Time with Grandmas

We spent the last part of our trip at my grandmother's house in Waialua (North Shore). We enjoyed being out in the country, aside from the constant crowing of the roosters next door. We took a drive out to the far northwest side of the island. It was a little windy!










If this looks a little familiar, it's an area where they filmed a lot of Lost (the TV show).

We also spent some time at the beach front playground near my grandmother's house.

Going for our nightly walk.

North Shore with Joyce

We also got to spend some time with our friend Joyce, who was an intern at the JAG office in Japan when we lived there, and now is a JAG officer in Hawaii. She has a rough life! She met us at the parade, and got to hang out with her later in the week. Adam and Lottie enjoyed riding in her car - it doesn't take much to make them happy.

We headed to Waimea Bay and got in a quick swim before it rained.

We got some yummy Thai food at Haleiwa Eats. Joyce introduced Adam and Lottie to fried tofu - they loved it! Then we had to stop at Aoki's for shave ice. So good getting to hang out with Joyce again. She was so popular with Adam in Japan that he called the extra seat in our van the "Doyce Seat."

Honolulu Festival Parade

On March 12, we decided to check out the Honolulu Festival Parade. It started close to our hotel, so we didn't have to walk far to get good seats. Adam took his Daddy doll to see the parade.

Patiently waiting for the parade to start.

The color guard.

They started the parade with a banner in support of the victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami.

They also took donations for Japan.

Here are some pictures from the extremely long parade. It went a good three hours. They did a great job of including many of the different cultures in Hawaii. It was also fun to see the many Japanese groups that had come over specifically for the parade, especially the dancers.

Beach Time

Still Jag Lagged

Even four days into the trip, some kids are still jet lagged.

North Shore

We took a day to go to the country - the North Shore. First stop was Wahiawa to see the Dole Plantation. Adam and Lottie love taking the Pineapple Train.

Can you tell they've done this before?

Cute little train. It travels around a small pineapple field.

Our traditional pineapple head picture.

We also fed the koi fish. They were either super hungry or super greedy.

They had many different varieties of pineapple. Adam didn't want to get too close and get scratched.

Of course, we also needed Dole Whip.

Lottie thought it was delicious.

The kids are also obsessed with the penny machines. This was our first penny smashing of the trip, but not the last!

Then we ate lunch at Haleiwa Joe's. We stopped to admire the Rainbow Bridge.

We stopped at the Waialua Sugar Mill (where my grandfather worked) to check out the farmers market and other goodies.

Our last stop was Aoki's for shave ice.