Hawaii- the rest of the story

Friday the 25th the boys finally got to watch some t.v. in the a.m. while I did a little bit of laundry, charged up the cameras and recorded our week in a journal. Then we went to the hotel pool which is on the third floor of the building. Payton was amazed about this and has even written about it for school. After swimming at the pool we got ready for the PCC- Polynesian Culture Center. We waited for Greg to return from work (he had a half day) so we also drove around China Town (street) of Honolulu to pass the time. Later when we connected with Greg, we finally got driving up to the PCC. We got there about 3 p.m. It was about an hours drive from Honolulu. We didn't have time to do everything they have to offer there so we went again Saturday arriving again at 3 p.m. because Saturday morning we went to the Stadium Swap-meet and Kahana Bay.

Making fire at the Samoa exhibit.

The PCC was wonderful. We started Friday afternoon with a canoe ride which explained each exhibit with funny tour guides from BYU Hawaii. (Of course much of what they say is scripted, but still it was enjoyable.) I really felt the spirit here. This was my favorite activity, besides beaching, that made Hawaii a super family vacation. The PCC was so family friendly. So many places I've been to are just not family friendly, which means they don't like children. I dislike that immensly. What is the point of going on vacations that don't allow children to be themselves but expect them to be and act like "grown-ups" in little bodies. At the Swap-meet Saturday we entered one store where the owner was so possessive he accused me of not teaching my child manners and was yelling at me. Gosh, so many "grown-ups" act worse than children!

So, anyway, we all loved the PCC and the many activities from the different cultural exhibits. The boys loved the IMAX educational movie about the reefs and the Tonga exhibit best because they played drums and threw spears! OOps, I didn't get a still photo of them throwing spears. Probably because I knew this camera wouldn't take a clear shot of it.

Posing around the Tonga exhibit.

Below are pictures from the New Zealand exhibits.

Below: Before getting to the PCC Saturday we squeezed in another beach, the "Fantasy Island" site at Kahana Bay, after shopping at the swap meet. This beach was very sandy and shallow. We liked it. It was like a beachy swimming pool!

Below: Saturday we met with our friends the Chantrill's at the PCC. They also came with us to the Temple that evening and to eat dinner at the BYU Hawaii food fair. Thanks guys for a wonderful time!

Above: Notice the pretty "Bird of Paradise" flower behind the boys!