Oahu, Part 2

On Thursday we had our most exciting excursion planned: a shark cage dive!  We were all looking forward to it and even had a babysitter lined up (our piano teacher's husband's cousin who attends BYU-H) to take care of Sydney.  Unfortunately, right after the babysitter arrived, we found out that the trip was cancelled due to a storm offshore.  We were really disappointed but decided to take advantage of the babysitter being there and went on a hike.  Ben and I took everyone to a trail we found when we were in Hawaii two years ago: the Ehukai Pillbox Hike, which isn't too long but gives you a great view of the North Shore from the two pillboxes up on the side of the mountain.  The hike was very muddy from all the rain but it was nice to be outside and get a little exercise.

After the hike we went back to our almost-daily meal spot, eating at the food trucks at the Kahuku Sugar Mill.  This time we included local beverages with our local food: fresh coconut water and flavored fresh cane juice.  Then it was back to the resort for beach time and a poolside dinner.

On Friday we finally had the true North Shore experience: a surfing lesson at Kaiaka Bay Beach followed by a couple of hours in Haleiwa.  The kids were all excited to try surfing but varied in their level of interest once they got in the water.  Jack tried it for a little while, but came back to shore and hung out on the beach for the bulk of the lesson time.  Luke came in soon after.  The girls stayed out the whole time, with both of them getting up a few times and Cat really getting the hang of it!  Ben got up a few times too!

When we had our land introduction to surfing, the first thing the teacher told us was how to fall - that was enough to confirm for me that I shouldn't try to surf.  I was already nervous about it with my knee still in recovery mode, but thinking about how easy it would be to twist the wrong way when falling down made me sure that I should not surf.  I did paddle out and an instructor helped me catch a wave and just ride it in on my belly, which was fun.  After doing that a couple of times, I went in and sat with Sydney (and the other boys who didn't want to surf for very long) while Andy did some surfing.

Eliza and Jack

Cat

Ben

Cat hanging ten

When our lesson was over and we were getting ready to leave, we spotted a sea turtle right off the beach.  As we watched it, two more came!  They don't show up well in the pictures, but they were there.

Jack holding up three fingers because there were THREE right there!
You can kind of see their shapes in the water.

See the turtle head on the left?

From there we drove to Haleiwa, probably the main town on the North Shore.  It was fun to do a little shopping and get shave ice at the iconic Matsumoto's, which really is delicious and also still really cheap (you just have to be willing to wait in line).  Ben and the girls stopped for fresh fruit on the way back to the resort.

I joked with the boys that we were going to have pupu (appetizers)
for lunch and they did not like the idea.  I guess we were lucky that
this place wasn't open yet.

We went back to the reort pool for a little while in the afternoon, then that night the kids ate in the room (pb&j for the win!) and watched a movie while the adults went out for dinner.  Two more great days in Hawaii!