Mahoney Madness: The Many Adventures of Andra's Family

Well... I'm FINALLY getting around to blogging about my Madre and my favorite little sister's trip here to visit me in Hawaii! I knew we did a RIDICULOUS amount of things in the two/three weeks that they were here, but I didn't realize it'd take THREE blog posts to show everything! lol I did that purely for the benefit of the viewer, It'd be a hundred mile long blog post, if I put ALL the pictures of ALL the things we did in one post!

Here is week one!

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Monday July 16th

Madre and Kymi arrive in Hawaii!

I picked them up from the airport and we came back to the house. They put their stuff away and got a tour of my casa. We had lunch and then went for a drive around the island. On the drive we stopped at the Valley of Temples. I love coming to the Buddhist Temple, it's so serene here!

Look a peacock!

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Wednesday July 18th

(Happy Birthday to my Dear Brother)

We went to the Swap Meet in the morning and collected a bunch of fun souvenirs. Afterwards, we relaxed and had a picnic at Ko Olina Lagoon

Funny faces, it's what we do best :D

LOOK!!! Kymi is actually in the water! More than just putting her feet in! This is an absolutely momentous occasion!

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Thursday July 19th

After an absolutely muddy trek to Manoa Falls, we hiked through Lyon Arboretum

That's quite a leaf!

Don't worry, I've got this!

The sunshine through here is BEAUTIFUL!

Pineapple anyone?

I dunno what this is, but it's cool! Looks like the top of a cane.

I love how the trees look like lace against the sky

Don't mind us, we're just hanging out, hehehe ;)

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Friday July 20th

Beautiful day on Ford Island

We went to see Pearl Harbor Memorial

Kymi with the USS Missouri in the background

A lady standing next to me broke apart her lei and was tossing the flowers into the water, I thought it was very touching.

This flag is flying over the Memorial. I did not know this, but if you bring your own flag, and ask a ranger, they will fly it over the memorial for you. I'll have to do that before we leave Hawaii.

We got a chance to chat with some Pearl Harbor Survivors. On the left is Alfred Benjamin Kame'eiamoku Rodrigues SKC, United States Navy (retired). And on the right is Herb Weatherwax Staff Sergeant, United States Army. Mr. Rodrigues said I must be such a smart lady to marry a sailor :)

I was VERY excited to go to the Pacific Aviation Museum next, since I looooove planes!

I edited how many pictures I posted on here, I'm pretty sure I took a picture of everything in the museum lol

Hello!

Amelia Earhart has always been a hero of mine, it was cool to walk through an exhibit dedicated to her.

This made me miss my honey, he's an ACE on combat flight simulators. Maybe someday we can get our pilot's licenses together!

POW/MIA tribute

After a fun day at the historical memorials and museums, we wrapped it up with a luau!

I've been to my fair share of luau's here in Hawaii and Paradise Cove is by far my favorite!

Beware! Don't stick your hands in the tiki guy's mouth, he'll bite!

Making leis!

Trying to throw a spear... trying.

Beautiful day for a canoe ride

Oh! What luck! Canoe rides!

Scandalous ;) ;)

The clouds above us started swirling and it started to rain. It was looking pretty ominous, thank goodness it cleared up!

Kymi "trying" poi.

She's being a stinker and not actually trying it.

But she did get up and hula! I've got video to prove it!

LOL I felt like an old librarian with these seashell leis

Don't I look the part?

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Saturday July 21st

We took the puppins on a hike with us up Makapu'u. Here's a view of Koko Head Crater.

A neighboring island

He definitely got his exercise in! (don't worry, he had a doggy water bottle)

Madre and I attempted to climb down to the tidal pools, it was a pretty exhausting climb and we were already tired, so we decided to check out another tidal pool.