2013 By City

Each of the below cities include a one-night stay in 2013. Cities denoted by an asterisk include multiple visits.

• Lake Tahoe, CA
• Denver, CO*
• Frisco, CO
• Salt Lake City, UT
• Albuquerque, NM*
• Las Vegas, NV
• Dublin, Ireland
• Twin Lakes, CO
• Dallas, TX
• Kaanapali, Maui, HI
• Arcadia, CA

SUP (Stand Up Paddleboarding)

Our last 2 days in Hawaii were spent sitting and relaxing with the below views. On Monday we just hung around the condo and the beach all day and sat in the jacuzzi right after the sunset. I think we went to dinner again at Duke's on Monday night.

Pretty sunset…although all the sunsets in Hawaii are amazing.

On Tuesday we went back to Napili Bay and rented stand-up paddle boards. Everyone gave it a try…they were a lot of fun.

Kyle got out pretty far on the paddle board.

And mom and dad preferred the sit down method to paddle boarding.

We had a really good seafood dinner in Lahaina before heading to the airport.

This trip was only about 2 months ago, but I am ready to go back to Hawaii anytime!

Road to Hana

On Sunday morning, Kyle and I got up bright and early to do a Road to Hana bus tour. Kyle won a free ticket for this tour, and Mom and Dad had already done the Road to Hana, so I decided to go with him. We got picked up at our hotel around 7am, and stopped at about 5 more hotels to pick up others (Kyle and I were by far the youngest people on this tour). Here is a description of the Road to Hana: Along Maui's rugged eastern coastline is the peaceful town of Hana, considered one of the last unspoiled Hawaiian frontiers. The legendary road to Hana is only 52 miles from Kahului, however the drive can take anywhere from two to four hours to complete since it consists of narrow one-lane bridges, hairpin turns and incredible island views. The Hana Highway (HI-360) has 620 curves and 59 bridges. The road leads you through flourishing rainforests, flowing waterfalls, plunging pools and dramatic seascapes.

Below are a bunch of pics from our day. I loved the stops, didn't love the driving so much as it was really curvy and I was carsick.

We got back to our hotel around 7:30 or so at night. Long day. If I do Road to Hana again, I think I would drive it in a convertible so could stop whenever I want. Although doing the tour meant you could take the back way (shortcut) home.

More Beach and Hawaiian Shaved Ice

Saturday morning started out with another 3-mile run on the beach with views like these, 

followed by some headstands (and cartwheels and handstands by Kyle and Kellyn).

Kyle and Kellyn cooked breakfast for us back at the condo before we headed to the beach for the day.

I believe this was Fleming Beach. The waves were pretty rough - Kellyn and I both almost had some wardrobe malfunctions :)

After the beach we went to Lahaina specifically to get shaved ice via a recommendation by one of Kellyn's friends who lives on Maui.

It was typical shaved ice with ice cream at the bottom - really good. Mom, Dad, Kyle and I actually went back a few days later for seconds.

After Lahaina we went to Blackrock. Kyle and I did some cliff jumping and everyone did some snorkeling…this was probably the best snorkel area.

Saturday night we got take out and ate at the condo because Kellyn was supposed to fly back to the mainland. Unfortunately, or rather fortunately, her flight was cancelled so she got an extra day on the island.

This was the view from our condo during the day...

and this was the view at night.

Up next, Road to Hana...

Old Lahaina Luau

On Friday night we went to the Old Lahiana Luau.

When we walked in we got a lei and a mai tai with a flower in it…I didn't get a picture of my drink because I thought I would have another, but the second mai tai didn't come with a flower :(

Sibling pic

Kellyn and I posing to check the lighting…I was having a lot of trouble getting a good sunset picture with people in it…needed a bigger flash on my camera.

Family pic - Me, Kyle, Mom, Dad and Kellyn

The pig

Digging the pig out of the ground

The meal was really good…and we were starving since we didn't eat anything all day (at least Kellyn and I were starving anyway).

Dessert…those white coconut squares on the left were my favorite.

Some of the performances. I heard that most little Hawaiian girls want to be part of the Old Lahaina Luau.

Thanks mom and dad for the tickets!