Hawaiian Islands Vacation / Oahu Day 3

 We woke up on our third day in Oahu ready for a day of relaxation and family fun at the beach.  We got out to the lagoon early enough to snag a good seat under a grass umbrella so we would have plenty of chance to slip into the shade.  We brought along sand toys, a kite and some fresh papaya.

 Zion had so much fun flying her first kite.  I was pleased with my decision to grab this $1 kite from the dollar spot at Target in the days leading up to our trip.  There was never a dull moment in our time at the beach, from building sand walls to snorkeling to relaxing and taking in the scenery - its incredible the amount of activities you can come up with as a family when you are on vacation.

 Before we left the beach, we rented a water hammock and floated around for a bit.  Have you ever tried one of these?  Zion was a little unsure at first, but in no time she was loving being out in the ocean with Jerry and I.  She even bravely jumped off the side in her life jacket once.

 After lunch and naps and picking up our rental car, we ventured toward the windward side of the island to Bayview Mini Putt & Zip Line.  Jerry and I had been talking about playing mini golf for months (I have never been) and I was determined to make it happen in Hawaii.  We chose Bayview because of their boast about being the only zip line in Oahu and thinking it might be fun to go ziplining for the first time as well.

Though the Zipline was short and sweet, it was great for our first time.  I definitely want to do more Ziplining!  It is a huge rush.  Zion loved seeing each of us zoom down as well.  Afterwards, Jerry taught Zion how to putt while I fumbled my way through the course.  I had no idea mini golf was so fun!  Unfortunately for me, our fun was cut short by the infestation of mosquitos at this course - in an hour I got about 15 bites and they gave me huge welts all over my legs!

We made it through about 15 holes before giving in to the mosquitos.  After that we were hungry (and I was itchy) so we asked the staff at Bayview for local food recommendations.  We ended up heading to a burger joint called Teddy's Bigger Burger - and were happy we did.  I chose the Kaneohe burger which was super tasty, along with parmesan garlic fries and an obligatory chocolate peanut butter milkshake.

More of our Hawaii Vacation:

Oahu Day 2

Oahu Day 1

A Tour of Our Ko Olina Resort

Trip Itinerary

      

Hawaiian Islands Vacation / Oahu Day 1

I have to apologize for my delay in getting these Hawaii posts going - it has been such a crazy time of going and going for us, one that won't be slowing down for a while yet!  Our first day in Oahu started with a little trip to see the beach and a fish feeding in the lagoon.  Zion got her handful of fish feed and a chart of the potential types of fish she might see, and quickly headed to the water.  The fish were super fast, so a few minutes later as we turned to head up the beach for breakfast, we were surrounded by birds hoping to get the feed that would wash up on shore.

For breakfast we ate on the resort at Naupaka Terrace, the on-site casual dining restaurant.  There was an extensive Sunday buffet as an option as well as their regular buffet and menu ordering.  Right before I left on this trip I found out I was allergic to chicken, so I opted for the buffet which included red meat and seafood options.  This was our best resort dining experience, aside from the in-room meals I will share with you later in the trip.

One of the best things about dining at the Naupaka Terrace was the location in proximity to the shark pool.  We could literally watch the sharks swimming around from our table.  And let me just tell you about eating fresh Papaya in Hawaii!! I've had papaya a few times in other places, but never did it taste as delicious as the fresh papaya readily available here!

After our breakfast we did some hangout time at the beach and then shortly after, took a walk along the beachwalk.  The trees and plants in Oahu are beautiful and unique.  I love the fragrance that is in the air, a mix of salty ocean and fragrant fruits and florals!  There are so many plants and trees and flowers that caught my attention while there!

For dinner, we headed off the resort to a delicious mexican restaurant called "Just Tacos" and, no, they didn't serve only Tacos.  We feasted on nachos, beans and rice and chipotle buttered shrimp before heading back to our room for the evening.  Our first day in the sun left me a bit red, and all of us quite tired, so we had a relaxing time on our balcony before bed.

I have several Hawaii posts planned for this week, I hope you will enjoy seeing the island of Oahu through our eyes!

      

Oahu Beaches: Ko OlinaJW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa

 We just returned home from our Summer vacation to the Hawaiian Islands.  As first-timers to the beautiful island of Oahu, we weren't entirely sure what to expect, though we hoped we'd find beautiful beaches and lush tropical scenery.  Our hopes were far exceeded.  When we booked our room at the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, we weren't sure if we'd regret not staying in Waikiki.  We couldn't have made a better decision!  Of all of the Oahu beaches we visited while we were there, the Ko Olina lagoons were, by far, the most calm, serene and family friendly.

 We arrived at the resort in the evening after a long day of traveling, so after a quick meal, we headed immediately to bed so we could start the following day with plenty of energy.  When we woke up in the morning (quite early due to our 3 hour time gain) we immediately took delight in the sky's soft pastels as the sun rose on the opposite side of the island.  In no time at all, the sun was shining, showing off the gorgeous blue waters of the Pacific ocean and the vibrant greens of the palm trees.  It was time to get out and explore the resort.

 The JW Marriott Ihilani resort has three main towers connected by a triangle courtyard.  The resort is very open, allowing the soft tropical breeze to flow freely into the building.  Within the resort are several restaurants, including the signature casual dining experience at Naupaka Terrace.  There is also a fantastic open-air Starbucks in the lobby, which we frequented.

 The resort property has a beautiful habitat for sting rays, fish, and other low tide creatures, as well as a shark pool.  They offer a fun kids program to learn more about these creatures.  As you walk out of the resort toward the beach area, you immediately take notice of the large circular swimming pool and palm trees.

 The JW Marriott Ihilani sits on the right side of Ko Olina Kohola Lagoon, a beautiful man-made lagoon that has pristine blue green waters, and plenty of beach space to spare.  The water here is always calm, and the beach is never crowded, making this Oahu beach the perfect spot for taking your small children.  There are rentable cabanas on the beach, complimentary lounges, and tons of water activities to participate in.  Our favorites included snorkeling, kayaking and relaxing in a water hammock.

There is a beach walkway that you can explore which passes the other three Ko Olina lagoons, as well as the other resorts in the area.  The path is about 1.5 miles each way, making it perfect for a 5k run (roundtrip).  This is where our vacation starts and I can't wait to share with you all of the fantastic adventures from our trip, including all of the other gorgeous Oahu beaches we visited!