Jackson & Jadie: May 2013

Jacks and I had been talking about a graduation trip ever since we got home from our honeymoon a year and a half ago. As the date drew closer and closer, our good friends, the Pedersen's, informed us of great deals on plane tickets to Hawaii that were ending soon...an hour later we were booked to Hawaii!

We were lucky to go on days that they, along with the Everett's, were staying so that we could all stay together.

We left two days after graduation and the 6 hour flight was miserable haha. We were so anxious and could not even sleep because we were so excited. Oh, and our flight was four hours delayed, which made us even more anxious.

We landed in Honolulu at about 2 am Hawaii time and the group picked us up. We spent 3 nights on the North Shore of Ohau in the Laie area.

The first day we were there we went to Shark's Cove, where we TRIED to snorkel. The waves were big and it made it hard to keep ourselves out of the rocks and coral. While trying to toss snorkel gear out to Jackson, a huge wave took me out. We lost the BORROWED snorkel gear and I cut my foot open haha.

pics from Shark's Cove Beach

We then decided to try another beach.

Next, we went to Wiamea Beach. The waves were huge but there were no rocks so we had a blast trying to dodge them. The boys boogieboarded and cliff jumped too!

pics from Wiamea Beach

Trevor, Easton, Jackson

Jade, Jacks, Trevor, Brooke, Daysha, Easton

After Wiamea, we grabbed some shaved ice and stopped by Turtle Beach to see the turtles come up on shore.

After Turtle Beach we stopped by Temple Beach as the sun was going down. Temple Beach is right across the road from the Temple in Laie. We were the only ones there and Jacks and I slept in the sand. We could not keep up with the Hawiian time zone.

The next day we ventured on a "secret" hike that led us to a gorgeous waterfall. The scenery was unbelievable and we had never seen anything like it. I was just SO glad that snakes do not exist on Hawaii or I would have been a nervous wreck the whole 3 hours because it was pure jungle!

This pink flower would turn the trail into this amazing pink pathway. Very neat!

We'll always remember this pond...where we had to hide out for a bit haha

This waterfall was dried out but it was still pretty cool.

After the hike we went to the Polynesian Cultural Center. It was really neat and a fun experience.

I'll never understand how they can climb a palm tree with bare feet but whatever!

The canoe show!

Jackson gave us quite a show at the Tahiti village haha!

The night show was incredible but we weren't allowed to take pictures.

The next day, Daysha's uncle took us out to a point where the boys jumped off into the water. The girls hiked down to the water haha. Then we snorkeled back to the beach, which took an hour or more. Then we drove to Hukilau Beach to find some waves for surfing.

After a couple hours there, we headed to Castle Beach. Jackson is a natural when it comes to surfing but his wife isn't a very good photographer haha.

definitely missed him in the picture lol

After the beach we got cleaned up and headed to the temple where we spent a couple hours inside. It was absolutely gorgeous and definitely is one of my favorite temples ever!

The next day Jacks and I flew to Kauai. The Pedersen's and Everett's spent their last day in Honolulu and then flew home.

We stayed at the Marriott Resort in Kauai. It was absolutely gorgeous! We just spent the first day swimming in the ocean and pool and getting tan.

Kalipaki Beach - the beach in front of our resort just a few steps out of our hotel room!

The pool at the resort

We had no idea where to eat but we found this little fish taco trailer down the street from the resort and it was seriously the best!! And no, we didn't order fish tacos - bleh!


Jackson loved Paco's Tacos but I think he loved saying "Paco's Tacos" more than eating there haha

The next day we took a bus to Hanalei Bay, which we hear is one of the best. The weather on the North Shore that day was awful haha. It was still very pretty but after walking in the rain and eating at a yucky Hawaiian fast food we took the bus back to the resort lol.