Phamily Photographs: March 2014

Hawaii 1986

Nuuanu Pali Lookout

Yum Yum Tree

Jimmy guards the pie display in a restaurant we loved!

It was always an adventure with 3 kids in a restaurant!

Doesn't Chris look in control??

Jim makes a friend

And special banisters just for kids!

Grandpa Jim brings the Sassy Seat! He'd do anything for a good piece of pie!

Honolulu Zoo

Lets get something to eat at this cool diner on our way to the zoo!

We had just as much fun chasing the birds in the park as we did at the zoo!

These pigeons are unflappable!

We started out at the Flamingos

The famous Nene - the dreaded toe-biters!

Jim look! Giraffes!

This baby giraffe was quite famous - and adorable!


Giraffes are so cool

I just LOVE this photo!

Black Bears...

And Turtles and Gators to round out the day.

Trip to Maui

Hanging out at the HUGE Maui Airport...

We landed in Maui and had some time while we waited for the Pampas to get their rental car, so we made a stop to see Ioa Valley - just a brief time but timeless images.

Iao Valley State Park

Towering emerald peaks guard the lush valley floor of Iao Valley State Park. Located in Central Maui just west of Wailuku, this peaceful 4,000-acre, 10-mile long park is home to one of Maui's most recognizable landmarks, the 1,200-foot Iao Needle.

This valley was mystical

The light was amazing

We just went for a short walk

And the boys tested their skills

Future mountain climbers for sure!

Kings of the Hill

Iao Needle

and a little different view

I love how the kids and Chris show the immensity of the landscape

Up, up and away

Amazing waterfall!

And Botanical Gardens

And who could resist this "Road Shot"?

Condo on Maui

Enjoying breakfast with the Pampas in the Condo we rented in Maui

I just love this scrunchy face and brand new teeth!

One of the bedrooms

And even an outdoor patio

I think Chris is smitten...

Hop on Pop!

And such a wonderful pool

Jimmy always explored the world with his feet...

Look! Mom's taking our picture!

More fun


And great swimmers in the making

Throw me! Throw me!

Making friends in the Jacuzzi

View from the top

It was a great place to visit!

and the volcano looming in the background

Maui Views

The boats in the bay

Tropical paradise

and the volcano meets the ocean...

You can't capture the dimensions of this on film... those clouds are clouds in the sky.

Same here - the mountain is actually higher than the clouds!

Bishop Museum

For lovers of Hawaiian history and culture, the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum in Honolulu qualifies as a “must” visit. Not only is it the largest museum in the state—since its inception in 1889, it’s acquired nearly 25 million items that tell the story of Hawaii and Polynesia—it’s also widely regarded as the premier natural and cultural history institution in the entire Pacific region.

This museum was amazing - we learned all about Hawaii here!

We must have really liked this tree!

Matt had a grand time!

Bellows Beach Park, Oahu

Located on Oahu's windward coast, Bellows Beach is noted for its clear, azure blue waters, soft white sand and waves ideal for body boarding. Many people would consider it one of the prettiest beaches on the island. The beach is backed by rows of ironwood trees, which provide plenty of shade in the afternoons.

Baby Jail among the Ironwood Trees...

Beautiful anticipation

Grandma, Matt and Nikki

Matt in his nest

Matt and Grandma Dot - not sure where everybody else went...

Worlds best sandcastle making!

Pampa's House in Kailua

Pampa's house was a walk from the beach

There were rose bushes and a patio

It was a great place to cool off!

And catch some rays

Practice walking...

And mug it up for the camera!

Look at me!!!

Thanks Grandma - I couldn't do it without you!

Nikki climbed up on the couch!

And became the center of attention as usual...

Grandpa helps her to stay steady...

And give a little pat!

Heaven...

North Shore


The North Shore was Amazing. Chris is getting Buff!

The energy here was unlike anything I ever felt.

The boys loved the beach!

It was impossible to capture the magnitude of this surf.

The boys got just close enough to get their feet wet.

And it was so windy!

But they always got right down to work as long as there was sand to work with!

Helemano Pineapple Plantation

I thought Pineapples grew on trees!!!

Nikki tries to lend Matt a helping hand


Matt has Appeal!

Not really sure what Jimmy is...

Stand in front of that giant thingamajig and I'll take your picture

Joy Boy!

Valley of the Temples - Oahu

A Japanese temple called Byodo-In, which translates to the “Temple of Equality.”
A scale replica of a temple in Uji Japan and made entirely without nails, Byodo-In
was dedicated in 1968 as a centennial commemoration of the first Japanese
immigrants in Hawaii.

Suzy, Jim and Nikki on the Bridge

Matt makes a friend!

Jimmy spots the Peacock - peacocks and black swans roam the garden grounds and turtles lounge
beside the pond. The temple’s pond is also filled with koi, a Japanese decorative fish that is a
symbol of love and friendship.

Ready for an adventure!

This is a magical place...

Jim, Matt, Nikki and Chris discover the koi

There is no other place where you can see an authentic Japanese temple
situated against the gorgeous backdrop of Oahu’s soaring Koolau Mountains.

Ringing the Peace Bell will purify the mind of evil spirits and temptation. It is said
that ringing this bell will bring you happiness, blessings, and a long life.
It is customarily rung before entering the temple.

Matt giggles at the prospect of being allowed to ring the bell!

Jimmy gets ready for his turn

The Amida Buddha is an original work of art carved by the famous Japanese sculptor, Masuzo Inui

Beautiful waterfall

Flying Baby!

Such a peaceful place

What a picture

Everybody's happy!

Mesmerized...

Matt and Jim had a blast feeding the koi.

The koi ponds on either side of the Temple contain hundreds of koi and small turtles begging for food.

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Sunrise at Haleakalā National Park

Nikki's on top of the world in her favorite spot!

The cars were winding up the side of the volcano mountain road.

Definitely worth getting up at 3AM, bundling up 3 little kids and driving up the Volcano!

Easy to see why this is one of the 7 Natural Wonders!

The clouds were far below us in the crater

Jimmy sleeps sitting up as Grandma Dot snaps a photo - we were all a little blurry!

Looking out toward the ocean at the clouds below.

Starting the descent from the 10,023 ft summit

A little further down the 22 mile winding Haleakala Crater Road

Closer to the bottom but still above the clouds with 32 switchbacks on this road

Closer around the The Haleakalā Observatory on the island of Maui

Amazing - like a trip to Mars in this volcanic landscape

It was an amazing adventure!

Views from various outings

Photos taken from Puu Ualakaa State Wayside off of Round Top Drive

Beautiful Eucalyptus Trees on the road winding down from the park

Rabbit Island

I love this Rock! The view from Robin's Nest on Magnum PI I had to do a little reserch:

Less than a mile off of South Shore Oahu sits the beautiful Manana Island State Seabird Sanctuary, a 63 acre volcanic tuff also known as Rabbit Island. There is a small beach about 30 feet wide on the southwest side of the island. It is over 360 feet at its highest point and can be seen from a variety of locations on South Shore Oahu, including Kaupo Beach, Waimanalo Beach Park and Makapu’u Lookout.
Rabbit Island was named after the rabbit colony that inhabited the island from the 1880s until 1994. John Adams Cummins, who owned a plantation in Waimanalo, raised the rabbits on Manana Island.