In Hawaii Paradise

"We're going to Hawaii.  We're going to Hawaii."   Those are the lines Sophie had been chanting over and over again as it approached our vacation.  I have never really seen both of them get so excited and looking forward to a vacation.  Perhaps they are all grown up! :)

This is also the place which I've been wanting to go there since over a decade ago.  But instead of changing diapers and nursing or feeding them in Hawaii, I decided to wait until the girls are big enough so that the whole family could fully enjoy there.  I guess I made the right decision!

We woke up one early morning and up up and away to Hawaii during this year's President's Day vacation of the girls.

When the time actually came, the extremely busy schedule at work right before the vacation and the tiredness and exhaust for preparation of the trip was rubbing my excitements off I guess.  I found myself that I wasn't as excited as the girls did.

It's all about beaches

Well, our oceanfront view hotel room embraced me with gorgeous view to Waikiki beach.  Alright, fun time had begun.  No checking emails, no thoughts about work. It was all about family, vacation and beaches.

What a beautiful place!  It lives up to its name!  As days progress and the longer I stay there, I more I fell in love with this paradise.  We drove along the coast of the whole Oahu island for at least two or three times.  No matter which beach I go, its turquoise water and white sandy beach never fail to impress me.

Sunset at Waikiki Beach

Sunset at Waikiki Beach

Sunset at Waikiki Beach

Sunset at Waikiki Beach

There were countless sweet memories: waking up with Waikiki beach beauty for every morning; enjoying the sunset from our hotel room balcony while sea breeze were gently or a little roughly kissing on our faces; even eating breakfast at Waikiki's famous EggNThings restaurant which happens to be located right at the downstairs of our hotel still gave us a stunning view to Waikiki beach; Or even while one was getting the guilty pleasures at Haagan Daz close by this-never-boring view is just right before us.  Hmm... Life is good!

Haleiwa Beach

We visited to almost every beaches in Hawaii.  From Halawei beach to Kailua beach, Lanikai beach, Sandy beach park and Hanauma bay.  The wind was really gusty on East Shore beaches.  No wonder there weren't lots of people in Hanola Blowhole and Sandy beach park.

Sandy Beach

Sandy Beach

Hanola Blowhole

East Shore

 

East Shore

North shore is a great place to watch huge waves during winter; we went there on February so it was still winter.  Even though we didn't witness 8ft or 10 ft high waves, waves there are much more taller, stronger and rougher than beaches in other shores.  The famous Ehukai Beach and Benzai pipeline, Sunset beach, Shark's cove and Waimea bay proved it.

Sunset Beach

Sunset Beach

Sunset Beach

Sunset Beach

Shark's Cove

Shark's Cove

Waimea Bay

Ehukai Beach/Banzai Pipeline

Ehukai Beach/Banzai Pipeline

Leneakea beach on north shore should be on one's list if you want to witness sea turtles.  We only saw about two turtles from a distance.  There were too many people and they didn't want to come closer to the shore I guess.

Laneakea Beach

Laneakea Beach

 If you ask me which one is your favorite, it'll be a super tough call to come up with one.  However, I would highly recommend Kailua beach and Lanaikai beach.  They are close to each other and they bear their own beauty.  A little seclusive and calm Kailua beach is very different from many other beaches in Oahu.

I came across an article that Lanaikai beach is only one beach in United States which is voted for one of the best beaches in the world.  Its famous two little islands is an icon in Blue Hawaii movie.  It could be really hard to find parking there though.  Because it's located in the residential area, it could be really challenging to find a street side parking especially during weekends.  Plus, there's no public facilities such as restroom, showers are not there.  Kailua beach has it though.

Kailua Beach

Kailua Beach

Lanikai Beach

Lanikai Beach

Lanikai Beach