Last day in Kauai

Well Aaron was right about two things: the surf was going to pick up and tourists shouldn't go in the water in Hawaii when the waves are up unless they are experienced. Aaron went out and surfed the reef out front with two guys all morning and then we headed back to the Hyatt so Mary Ann and Sean could do their daily swim in the pool while Aaron bodyboarded the shorebreak. The waves were particularly dangerous and big today (3-5 foot hwn = 6-10 foot faces) with super strong currents. While Aaron was surfing there was a tourist who was getting swept out to sea and down the beach with the currents. Luckily the locals told him to paddle back over and after 20 minutes he made it back to the lineup. At this point some big sets were washing through so his only option was to catch one into the safety of the shore. He took one of the bigger sets and was way too late droppping and according to Mary Ann, who was right in front of him on the beach, he dropped about fifteen feet down the wave and luckily washed up onto the beach unscathed. The locals told Aaron this was a five star day regarding conditions and wave size and this guy clearly should not have even entered the water at this spot. Thank god he was alright and hopefully he learned his lesson. The ocean looks so enticing and beautful but unless you are in good shape and regularly catch waves you should really think twice about entering as this guy found out and so many others will this summer in California and Hawaii. We are packing up and heading out tonight and can't wait to get home to all our friends and loved ones. This has been an awesome trip for our family and we are thankful that we are able to enjoy these wonderful memories that we will never forget.

Kauai day 8

Today was Aaron's 38th birthday. The shorebreak in front of the Hyatt is starting to grow on him, so we headed back there for some waves while Mary Ann and Sean played in the lagoon and swimming pool. Aaron has been finding that the shorebreaks here in Hawaii are unmatched with anything he has seen back home or in his travels for power and adrenaline. The waves are deceivingly dangerous as well since they come in from deep water and unload basically on dry sand so experience in challenging surf is a must which has kept down the crowd to a few locals and some dumb tourists. Obviously some of these tourists don't heed the warning signs that say dangerous shorebreak as there always are a few lingering on the inside oblivious to the dangers. Almost every day Aaron comes in from the waves to compliments from tourists and even locals on the beach about how he is getting the best waves. Yesterday he came ashore to speak with a local kid named falcon with a mohawk haircut who was really nice and said he saw him get some "mental ones brah". Today he surfed out there alone and when he came in a friendly tourist said he was impressed and saw a wave launch him four feet out into the flats which he will remember as he comes home and recounts his exciting waves there. Not that the wave doesn't have its consequences though. A few days ago a wave sent him to the bottom ,which is flat lava rock covered by sand, and he hit his butt on the lava rock but fortunately only ended up with a sore bum. A word to the wise that all the tourist signs and commercials post about surfing in Hawaii which is, "when in doubt don't paddle out". Fortunately Aaron has been training and preparing for these situations all his life and has little doubt, so he has been paddling out. We are now headed out to a birthday dinner for Aaron and getting ready for our last day here tomorrow. We will miss it here but are sure we will be returning and are looking forward to coming back to see our friends and family.

Birthday dinner at Keokis paradise





Got back from dinner to find the waves had picked up out front. Should be a fun day tomorrow.

Kauai day 7

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This morning there was a monk seal that slept on the beach out front so Sean and I went to go check it out. Here in hawaii the monk seal is protected so every time they end up on the beach the lifeguards put a yellow rope around it so no tourists or anyone else touch or bother it. While we were checking out the seal Aaron talked with a former top hawaiian female surfer named Rochelle Ballard who was heading out to go surfing. One thing we have noticed about this island is how friendly the locals are in comparison to other islands. It seems like the truly embrace the aloha spirit and are more than happy to share a wave or a smile with you. We headed to the Hyatt lagoon for a swim and surf again. Two more full days here after today and then we are headed home. Probably wont update again today since it will be another afternoon of napping, surfing, and living on island time. It is really nice to take a trip where you don't have any itineraries, schedules, or priorities other than relaxing, resting, and slowing down. It has been a lot of just watching our little boy soaking up the sun and water in paradise.

Day 6 Kauai

Today was pretty much a repeat of yesterday. Got up had breakfast and headed to the Hyatt lagoon. Mary Ann went swimming with Sean at the pool while Aaron bodyboarded the shorebreak which was a little bigger today. Mid morning we went to the botanical garden and then in the afternoon Aaron went surfing out front since the surf was picking up. Looks like the next 3 days the waves will be picking up so we will probably be on the same routine.

Day 5 Kauai

Today Sean was nice enough to let us sleep in til 6:30 for the first time on this trip. I think it has taken us a few days to get used to the time change since this would normally be 9:30 for him back home. After having some breakfast and seeing that the waves out front were still small and windy we decided to head back to the swimming pool and lagoon at the Hyatt for some R & R. Aaron boogie boarded at Shipwrecks while Mary Ann and Sean played at the swimming pool and the lagoon. Every afternoon Aaron has seen sea turtles right next to shore in front of our timeshare, so in the evening we went to see if we could see any and sure enough there they were right in the same place where he saw them last evening when he paddled out to catch some waves.
The cool thing about an island is there are always waves if you know where to look. Waves were pretty small out front of our timeshare so we headed to a shorebreak and Aaron found this. Still small for island standards but lots of fun.

Sean made a new friend at the Hyatt laggon


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A little thumper. This wave is a shorebreak that breaks fast and closes out but allows for a little view for a second


Sean playing in the rock tidepools before sunset

If you look close you can see the shell and the head of the sea turtles who call this place home.

Day 4 in Kauai

For day 4 we planned to headed up to the Waimea canyon early in the morning. It is basically a geological formation on the West side that is the equivalent of the grand canyon here on the hawaiian islands. The rest of the day was spent at the swimming pool and snorkeling.



These are views of the Na Pali coast from a lookout at the top of the road to the Waimea canyon. It was very windy up here today as the tradewinds have been blowing really strong for the last few days.

Waimea canyon

Kauai day 3

On our third day in Kauai we decided to go check out a blowhole a few minutes from our timeshare. On the way we saw one of the daily rainbows we have seen when here.
This is the surf break in front of our place that Aaron has been riding every day. It was big the first day we arrived so he surfed for 2 hours. This is one of the smaller days so he has just been going out for an hour or so and has seen sea turtles every time he surfs there. It is coral reef and the water is as clear as a swimming pool. The waves are supposed to get bigger in the middle of the week so he is excited to surf in some hawaiian power again before we leave. The tradewinds blow spray off the top of the wave all day long as they come from an offshore direction. What is nice about this surf spot is the waves break on an offshore reef but inside the bay it is calm for snorkeling. This has allowed Mary Ann an hour each day to go out snorkeling. Each day she comes back raving about all the tropical fish she has seen congregating around the coral reef near the shoreline. Here is the view from our balcony. Not a bad way to spend a week in paradise.
Today we also went to the Hyatt because we had heard they had a saltwater lagoon you can swim in. Sean had a great time and then we went and watched a boogie boarding contest at the beach called "Shipwrecks" out in front of the hotel.
Here is the blowhole we went to see in the morning. The waves were small today but still the spout shot up every time a surge came in and it made this incredible whooshing sound each time it blew also. We will probally go back when the waves get bigger to see how high it shoots. Like every day here it rained while we were there so we had to wait out a rain squall before heading to the car. The rain is so refreshing here as it only rains for a couple minutes and is super warm rain and then minutes later the sun comes out. You can see why there are so many rainbows.


On the balcony of our timeshare they have a minuture golf course. We took Sean up there to try golf for the first time and as you can see by the video he is a natural. Watch out Tiger Woods because Sean is coming for you. He will even have the media stumped as to his ethnicity like Tiger did with his blonde hair and a last name of Fernandes. People around the world will be asking does he claim to be Mexican, White, Portuguese?

Day 2 in Kauai

We had to check out of our hotel at noon, and couldn't check into our timeshare till 4pm. So Sean took his nap in the car, and we took a drive up to the North end of the island.



Here is a dry cave, there were 2 wet caves a little further down the road. In ancient times, the people thought evil spirits lived here and stole their fish.

The road to the North ends a couple miles from this beach where the rocks are. South Pacific was filmed by those rocks. One of the prettiest beaches we have ever seen.

First Day in Kauai

The first 2 days we stayed on the east side of Kauaii in the town of Kapa'a. It was close to a couple of falls and the fern grotto.


The boys enjoying some Hawaiian Shaved Ice
Hula Dancing at the Fern Grotto
Boat trip to the Fern Grotto

Jake's graduation

Jake had a graduation for middle school. Here is Sean bustin a move on the dance floor. Later when all of the young teens were at the dancing area, it was an awkward time when all were too embarrassed to dance. Sean didn't have any problem going in the middle of all of them and start grooving, they got a kick out of him.

Hail!

Hail is very rare in San Diego, and Sean didn't know what to think about ice falling from the sky. It only lasted for a minute or so, but it was a great show!

Zoo with the relatives

Sean and I met up with Megan's family with Ted and Chris and went to the zoo with them. Here is Milo, Ari and Sean on a Hippo. Sean and Ari are 4 days apart in age.

Legoland with Aaron

Sean was so excited to ride the rides with Dad.

Fernandes Family reunion

We all met up at Balboa Island for a family reunion. We celebrated Emma's birthday, went to the beach, went to the amusement park and ate hamburgers and hot dogs. Ted and Chris, as well as Kelly and her boyfriend came from Austin. Patricks family from LA, Gil and Dolores, as well as Megans family from Minnesota. We had a Fun day!

Train Tracks

Sean loves to take his train that is battery powered and send it through the tunnel of the ottoman. I picked up the ottoman today to vacumn, and you can see here all of the tracks that he has made from sending under the ottoman.