Our favorite place

What’s the best part about taking three anxious people, and one seasick-prone parent snorkeling in the Pacific Ocean?
For starters, the anxious people get over it - even the hyperventilating panic attack - because this chance ain’t happening again any time soon (and even if we did see a four-foot long eel, he was heading towards the other family anyway).
But the best best part is when the sea-sick parent barfs while snorkeling and the rest of the family is treated to huge swarms of fish heading to the vomit buffet. It was like having our own personal chum bucket right in Kealakekua Bay.

It sounds like a nightmare, but honestly - all but one of us agrees- it was a highlight of our trip.

Rico toured a Kona Joe’s coffee farm while the rest of us caught up on jet lag. He also went for a hike, alone, without telling anyone in the rainforest. He told us later that he stopped at a “Deliverance” style cabin in the middle of the forest to ask for directions. I’m grateful I was asleep. 

We visited downtown Kailua where Punk bought an actual Hawaiian Hawaiian shirt, we tasted Scandis Shave Ice, and strong Kona coffee, and a guy covered my children in macaws, while simultaneously screaming at the birds, “No Renaldo! Stop Renaldo!” Unfortunately the kid who was least excited about this event was placed with Renaldo.

We spent the next day and a half exploring Mani’ni owali Beach because we thought it was the most beautiful place we’d ever seen in our entire lives.

But then we flew to Oahu.

We had to stop for Malasadas at Leonard’s Bakery. Malasadas are those fluffy little dough things I fell in love with on the big island, and according to the food network, Leonard’s is the most famous Malasada Baker in the world. I agree.

We had just enough time to check into our hotel at Ko’Olina Beach and get changed for the Luau at Paradise Cove. We paddled Hawaiian canoes; got tribal “tattoos”; made ti leaf and plumeria bracelets; threw spears at targets; watched fire dancers; watched Noah and Kaia hula dance; tried poi; ate fresh pineapple, ube and pork; and went to sleep much later than we’d planned.

The next morning we woke up at six to drive to Kualoa Ranch. It’s the filming site of parts of Jurassic Park, Jurassic World, and lots of other movies that nobody in our family cared about because - JURASSIC PARK!  The kids ran away from imaginary galimimuses, took photos at the fallen log, visited the raptor pen, toured a real world war 2 bunker and listened to the gossip our tour guide dished out (In case you’re wondering, Nicholas Cage and Ben Affleck were incredibly arrogant, topped only by the Kardashians who left dirty diapers in the van and no tip. Dwayne Johnson and Chris Pratt hopped on tour buses and sang with little kids, clearly loved by all of the staff).

But it wasn’t just the movie history that we loved, (and we loooooovvved it), but this place was like nothing we’d ever seen before - towering green mountains, turquoise water, no bugs, plus the actual amber mosquito cane from Jurassic Park - it became my new favorite place in the world.

On our way back to Ko’Olina, we made a short stop at the Byodo-In Temple. We said a prayer in the temple and Rico and I agreed that we could live here for the rest of our lives, with nothing but each other and a book. It was my new favorite place in the world.

Rico likes to stop at Shrimp Shacks - food trucks on the side of the road. The big kids are team Shrimp Shack as well, which leaves Tiny and I to fend for ourselves. Yesterday we ate cool Ranch Doritos, Hi-chews and ice tea from the gas station next to the food truck. That night I demanded a Denny’s- not because I love Denny’s - I hate Denny’s- but because if I have to look at one plate of food with legs still attached, I’m going vegan. 

We spent this morning floating in the lagoon at our hotel.  But some of us can’t stand to miss out on anything, so after lunch Rico, Kooka and I made a trip to the North Shore for Matsumoto’s famous shave ice. On the way back we hit the Dole Plantation to see how real pineapples grow and see if the Dole whips are better here (they are).

We wrapped up the night by another swim in the lagoon and take out pizza. Tomorrow we try surfing the north shore. Wish us luck.