Trip to Maui & the Big Island
April 2016
The boys took a spring break trip to the islands this year.
As is tradition, the first stop is always Ululani's for Shave Ice.
We then capped off the day with a tasty dinner at Monkey Pod.
Ry enjoying a little lunch from our fave spot, Cafe Ciao.
It's not a trip to Maui without a trip to Sansei on half-off night.
The next day it was over to PWF for a ride out on the water.
Then he fired up a series of fin slaps, which were super cool.
Our last night on Maui included some tasty barbecue.
But the next day meant time for new island adventure.
We stopped for a smoothie and a quick gorilla picture.
Bigs with his short Santa Margarita haircut and Buffs hoodie.
Some of the plants looked like they're from a Dr Seuss book.
Craig in the middle of the crater with fellow hikers far in the distance.
The cracks of dried lava that formed with the earth shifting.
A year later, the volcano spewed lava into the ocean here.
There are just so many beautiful spots on each of the Hawaiian islands.
Our final morning at
the hotel before the
long flight home. So
long, Big Island.
We arrived in time to begin the long process of becoming a little less white.
We kept missing his leaps out of the water but I caught the tail end of this one.
The boys getting their GoPro ready for water always produces a few goofy shots.
Bigs has been taking bodyboarding so seriously, he can't even control his tongue.
It's hard to leave our place in Maui so the final sunset is always bittersweat.
The view from our hotel room with the blue pacific calling out to us for a swim.
But the waves near the hotel were a little rough while there, so we hit the pool.
Back at the hotel, we hit the pool for a night swim and the jacuzzi.
And then over to the best ice cream shop on earth, the amazing Lappert's.
After a long day on the water, the boys hit Matteo's some fake wine drinking.
The Pacific Whale Foundation boats always have knowledgeable guides onboard.
Before long, we found one of these amazing beasts fluking its tail near the boat.
Bigs flashing Maui gang signs as he keep an eye out for the great humpback whale.
The waves in Maui just slowly roll in, giving you time to get in the right spot.
Then it was back into the waves from some more action. Hit that curl, Bigsy!
Next morning we made our way to the Kea Lani and found this easter egg hunt.
But enough with that--time to attack some tasty waves on a nice Sunday morning.
The next day we had SPAM McMuffins to fuel the long drive to the volcano.
The Volcanoes National Park is really amazing and kinda freaky.
Here's a view from high above a huge lava field that we were soon to hike across.
Deep inside the lava tube where it's very dark and musty with a water dripping.
This hike takes you down into one of the former lava tubes. Pretty trippy walk.
The main crater is still very active--so our view was from pretty far away.
That first afternoon, we took a drive around the top of the island. Hi Maui!!
That side of the island is definitely ranching country with lots of roaming cattle.
This was our first trip to the Big Island and it was an eye opener. Lotta lava.