Pack me Please!!

Pack me ... 

was a term I never had heard before.. 

and honestly am not sure I am using it correctly.

It  means to let someone ride on your handlebars..

or on your wheel pegs.. 

or dangeling from the riders shoulders if you can't reach the pegs 

( one day we witnessed this and wished we had a camera,

 hopefully the dangeling kid hung on long enough to make it home)

I apologize for the pictures, they were taken with my phone at night, not the greatest quality.

Wailele Falls Hike

 We have really been wanting to hike. 

So on Saturday we found a hike that was close to our house, 

 Wailele Falls

Trying to find any info regarding this hike was a big pain.

 I am thinking someone doesn't want anyone to hike here.

 Thus the above sign which is  

"the trail maker"  for the beginning of the hike 

although it says nothing of the falls on the sign.

 We passed the sign then headed up this dirt road, 

very pretty, 

 with farm area on your right and stream on left.

 Then we hit this sign, 

 we started to question whether we were headed the right way.

Luckily there were some farmers out and we asked about the falls and they pointed us this way.

We continued past more farms.

On all of our hikes,  lil B is our leader, we do this to keep HIM from complaining and getting tired. 

We call him Captain and he pretty much gives us orders and warns us of danger. 

It keeps him so entertained I almost think he was born do this sort of thing.

 No wonder he's so bossy at home:) 

 This was where the fun began!

 We zigzagged through the river many times, up and over rocks.

Yes, we all did get wet. 

Those rocks are slippery!

Over fallen down trees.

 Oh and don't forget the gauva berries.

 B and T's favorite!

After 1.5 miles we made it the falls! 

 We thought we were in the clear for the trip back, we were so caught up in the accomplishment,

 ( it seemed alot further than 1.5 miles)

that we missed the trail marker for our first turn on one of the trees and ended up lost! 

But quickly found our way back to the trail and made it to the car just before it started pouring rain!

Overall it was a really fun hike, 

the kids liked it a lot  because of the rock scrambling and thought it was a better hike than Laie Falls.

UPDATE:
Apparently there are many names for this hike.. the most common one is Wailele, not Wakelele which is what we thought at first.. No wonder we couldn't find much info on it. W

Night out in Laie

 Not sure how I missed posting these pictures, but I figured better late than never.

 We went to see Captain America at the end of July, and I thought the tickets were so funny. 

Yep, they are just printed on regular paper from a good old at home printer. The Theater itself is actually pretty up to par with other theaters, just the tickets.

BTW I really did enjoy the movie, and yes D is wearing an aloha shirt.

 This is the sign in the bathroom, yes trash is called rubbish here.. I kind of like it, makes me sound English..

 After the movie there was a free fair for the kids. 

YES, everything was FREE,

 all the rides,

 the cotton candy, rock climbing and even raffle tickets for a couple of bikes. 

Pretty sweet deal. 

Although the lines were long, my little ones figured out a system, if they waited for it to start to rain then everyone would run for shelter then they would head for the line. 

Now that's my kind of thinking!

After our little night out we are headed home!

Da BaKeRs

 Hawaii finally felt like home for the 2 weeks The Bakers were here.

The visit can be summed up in a few words..

BEST time ever!
(seriously, we loved having them here!)


Let's keep the Hawaiian spirit, please!
(for those who forgot where they were)


The Baker 15 lb.
(which I think we ALL gained)


Shaved Ice anyone?
( the extra 15lb may have come from having shaved ice everyday)

The kids all got a long so well, it really was such a good visit!
We miss them already!!!

 love this candid shot!

 Crossing my fingers they will get married someday:)

SuRfINg

B
trying 
to look like a
 tough kid...
 Lol!

 He is still sweeter than ever, 
 he still 
holds my hand in public.
But when I look at these pictures it reminds me that 
he is growing into a man..
long deep breath..sigh..

enough of that
now onto surfing...

 B and A 
have been really excited 
to come to Hawaii to catch some waves. 

They thought,
 Hawaii = easy surfing


Not so much.


Honestly they both haven't had much experience surfing any where but they were able to catch the white water in California then stand and surf in but that's about it.

The surfing waves here are far from the shore and you have to paddle pretty far out to catch any.

thus

they were a little intimidated, 

I had to do a little convincing 

They were worried the other surfers would be bugged with them for being out there and they were kind of nervous to go out that far.

( and lets be honest I was a little nervous  that they were going out that far as well,
 luckily my camera has super zoom )

They finally got up the nerve to go for it..

They went out  
and
 waited and waited and waited.

( we were at a beginners spot and the other surfers were super nice,
 even gave the kids tips. So no need to be worried)

 B finally caught one!

  Yippeeee!!

( I was standing on the shore cheering,
 I am sure I looked like a ridiculous hoalie)

The pictures above and below were taken at Chuns Reef .

 "A" has gone out  2-3 times a week and has practiced really hard. 

His practice is paying off because
he was able to catch a ton of waves.

 I am sure it had to do a lot with the ocean, 

but it also has to with timing and paddling to catch it.

I am really proud of  both of them for
 teaching themselves
and for being
so patient!

 I think they have been bitten by the surf bug..

Shaka!
(hang loose)

Back to school:(

T and lil B's school is three blocks from our house,

 They love that they can walk to school with the neighborhood kids.

Here is the elementary school that T and lil B go to. 

  Check out these playscape statues... 

The kids were trying to figure out what game you could play on them.

upclose..

Hawaiian wooden wall sculptures, one day I will learn the story.

 Talmages class. Mrs. Ah You..

This information was at the beginning of T's homework planner.

REALLY!!! 

I had never even thought to look for missiles, but I guess it makes since with Pearl Harbor and all..

 Kind of scary.

Below is Br and A's school. The JR High is connected to the High School. 

So far its been very good!

Did I mention we live in the country?

Yes we live in the Country! 
This is a common scene, chickens everywhere!
 This picture is taken  in front of our one and only grocery store.
Every year the boy scouts round up the wild chickens, and do what what them?
I am not sure I want to know.:)

This is the beach we love to go to. 

It is usually not crowded and has the best (easiest) surfing waves around.

Best of all I can pronounce the name.

That is a major feat in and of it self. I am really bad at the Hawaiian names...

 Beach name-

Malaekahana

aka 

Castles

 I can pronounce Castles.

hehe

Above is the parking lot. Notice it's not paved! Love that!

Below is what is directly across the street from the beach parking lot. 

Cows and lots of farm land= Beautiful!

You would think stinky but nope the ocean air helps with that.

 up and over the grassy hill to the beach we go...

Of course the country beach would not be a country beach without the chickens!

Don't forget the farmer tan! 

You've got to have a farmers tan to go to the country beach:)

At least that's what this little boy thinks.