I think we're landing on the Moon!

Nope, it was actually our family vacation to Kona, Hawai'i "The Big Island". Not your Maui or Kauai Hawaiian beauty.

Driving 20 minutes on the Queen Kaahumanu Hwy w/only miles and miles of Lava rock. We reached our destination, the Hilton Beach Resort in Wailkoloa on the Kohala Coast, North Kona District. Wait, I did just say beach resort - here is where our vacation started w/a few bump(s). Arriving Thursday at our "upgraded" Condo at their adjacent Kings Land development, not yet completed. No beach, no pools, and a 10 minute drive to the Hilton Grand Hotel.

Yep - we kindly asked to be downgraded back to a room w/a balcony and view, not to mention the convenience of their hotel facilities. Of course we were bummed w/no microwave for the girls for food and bottles..but we managed - using boiling water from the coffee pot.

This minor bump hasn't fazed our Hawaii thrill! We toured the resort grounds, 62 oceanfront acres by the way - quickly noticing the convenience of their taxi boat and tram service. Our location the Lagoon Tower, where 5 stories below our balcony you could see the pink flamingo's - the girls morning excitement! Once settled in our room, we all hurried to the pool - gorgeous! Me as the non-swimmer, was truly excited as the pool was no deeper than three and a half feet, featuring a huge waterfall. Lava rock split a quarter section of the pool for the children, making a beach scene w/turtle sculptures and a sand bottom. Brian was ready for a Mai Tai (me, a Mango Mojito), resting our tushies at the Kamuela Provision Company restaurant, quickly realizing a child's chicken nugget dinner was $16.00!! AW WHAT? HELLZ NO! This bump actually was a blessing - we ended up finding the hotel's gem at the Lagoon Grill. The hotel may have had some quirks - but the setting was pretty sweet. The Lagoon Grill was perfectly located w/only outdoor seating to watch the most amazing sun sets on the Pacific Ocean, while also having the opportunity to watch the dolphins frolic in the lagoon below!! That's right gang - they had a Dolphin Quest, in which you can touch, feed, play, learn and swim with the impressive dolphins! Unfortunately children 4 and under could not participate.

The girls had a hard time adjusting to the 3 hour difference, making for late evenings and early mornings! Thus reaching day 2 w/our third bump. NO beach access from the hotel. This was a major bummer - especially w/the girls. Had it just been Brian and I, no worries. With the girls we had to plan our days w/precision. The time to drive to the beach, spending enough time to make the trip worth wild, while leaving adequate time for lunch to end our afternoon at the pool and/or site see - not to mention a nap somewhere in between.

The hotel did however provide a man made four-acre ocean fed lagoon adjacent to the Dolphin Quest. The salt-water lagoon and white-sand (the hotel failed to mention - lava rock) beach, included tropical fish and rare green sea turtles! Sierra got spooked seeing fish and turtles in the water - unlike the pool where both Marissa and Sierra bravely jumped into multiple times! You also had the option to rent hydro-bike, kayaks, paddleboats, or water bikes - not us, instead making Barbie sand castles, running hand-n-hand w/the girls in the water, and searching for seashells while Brian snorkeled.

May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii. Our Hotel provided complimentary Lei making. Marissa strung around 50 purple orchid blossoms length-wise creating a beautiful necklace. I hurried and created 3 more necklaces, so we'd all have a Lei to wear on our dinner sail.

Ok - so when your child [Marissa] INSISTS that we NOT attend the free champagne dinner sail, you ponder the thought, and explain "C'mon, how bad could it be - the wind in your hair watching the sun set". Ok - not a child's dream - but how do you know unless you try. First off, Marissa fell asleep during our 20 minute bus ride to the harbor. The Lei's all managed to get crushed beside my purse. Sierra was Ms. Party animal - setting foot on that boat as if she owned it! Talk about sea legs this girl was impressive! About 40 minutes on the water, Marissa woke up on Brian's arm asking if we were there yet? - Wha-What?! Next thing you know, Sierra Ms. Happy Go Lucky was crying. As Brian handed Marissa to me, Sierra squirmed to get cozy on Brian's shoulder and Sweet Jesus! Water and chewed-up Pepperidge Farm (multi-colored) gold fish down his back! Not once, 3 times! It was hard to hold back my dinner, but I had a reputation to uphold, being the strong parent. Now, had it been curdled milk..... The next thing I know, a crew member kindly ask that we move to the back of the boat where she (or we) could throw-up in the ocean! HA! Brian is an AMAZING daddy (husband)! He continued to hold and soothe Sierra, w/a wet stinky shirt - leaving one hand accessible for the free Mai Tai's! I held my own - thankful when we set foot on dry land!

A 15 minute drive to Hapuna beach was our third day of HEAVEN! White sand, soft as a baby's bottom! OOOH WEEE! Thankfully the snack bar rented umbrella's - it was ridiculously HOT!!! Afterwards, we drove up the coast while the girls took a nap - perfect! Driving 30 mintues to Waimea, far away from the lava rock, to a small town w/only locals! After about 15 minutes into the drive you began to remember what Hawaii is meant to look like. Ending at the North side of the island at Waipio Valley lookout.

Instead of a Stop sign exiting the shopping area parking lot. Having not upheld our tourist attire and appearance, the waiter at the local Thai restaurant began questioning where Marissa attended preschool. Later surprised that we were not locals of the island! HA!

A short 10 mintue drive to beautiful Anaeho'omalu Bay. A popular salt and pepper sand beach with a coconut grove of swaying palms and shade, began our fourth day. Turtles swam nearly onto shore.

After lunch, Marissa scared us to death w/a terrible fall at the hotel's pool side water feature. Slipping and falling down luckily bottom first, ending up w/an enormous bump on the back of her head! I panicked (of course), checking that her eyes were dilating, while Brian tempted her w/ice cream so she wouldn't sleep!

We ended our trip w/a 40 minute drive to the town of Kailua-Kona (South District). Cruising Ali'i Drives waterfront row, while the girls took an early evening power nap. We took a short stroll and ended-up at Huggo's on The Rocks restaurant. With casual ocean-front seating, feet nestled in the sand, and live entertainment including hula dancers, and musicians! The food was phenomenal!!

Now that I've posted our trip I realize how pathetic our photo skills are. Yea, I was worried about the camera on the beach - but I have no proof that each night we all got dolled up for dinner. To many things to think of when your on vacation - I just wanted to relax! Here's to a future trip to explore the Volcono (a 6 hour roundtrip drive as well as a 40 minute roundtrip hike), Lava flows, and the Hamakua Coast - Hilo District! Most definetly not staying at a resort trap!