Mahalo, Kauai!

Aloha!  We just got home from an incredible family vacation with the Sowa family.

Jerry and Sherry gifted us all with an amazing time on the beautiful island of Kauai.

 

It was so fun to see Jarrod and Lori, and especially to watch the kid-cousins laugh and play together!

First evening together, the cousins playing in the rain in Hanalei!

We headed to Hideaway Beach, near Princeville, for our first full day together at the beach.

The kids had a blast jumping off the cliffs (I had a mini-heart attack...) and boogie boarding!

 

Can you say fearlessness? 

That night, Lori, Jarrod, Corey, and I saw the un-real views from St. Regis resort... and I got to see this spectacular view on my morning runs!!!

We spent one afternoon at Queen's bath, a beautiful, natural tidepool surrounded by lava rock. Legend has it that Queen Emma, of Oahu, visited Princeville in the 1800s and this beautiful pool was given her namesake.

I love this picture - Grandma and her girls...

Porter was in 100% heaven to hang out with a boy cousin!!!! 

Queen Emma Rose 

We spent one day on a canoe trip, where we went for a hike to a beautiful waterfall.

Morgan playing the crazy-cool trees in the forest.

We went for a beautiful, wet hike on the Kalalua Trail to waterfalls on Na Pali, a gorgeous piece of Kauai.

It rained, but this was the amazing result of our hike:

This was the green in the back yard of our home, were Corey (of course) made friend with the locals and got to play for about 1/10 the cost.

Morgan turned 6 on July 9th, so we went to another beach in Princeville where the kids were able to snorkel and see some fish!

That night (our last night as an entire extended family), we went to a luau that celebrated the unique, historical culture of Hawaii.  It took place on the grounds of the beautiful botanic gardens of Kauai's north shore.

Emma Rose dances to Hawaiian music.

We stayed an extra few days in Kauai.  We had a blast riding the coast, tandem-style, in Hanalei.

Ready for a day to chill, Emma Rose and I got a pedicure while the boys went golfing.

Check out the trunk of these trees that surrounded the golf course where Corey and Porter played! 

Porter got lessons from a pro while we were there.  Corey says he's got quite the swing!

We spent an afternoon in a cute town called Kilauea, home to Kauai's lighthouse.

Hawaii's state bird: the Nene goose.

 Sunset outside of our condo in Princeville:

We spent our last day on a boat tour around the island, where we were able to see the unbelievably beautiful Na Pali coastline.  And some turtles, dolphins, and rays.  

Aloha, Hawaii!  You are beautiful.  

Thank you, Jerry and Sherry, for allowing us to have such an awesome experience.