is a collector of many things. Shells are her latest fade. She also collects sea glass. Glass that has been dulled due to the rough ocean. I am a fan of collecting shells, but not so much the sand that comes with the shells. She's getting better about washing them. I couldn't resist this picture of her.

The Hales were standing at the top of the sand bank waiting for a wave to reach up and touch their feet.

 The wave did a bit more than hit their feet.

 But you can see by their faces, this is pure fun.

After Pipeline we stopped at Lani beach to see the Turtles. There weren't any on shore, but we saw 6 swimming and feeding on the rocks. 

Guess where we took them next? Maggie and Sue with their first shave ice of the trip.

 Most were too busy to really pose for the picture, but you can see that they were enjoying it.

After some shave ice, we did some damage at the surf shop for cousins that had forgot rash guards and already had bleeding rashes from the day of surfing and boogie boarding. On our way home we at Kahuku Grill. Matthew devoured his hamburger and asked for another one. I am not sure if we had starved them or if they are really that good.

Day 3 (Wednesday) We spent the morning snorkeling at Turtle Bay. Turtle Bay is great for first time snorkelers because it is protected and there aren't any waves. We played and played there until we were starving for lunch. We couldn't even make it past the outdoor restaurant on the beach, so we ate there.

In the afternoon we went to the PCC.

 All those white legs hanging over the water are all the cousins sitting front row to see the boat show.

 Sam wanted to take the cousins to the PCC on Wednesday so they could join him at his fire-knife dance class. The girls joined in as well.

 Ben picked it up fast.

 The cousins after getting tattoos in the Fiji village.

 Sitting in front, waiting for the night show to start.

 Jayne of coarse force everyone to go get picture with the star of the night show. She would go every time if I let her. Check out how Sam is standing next to him. Love it!

Day 4 Waimea Bay

Waimea is so great to play in when it is mild. Here I am surrounded by kids with Jake on my back. He's  now comfortable with riding on my back, and it makes it so fun to have him come with. He like to cool down in the water, especially at Waimea with no waves. After we went to Castles to boogie board.

My Days are blurred but I believe this is Day 5. We returned to the PCC after playing at the beach. This day was really fun, because of seeing shows we just did all the fun activities. Like New Zealand stick throwing.

 Tahiti Fishing and Spear throwing

Jayne helping the instructor at Hula class in Hawaii.

 Tahitian Dancing.

 The Tongan Drummer

 Then to finish off the day, Uncle Brad bought everyone tattoos. The villages will give island specific tattoos that just wash off, but at the front you can pay to have a semi permeant airbrush tattoos. Since all the Hales wanted to have tattoos for school, they all lined up. Uncle Brad included the cousins as well. He bought 10 tattoos. Here's Sam-

Uncle Brad getting his tattoo on his massive Hale calf.

Ellie

 Jayne

 All the tattoos.

 We took the tour of the temple and said good bye to the PCC.

But we hadn't had quite enough for the day. So we jumped in our swimming suits and headed to Shark's Cove for some sunset snorkeling. We found Impossible Pizza truck there at Sharks Cove and ordered pizza to eat on the beach. We also saw our first Hawaiian Monk Seal. 

And we finally got down to the cove right in time for sunset. Awe

 Seth enjoying the site.

This is one of my favorite pictures of the kids walking across the tide pools. Its Maggie, Kate, Sam and Ben. Believe it or not, but I have forgotten my camera at home, so this was taken with my Iphone.

Ben alone in the cove.

 Jaker's walking our to Ben. He is a crazy nut, look how deep it is one him. Obviously not afraid of the water. 

The day was quite the adventure. It was fabulous to end it with such a beautiful sunset.

Our last Beach day. Jake was buried several time this day. First by Aunt Susan in attempts to get him to hold still. Then by Jona and Sam with Jake standing up.

 Sam and Kate coming in.

 Susan looking deep into Jake's soul to see if he will ever not hit or throw everything.

 Cousins

 Half open shutter.

 Sunday, the last day. We decided that Pearl Harbor was great Sunday activity. Here are the kids waiting to ride the boat out to the Arizona Memorial.

 The Memorial was a great place to learn. I hope such a deep respect for those who have fought and died for our freedom. I feel like the kids learned a lot.

And at last we are done. The longest blog post in history. After Pearl Harbor we went into Waikiki for an awesome dinner at Roys. Jake isn't very good at formal dinners, but we had some great food and had a chance to hug all our cousins good bye. Thanks for the fantastic week.