Dedicated Daddy

At the Gym during our morning workouts Charlie is diligent with helping Hope practice her gymnastics.  I love watching them while I am dripping sweat on the tread mill.  Yesterday Charlie decided to bring Hope's trampoline for her to practice on.  One problem, it would not fit in the trunk or back seat.  Nothing deters my husband when he puts his mind to something, so there we go driving through our neighborhood with a trampoline on the hood of our car.  I was laughing so hard I started crying, mostly because Charlie was the commentator as we passed by people staring at us!  

Our Journey West

Ka'ena Point, Oahu

The western point of the island

I keep looking at these pictures and I tried to figure out what I want to say, but was speechless!  It was an amazing experience to photograph Albatrosses and Hawaiian Monk Seals in the wild.

 The Laysan Albatross breed and nest on the Hawaiian islands.  The adult Albatrosses share incubation, brooding and feeding of the single chick.  Hawaiian Monk Seals, known to the Hawaiians as 'llio-holo-i-ka-uaua, or"dog that runs in rough waters", are endangered.  There are only about 1200 left of these mammals who are unique to the Hawaiian Islands. 

(The two top pictures: 1-Point heading off to the ocean.  If you enlarge it you might be able to pick out the Hawaiian Monk Seal.  2-Looking back on the island: to the left goes of to the north shore and the right is the Wai'anae coast.)

Westward Hike

Ka'ena Point Hike, Oahu

I had to jump in on my Kauai Post with this weekends hike.  It was one of our top 5 hikes! 

It took us 2 1/2 miles up the western coast of Oahu on a old warn out road with the bluest waters, mountain views, nesting Albatross and Hawaiian Monk Seals.  

Owen found hundreds of beautiful blue ladybugs

Madison taking a ride which was rare because she wanted to walk the whole way.  What a trooper!

The Girls!

At long last we get to see Hawaiian Monk Seals!  I felt like a kid when we heard they were there we Lisa, Owen and me ran the rest of the way.

Observing the Monk Seals at a safe distance.

We all heard a blow hole and Dan went down to find it!  It was so cool!  It actually blew his hair when the waves came in.

Ok, this picture might make me want to adopt!

Racing on the way back

After the long hot hike we went to eat by the beach.  The kids had a blast cooling off in the ocean while we waited for our food.

Wave Jumping.  They would wait for a "small" wave and all run in and jump at the same time!

PS.  Lisa has a lot of great pictures from this hike and video of the blow hole on her blog.  Check out the Hauptmann link

Na Pali Trail, Kauai

View of the beach where we started out our hike.

Crossing one of the trickling waterfalls along the way.

The complete Na Pali trail takes you 11 miles up this coast. We only had time for the first 2 miles out. Charlie and I want to come back some day and camp along this trail.

River heading out to the ocean

The first beach and our turn around point. Simple amazing! The only way to enjoy the beaches along the Na Pali is to get there by your own strength via hiking or kayaking. I could have hung out here all day, but for the sake of pitching tents back at our camp site before dark we had to head back.

One of my all time favorite shots

On this hike we saw so many whales playing off the coast. I was astatic being that it is late in the season and I thought they would be heading back to Alaska.

I have to say the Na Pali is my favorite hike!

Kauai's Lighthouse

Nesting Red-footed Booby

Kilauea Lighthouse on Kauai's North Shore

The Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, a sanctuary for nesting seabirds, is located at the northern tip of Kauai on a peninsula 200 feet above the ocean. We were fascinated by so many amazing birds from red and white tailed tropic birds, frigates, shearwaters, boobies, and Laysan albatross nesting and fishing. The Kilauea lighthouse, built in 1913, is one of the most picturesque lighthouses we have ever seen.

Success in Kauai!

On the second night in Kauai Charlie accomplished his goal!  Check mark for another thing to do in life, complete a Rubix cube.  

Charlie, I admire your determination in life!  

Erik, You were a great coach!

Best Kauai Vacation Quote

Growing up, our family would go on vacation every year to North Carolina. Each year we would laugh about the funniest vacation quote. The best ones were usually repeated over and over through out the year and for some to this day; for example, "stale cat" and "those cows would make pretty horses". Well as an adult the tradition continues and this years vacation quote goes to 5 year old Erica.

For most of our Kauai vacation Erica joined with us on our driving adventures. She is a joy! Hope and her would spend the time chit-chatting and coloring. On the third day we were driving up to a ridge hike and as usual the girls were talking away.

All of the sudden Erica pipes up,

"What The?!?!?" "Cow Crossing?!?!?!" "Here?!?!?"

as we pass a cow crossing sign. Then she immediately continues with whatever conversation her and Hope were caring on. Charlie and I started cracking up! It was hilarious and we are still using her exaggerated question whenever something out of the ordinary happens.

Thanks Erica for all the joy you brought to our vacation,

including brightening the day on the Swamp hike!

A merry heart does good, like medicine..... Proverbs 17:22

Nu'alolo Trail, Kauai

After snuggling for warmth during a night of camping in the fresh cold mountain air, we set off for our 2nd hike. The Nu'alolo Trail this hike slowly took us through the woods down to some beautiful overlooks of the Na Pali Coast. Our plan was to take two more trails along the way, but at one point the trail was too dangerous for the kids so we had to turn around and head back up the way we came. Although we knew it was the right decision, all the adults were bummed that we couldn't finish, so the Hauptmanns headed back on the last day to start from the other side.

I fall in love with my husband over and over again. On this ocasion he got me with the stories he told the kids along our hike. He had them all chiming in on key words with sound effects in his story about an Indian warrior from the Tribe of "Eagle-wack-wack".

We saw so many great plants!

Charlie was determined to conquer the Rubix cube!

Lisa spotted wild goats frolicking on the steep slopes!

The Island of Ni'ihau, "The Forbidden Island", is a private island off to the west of Kauai. There are only about 200 native Hawaiians who live on the island with close family ties and very little crime. I would love to live there and study their way of life and the wild life.

Touching the Clouds

Alaka'i Swamp, Kauai

The rewards of this 8 mile round trip hike up and down the the mountain range was well worth the mud, cold and sore feet. Along the way we passed by beautiful overlooks of the Na Pali coast, crossed a stream in one of the valleys and the kids had us all cracking up with their wit. By far my favorite part was walking through the clouds! Hope has wanted to be in a cloud since we arrived in Hawaii. She finally got her wish. I want to give the title created to Erica who was so cute with her declaration. The last part of the trail took us through Alaka'i Swamp, the highest swamp in the world. Simply Amazing! We were running short on time, but we made it to the end which on a clear day would be a 4,000 feet overlook, but today we were able to experience the clouds rushing up the mountain slopes. Charlie said this was probably his favorite hike he has ever been on.

Kalalau Valley

Ice Cream Sandwiches!?!

These freeze dried ice cream sandwiches actually were really good!

The highest swamp in the world

At one point Charlie was up ahead and Hope was missing him.

When she saw him she ran into his arms.

Erik and Erica

The clouds rushing up the moutain