Day 10 Hawaii - Pearl Harbor

Day 10 Our last day! So sad!! But it was a great day. We started early: 6:00am because we had lots to do! You know, I couldn't bring my family all the way to Hawaii and not visit Oahu with Pearl Harbor and the Polynesian Cultural Center. They are such a large part of the Hawaiin history and culture. And you know me, I can't take my family on a trip without making it, not only super fun, but also educational and inspirational. Well, that's the plan anyway. It seems to be working so far. So we loved the PCC on Friday and today we visited Pearl Harbor!

In the early, peaceful morning hours of Sunday, Decemeber 7, 1941 two waves of Japanese aircraft (360 planes total) unexpectedly dropped out of the sky and attacked every major military post on Oahu.

The surprise attack devastated the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Approx 2400 Americans were killed while only 55 Japanese died! Amazing.

That fateful Sunday morning became, just as President Roosevelt said, "A date which will live in infamy!"

Before we left for our trip we watched the movie "Pearl Harbor". It is a big Hollywood love story, but it covers that day very well, and the events leading up to it and the horrific days that followed. The scenes of the actual attack: the bombs, the ships sinking, the men dying, men getting trapped in the ships below, the explosions and fire and screaming... It is heartwrenching to watch and really made the events real for Jaren & Michelle. Then as part of the tour we watched another film that morning.

It is, indeed, very sobering to stand on the USS Arizona Memorial and see the great ship below ~ how old it is, rusted and covered with algae and sea barnacles. We stared into the water at the ship, and images of that day, what happened, what it must have been like flood my mind and my heart aches and tears filled my eyes. It is like being at Ground Zero in NYC. A different generation, but the same sad, yet patriotic, feelings well up inside of me.

While at Pearl Harbor we also toured the still afloat, just recently retired, grand USS Missouri ~ affectionately known as the "Mighty Mo". It was the last battleship built by the U.S. and the last one in use (by any nation). She was used during WWII and last used during the Gulf War.

Our guide was fantastic! He told us so many fun and fascinating stories about this ship. There isn't room to share them all. But he told us how it was a junior senator from Missouri who was selected to christen the ship: that man being Harry S. Trumen, who then gave the honor to his young teenage daughter. Then by an amazing turn of events: Trumen was chosen as Pres. Roosevelt's running mate, then just months after the election Roosevelt died, making Trumen the new President of the United States... WWII was ending and the new, Pres. Trumen, head of the Allied Forces, was to choose where the Official Ceremony would take place for the Japanese surrender. Where did he choose? His ship, his daughter's ship: the USS Missouri, of course! How cool is that?

On and on... once while visiting the ship with his wife and daughter he wanted "no special treatment". So, much to the dismay of the kitchen staff who had planned, bought and prepared special food for him, he went down below decks to the mess hall with the rest of the sailors. He, his wife & daughter stood in line. One sailor told them to cut to the front. Pres. Trumen said "I've never cut in line before in my life! I'm not going to start now." So the food line in the mess hall on the USS Missouri is called the "Trumen Line."

I guess the coolest thing about this ship is that it is the place where they had the Official Ceremony: with all the the world leaders, all the Allied Forces and the Japanese leaders signed the documents for Japan to surrender ~ ending WWII.

We stood on the very deck where this momentous, historical event took place. We walked down the very stairs General Douglas Mac Authur stepped down to greet the Japanese. We saw the very pen he used to sign the documents.

These Memorials made us so thankful for a country that believes in peace and liberty. A country willing to defend people's peace and liberty. We are thankful for men and women willing to fight for peace and liberty where ever they may need to do so. It was all the more meaningful having just visited the USS Arizona. We went from the beginning, or the beginning of what brought the U.S. into the war to the end of it.

MacAuthur's words at the Ceremony were powerful: "It is my earnest hope ~ indeed the hope of all mankind~ that from this solemn occasion a better world shall emerge out of the blood and carnage of the past. A world founded upon faith and understanding, a world dedicated to the dignity of man and the fulfillment of his most cherished wish for freedom, tolerance and justice."

Then we left for one last early dinner at a restaurant on the water at the "Aloha" Tower in Waikiki Beach... one last delicious, juicy Kulua Pork sandwich... one last look at the brilliant blue water of Hawaii... one last gentle cool breeze...
We arrived home at midnight. We are so thankful for such a wonderful opportunity to go on such a fun trip. These will be fun & exciting memories that we will keep forever. We are truly blessed.

ALOHA!!

Day 9 Hawaii-North Side of Oahu

Day 9

Wow, time flies! Today we drove up to Nu'uanu Pali Look-Out. The road winds through the

hanging vines, bamboo, wild ginger and the thick jungle. The vines hung so low we stopped so Jaren and Michelle could swing through the trees dropping right into the convertable! Just like Tarzan & Jane. :)

The Nu'uanu Pali Look-Out is unique in that it is at the center of a canyon that cuts through the Ko'olua Mountians ~ which cut right through the middle of the island. You have stunning panoramic views of both sides of the island. And because this canyon cuts through these large mountains there are gale force winds that rush through the canyon and nearly knock you over. Or, we had fun leaning into the raging wind and the strength of the wind held us up.

There were fierce battles fought here anciently, again reminiscent of Book of Mormon battles.

From there we continued our drive down Pali Highway to the north side of the island: the quiet, cooler, wetter, greener side. Quite different than the bustling, toursit filled leeward side with Honolulu & Waikiki.

We stopped at a couple different beaches, finally settling on Waimea Bay. We never did find big waves- which the North Shore is so famous for. But we were there the wrong time of year. Wintertime brings the giant 50' waves. Oh well. We swam & snorkeled and we saw lots of fish again, another big sea turtle, eels and sting rays.

There were big lava rocks Jaren & Michelle climbed up and went of a pretty high one: about 25'. We swam out to a smaller clump of rocks and jumped & dove into the water. It was lots of fun. Then Doug & the kids discovered a tunnel under a bunch of rock. It took a BIG breath but I made it through. It was so cool. So everyone tried and made it. We went through a few times. We stayed & swam & snorkeled & jumped off rocks until the sun went down. We wanted every last minute ~ every last ray of sunlight that we could get on our last day on a Hawaiin beach.

Day 8 Hawaii-Poly Cultural Center

Day 8

Welcome to the Polynesian Cultural CenterWe drove to the complete opposite side of the island to go to the Polynesian Cultural Center. As usual it was another picturesque drive with spectacular scene after spectacular scene! I was so excited for Doug, Jaren & Michelle to experience the PCC. It was one of my favorite things when I came to Hawaii as a teenager. I told them it was like Disneyland, but without the rides... but just as fun and entertaining.

First, we stopped at the temple, which is right next door. We were disappointed, as we were planning our trip, to discover that the temple would be closed for renovations while we were there. We really wanted to do baptisms. We have had such neat experiences going to the temples in places we travel. Next time ~ we'll just have to come back! :) But the temple grounds in Hawaii are, of course, amazingly beautiful.



We also stopped in at BYU Hawaii. We found the Assistant Athletic Director and the Basketball Coach. We had a nice visit with them. Who knows, it could be a fun option for Jaren. Then Doug & I would definitely have to visit often!



Then to the PCC where we spent the whole rest of the day. We were welcomed with a lei greeting. We visited all the different villages. Our favorite villages were: Tonga and Samoa. Both the guys that performed were hilarious ~ especially the Somoan kid.(above) The whole time we were cracking up. We were laughing so hard we were crying.



We played Maori games with sticks and balls, we danced the Hula, we learned how to correctly and perfectly crack and shed a coconut, and we did some spear chucking. And we loved watching the parade along the canal. It was hot so we ate lots of delicious fruity ice cream with fresh peaches and pineapple in it. Mmmm...














At 6:00 we went to a big, delicious all-you-can-eat Hawaiin Luau! We loved the fruit, the fish, the rice, the purple sweet potatoes and especially the Kuala pork! It is so good. Jaren especially loved the all-you-can-eat part! During dinner there was, of course, a show with singers and dancers. All in authentic, splendid Luau form. I loved that there was absolutely no alchohol served anywhere in the park and we started dinner with a prayer. After dinner we stayed for the big show in their new amphitheater: "Ha ~ the Breath of Life". It was very good. It was a long, fun, wonderful day. Just like Disneyland. :)

Day 7 Hawaii Cont...Arrive Honolulu

Day 7 Continued..

Oahu, Honolulu, Waikiki... just one little island away from Maui but in some ways it seems worlds away. We arrived in Oahu and got our rental car and we got a convertable Mustang. Now, that's the way to drive around Hawaii. So fun! The kids were totally excited. We checked into our hotel and then we went out to walk around Waikiki. Waikiki is filled with tourists: 10,000 hotel rooms crammed into dozens of skyscraper hotels. The streets are packed with people and shop after shop after shop filled with much of the same touristy memorablilia: T-shirts, candy, jewelery, grass skirts, leis, swimsuits, woodcarvings and postcards! The streets are also lined with restaurants, ice cream parlors, or the popular shaved ice. We decided that Waaikiki reminded us of New York City: crowded with shops & people ~ but also with palm trees. :)

Day 7 Hawaii-Last Day Maui

Day 7 Our last day on Maui. Very Sad! We spent some time shopping for souvenirs, but mostly we spent the day on the beach. We went down to Mekena ~ Big Beach again because we like the waves there and it is close.

We are sad to leave Maui. We have had so much fun here. We have loved the beaches, swimming, snorkeling, all the fish, and the beautiful scenery.

We are glad we've had the chance to come see this beautiful paradise ~ it is a bit of heaven on earth! We flew out at 5:00pm... here we come Oahu!

Oahu, Honolulu, Waikiki... just one little island away from Maui but in some ways it seems worlds away. We arrived in Oahu and got our rental car and we got a convertable Mustang. Now, that's the way to drive around Hawaii. So fun! The kids were totally excited.

We checked into our hotel and then we went out to walk around Waikiki. Waikiki is filled with tourists: 10,000 hotel rooms crammed into dozens of skyscraper hotels. The streets are packed with people and shop after shop after shop filled with much of the same touristy memorablilia: T-shirts, candy, jewelery, grass skirts, leis, swimsuits, woodcarvings and postcards! The streets are also lined with restaurants, ice cream parlors, or the popular shaved ice. We decided that Waaikiki reminded us of New York City: crowded with shops & people ~ but also with palm trees. :)

Day 6 Hawaii "Up Country"

Day 6
Today we drove to the "up country" of west Maui. To the wet, lush and magnificently beautiful, green 'Iao Valley and 'Iao Needle.


Thick with rain forest, trees, vegetation, bushes, vines, flowers, and a river flowing through. But in all it's splendor and beauty it has a tragic history. It was here that King Kamehameha I battled and conquered the people of Maui ~ uniting , for the first time, all of the Hawaiin islands. King Kamehameha and his 1200 fierce & skilled warriors trapped the Maui warriors in this canyon. Finally after the 3rd day of bloody battle King Kamehameha was victorious.


But it is called the Battle of Kepamiwai, which means: "Battle of the Damned Waters" because there were so many dead that their bodies filled




the river and blocked the water. It is said that the river ran red with the blood of the slain. As we thought about this violent scene it reminded us of Book of Mormon battles.



From there we drove around the west coast of Maui. We have now driven the entire circumference of this island! It is another long, narrow, twisty road. Although not quite as long or twisty as the Road to Hana it is still filled with beautiful beaches & breathtaking scenery. Whoa-Jaren, watch that edge!








Another roadside stand with fresh, ripe, sweet fruit. Here we drank the coconut milk fresh, right out of the coconut! Mmmmm....

Eventually we ended up in a favorite spot: Ka'anapali Beach for more swimming & snorkeling.

Day 5 Hawaii-Scuba Diving!

Day 5

SCUBA Diving!

Today was super fun! I love SCUBA diving and I was excited for Doug, Jaren & Michelle to go. We had to wake up really early: 5:45 am to catch our boat. We went out to Molokini Crater for our first dive. Molokini is a small volcano about 15 miles from Maui. It has a vast coral reef which makes for spectacular diving.After a mini Intro-Lesson for Doug, Jaren & Michelle we jumped into the water. Some of my photos turned out better than others. And some are from our SCUBA guide and his good camera. But nothing quite captures what it is really like being underwater with all the sea creatures. Awesome! We saw big sea turtles... lots of tropical fish... eels... sting rays...

And our guide caught an octopus! Doug & Jaren both held it! They let it go when it started to wrap it's tentacles around their necks and chest... just kidding, I mean around their arms! :) It was fascinating.











Our second dive was closer to the coast of Maui. We saw more turtles, eels, and tons of colorful fish. I was hoping for a shark, but no luck. It's probably for the best because I don't think Michelle would have done well with a shark!

After SCUBA diving we spent the rest of the day at Big Beach in Makena again. We had fun swimming and body surfing.