Saw this little fella -- yes, it's still alive! We returned it home afterwards!
August 7 -- our day began with a visit to this amazing playground!
They had a blast - trust me!
Isn't it huge?
This is a traditional Hawaiian canoe:
When we informed the children to get ready to leave the playground, they were very upset... especially when they found out our next stop was to this coffee farm! (Greenwell Coffee Farm)
This is what real coffee bean looks like -- only the red "cherry" colored beans can be picked.
Here they are drying after they have been squeezed out of their red skins.
After the tour the children were rewarded with a delicious chocolate coffee bean! Yes, of course, they loved it! MG kept asking for more! Then they actually tried some of the coffee!
August 8 -- MG woke up and celebrated being 7 with us... and a visit to the beach. At the end of the day, she admitted this was her favorite beach - ev.er!
Ed was digging a hole for the children and found this! Vince was brave enough to hold it... yikes!
There goes MD doing what he does best -- he loves snorkeling now! It's not very deep so he can stand up if he wants to. But he was checking out the baby fish swimming around. Pretty cool!
These 2 (E and Ryan) have become close friends... well, some days not so close! But they sure had fun today making sand castles.
I did my usual....enjoyed a decent book I picked up at the house here and watched everyone having fun!
Ed loves helping the children...
Yes... finally, he can stay put for a few minutes! :)
Proof I was in the water... The gang, minus Uyen who took the photo! Yes, MD is there -- he's behind MG in the orange goggles!
After a wonderful day of being beach bums, we returned to this restaurant to enjoy another wonderful Japanese meal. This place is called Teshima's Fine Foods.
We met the Grandmother who is 103 years old (that's her on the chair in front of us on the left and her ONLY surviving friend, who is 102 years old!). Her family started a store which then opened into a restaurant. Now the entire family takes part in running the place. It was very family oriented and we enjoyed our meals. It was nice to meet the owner... who does NOT look 103 years old! Wow!!! As you can see, MG is sitting next to grandma because it was her birthday! :)
Speaking of which... they brought out complimentary ice cream for all the children... with a candle for MG! Then when we started singing the entire restaurant stopped to sing to her too! It was great!
But her birthday celebration did not end at Teshima's...
Daddy had baked her a brownie cake... yes, Daddy! So we lit the candles again It's great being 7, no?!
Now, here we are... our last day on Hawaii. We had a leisurely day with a stop at Costco and then a drive to Kiholo Bay.
...where the men and boys took a dip at the Queen's bath. See it here?
A long time ago, only the Queen was allowed to bathe here (even the king could not bathe there!). Vince said the water was not warm. It's a combination of salt water and fresh water. Pretty neat, eh?
They swam from one end... through this tunnel and visited a nearby swim hole! Although the water is not deep, MD was intimidated by the caves...
I loved this sign!
Can you see the second swim hole? Look where Ed is standing -- that's where the 2 connect.
We went for a short walk beyond the swim hole and was greeted by this guy.
And my fella was climbing this limb! Don't blame him and it's what I expected! :)
And that, my friends, is the end of our vacation!!!!
Aloha Hawaii -- we'll see you soon?
I know this post was short but... so much to do once we get home!
You know... another birthday is approaching!
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