When the parking lot was full for Secret Beach, we improvised. Our main goal was to find a secluded beach with shade somewhere around that area so that we wouldn't lose much time. I'll be honest. I have no recollection of what this beach was actually called. But I can give you a description of how we got there! We parked at a condo parking lot near the St. Regis in Princeville, walked down a small path to this outlook...
Read MoreMia Kai // Five Months Old
This has been a huge month of 'firsts' for Mia Kai.
Her four month check-up was at the beginning of the month. She weighed 12 lbs, 5 oz (10th percentile) and measured 21" long (5th percentile for height). In other words, she's still very dainty and 'petite'. Eczema has been an issue so we had to switch from my favorite Baby Aveeno products to CeraVe. The creases in between her feet and ankles were especially dry so we had to lotion them up with Cortizone.
Highlights of this month: First flight // first trip to Hawaii // first time sitting up unsupported // first time eating food (rice cereal) // first diaper rash (from Butt Paste!! What?! We used Desitin and it was healed by the next morning) // first time to church (we were advised not to take her during her first few months, especially before and right after her surgery) // first time dipping her toes into the ocean // first trip to the zoo // first time sitting in a high chair.
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It's a GIRL!! // Mia Kai
Mia Kai Todd will be arriving April 2016, friends!!!
Several people have asked if Mia (or) Kai are family names. Answer: Nope. Well, not that we know of. We really just love the name Mia and Kai is both Hawaiian and Japanese. We couldn’t resist giving her a name that comes from some of our favorite locations to travel. Plus, she's already spent more than half of her life (in the womb) being carried around Hawaii. :)
Read MoreSecret Beach & Lava Pools // Kauai, Hawaii
If you're following along with the Scripture Memory / Dwell Richly printable, here's the verse for week 32:
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (NIV)
Welcome to (the not-so-secret) Secret Beach! As always, take lots of water and get ready for amazing views and fantastic adventure!
We had a little trouble actually finding the place to park for Secret Beach but To Hawaii's directions were super helpful: From Kuhio Highway (Hwy 56), turn onto Kalihiwai Road near mile marker 24 and turn right onto the first dirt road. Proceed to the end of it and park. Nearby is the trail leading to the west end of the beach.
The trail only takes about 10 - 15 minutes to walk down. It's pretty steep and a little slippery but, oh, so worth it! (You may be thinking it wasn't as worth it when you have to walk back up the trail.) JD and I went to the left as soon as we got down to the beach because we really wanted to see the Lava Pools. We passed a family on the way over to the Lava Pools but they didn't trek the whole way. It's pretty rocky so it may not be the best place to take young kids (even though it sounds amazzzing!!).
And it was, indeed, amazzzing! There are two small freshwater waterfalls that pour into the Lava Pool area. We recommend hanging out in the pools for a little bit then rinsing off the salt water under the waterfalls.
We really wish JD had his iPhone at this location. This would've been the perfect place to get a nice landscape panoramic! (If you missed a previous post, he fell over in his kayak with the phone in his back seat pocket - insert palm to the forehead here - so the circuits got wet and it went a little crazy; i.e. it died). A girl dropped her iPhone while she was crossing underneath the waterfall here too. This island really knows how to distract you from tech gadgets. ;)
After exploring the lava pools, we walked back to Secret Beach. JD found the perfect spot in between towering lava rocks where it was basically like our own little beach. There were actually a lot of people out on the beach this day so it was nice to feel secluded. We spread out our favorite giant blanket and basked in the Hawaiian sun.
Then we headed over to Kukui Grove Cinema to watch Jurassic World - because who wouldn't want to watch a movie that was filmed on the island they're staying on!? Side note: Kukui Grove was super old school - not in the cool, vintage old school way, but legitimately old school; it felt like we were in Mystery Science Theater because of the seating) but it was definitely an experience. And the theater had air conditioning, which is apparently a big bonus for anywhere on the island!
September 25: The North Shore Waves will take you Down.
JD and I ate breakfast at the Wailana Coffee House, per usual. Lindsay had invited me to hang out with her, Kent and Luke for the day on the North Shore since JD had to work. Lindsay picked me up and we made a stop at their house (which was beautifully decorated) to pick up Kent and Luke. We stopped at Turtle Bay first.
Can you see the turtle??
We saw a few turtles coming up through the surf but no monk seals lying on the shore like Luke and Lindsay had seen a few days prior to that. We also went to a small Farmers Market where I bought coconut pineapple jam, guava jelly and biscotti bites. This was also the location where I had found my childhood favorite, sugar cane. I’ve been on a great search for it since my dad and I cut it up and enjoyed it when I was a kid. There are fields and fields of both sugar cane and pineapple in Hawaii; thus, you must entertain your tastebuds with both during your stay. JD never tried it but maybe he will next time.
Next Stop: Waimena Bay. I’ve never witnessed such massive waves! The brave swimmers looked like periwinkles; buried by the waves, then grasping for air as the waves retreat from the shoreline. Here is raw video footage of the waves...
And finally, the stop I’ve been anticipating all day, the infamous Hawaiian shaved ice. Oh. My. Goodness.
serves shaved ice for $3.50. This includes three flavors, ice cream at the bottom, a holder for the cone and shaven ice stacked at least eight inches high. I knew I had to take JD there.
As wonderful as everything was, it just wasn’t as special without JD there to enjoy it with me. I couldn’t wait to take him there. It was an early morning and late night for him at work. I went ahead and scheduled our dolphin encounter for the next day, thinking JD had the day off but he called me right after
closed to tell me that he did have to go into work the next day.
I called the next morning and the staff was very helpful. After explaining the situation to them, they rescheduled our swim for September 29th, and they waived the rescheduling fee because of the work predicament. Wahoo!
