We had a great time at the annual doTERRA incentive trip. Jared went a few days before me and attended the Blue and Presidential Summit. Thank you doTERRA for combining these two trips and having it in Hawaii. Kona is the coolest place! We've never been and we loved it. It was especially fun to be here on Jared's birthday.
Monet got to join us because it worked out with sports and everything. So that was super fun! Senior year is a little bittersweet because so soon (just like 6 more months) and she will be living out on her own. I'm excited for her, but its going to get a little weird here with only 3 kids left at home. So we will just try to get as much time with Monet as we can before that happens.
I was so crazy trying to get out here to Hawaii that I didn't plan much before we left. So Monet and I together did some research and found some fun things to do. I'm so glad we rented a car so we could explore! We stayed in the Marriott Waikaloa and Hilton Waikaloa Village. The Hilton is really spread out so it takes a long time to get back and forth to the rooms. But the grounds are super, super cool. We liked the Marriott too. It was a nice property. We really only spent like one day by the pool at each resort. But it was convenient and there were lots of shops and trails around.
It was so fun that Jimmy and Conner earned the trip and we got to hang out with them! We missed Angela though.
Best Food:
Kohala Burgers and Taco--BEST burgers! So delicious
Lava Lava Beach Club--Fun atmosphere and on the sand, good food
Anuenue Shave Ice and Ice Cream--They flavor with doTERRA oils. And it was so good!
Malasadas at Tex Drive In
Fun places:
Snorkeling at Two Step Beach and Honaunau--two hour drive but worth it! Best snorkeling ever.
Boogie Boarding at Hapuna Beach--Very close to our hotel and awesome waves
Swimming at Wai'ale Falls (they were actually adjacent to Wai'ale)
49 Black Sand Beach--Fun and super close and convenient to where we were
Wai'ale Falls swimming in a pool with 4 waterfalls was so, so cool! The swimmable area was actually lower and to the right of Wai'ale Falls. We couldn't find a name for it if there was a different one. We hiked a few hundred yards through the jungle and it was quite a fun, refreshing adventure.
Our fails:
Running on the Ala Loa Trail--This is not a running trail. Lava rock that is so bumpy you have to watch every step and if you fall like Monet did it is very sharp
Manta Ray Dive--Not really a fail, but we didn't see much. Probably swimming with the Humpback Whales in Mo'orea ruined my expectations. Monet did the actual dive as opposed to snorkeling and she saw so much more than we did!
Killer Tacos--Meh. Not much besides the meat. They were good but not go out of your way good.
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| Black Sand Beach 49 |
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| He shaved his beard for me. And took a lot of goofy selfies in the process. Haha! |
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| Overlook to the Waipo Valley |
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| Jungle walk at Akaka Falls |
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| Wai'ale Falls we did not swim at these ones but the ones below |
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| I believe in taking some pictures when you are young and hot. I wish I had more. Haha! But really, she's so cute and we were just talking and I was like, just stay right there you need a photo right now. |
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| Simone would LOVE all the goats in Kona |
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| Snorkeling area at Beach 69. Its good but nothing like Honaunau |
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| Jared has to go to the Farmers Markets wherever we are |
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| Malasada! |
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| Shoes that match the Guardrail! |
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| Akaka Falls |
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| Passionfruit from the farmers market! Favorite treat in Hawaii |
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| Anuenue Ice Cream and Shave Ice--So Good! |
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| They made a drip sand castle, it looked like a Gaudi work of art. |
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| Manta Ray Dive! |
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| Snorkeling at Honaunau or Two Step Beach |
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| Wai'ale Falls (its actually right next to the falls) |
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| Lava Lava Beach club sunset and beach walk while waiting for our table |
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| Watching the BYU game on Jared's phone at lunch |
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| Beautiful Sunsets from the Marriott |
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| Running at the Lava Trail, don't do this |
