Our first stop on our vacation to Hawaii was to Kauai. Our time on Kauai is usually slow-paced and laid back, but this week was very busy. We landed in Lihue, rushed to Waimea, and started cooking for a BBQ that night. Caroline and her family were visiting and our time overlapped only by about 6 hours!
On top of that, Aunty Laura and her husband Bill were visiting from St. Charles, IL. Laura’s daughter, Cory, was visiting from Aspen, CO. And her son, Danny, and his family were visiting from Riverside, IL.
If that’s not enough, good family friends Tandy and Chris and their family were visiting from Seattle, WA. And we ran into multiple childhood friends of Dallas’s who just happened to be in town for a few days.
We had a very busy week, but we were very thankful to be able to spend time with so much friends and family!
1. Family BBQ
We ended up being awake for more than 24 hours but it was worth it to see so much family. Especially thankful to meet our new nephew, Luca.
Back: Danny, Caroline, Rory, Niko, Jose, Caroline, Grace, Kathy, Dallas, Makai, Cory, Luca
Front: Bill, John, Laura, Cathy, Dee, George
Makai and Grace were happy to see each other (and started playing video games immediately!)
Niko
Last time we visited Caroline, she was pregnant. Luca was born shortly after. 5 months old.
Dallas happy to meet Luca.
Makai and his dad grilling meat.
Grace had been on Kauai since the end of May – something like 8 weeks! She demands to know who invited all of these annoying boys (John, Rory, Makai). This was also 5 seconds before that ball went over the cliff into the valley.
Aunty Laura and Luca
Makai, John and Rory eating Kathy’s homemade guri-guri.
Dallas and Danny
George, Caroline, Cory, Luca, Caroline
Giant spider!
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Danny, Caroline, Rory, and John Hara stayed at The Point at Poipu on Kauai. They were traveling together with Danny’s mom Laura (Fukuda) and her husband Bill Dubois, as well as Danny’s sister, Cory Hara.
It was fun for all of the kids to be able to hang out together. Makai joined Laura, Bill, Rory and John one night at Luau while the rest of us went out to dinner. Makai stayed overnight at the resort and loved swimming with Rory and John in the resort pool. They also all stayed a couple nights in Waimea with Kathy and George.
Aunty Laura (Fukuda) is Grandpa George Crowell’s first cousin!
2. Pooltime at The Point at Poipu
Dallas golfed with his parents and Danny while the rest of us had an all day pool day! Then Makai joined Aunty Laura, Bill, Rory and John for a luau in Kapaa while Dallas and I went to dinner with Danny, Caroline and Cory at Japanese Grandma’s Cafe and drinks at Port Allen Sunset Grill & Bar.
View from Aunty Laura’s room at The Point at Poipu.
First lava flow… and maybe the only one I had!
3. Japanese Grandma’s Cafe
Cory and I both wanted to try the sparkling sake. It was a big bottle – like regular wine size!
Fried wonton taco with poke inside.
Fried rice with tuna on top.
Maki roll.
Hamachi.
Lilikoi gelato.
Dallas, Rachelle, Caroline, Cory, Danny
4. Luau at the Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach
While we were at dinner, Makai joined Aunty Laura, Bill, Rory and John at a luau! Then Makai stayed overnight at The Point.
5. Kauai Rooster Hat
Caroline liked Makai’s hat. I dug out these old photos to show how old it is! Later on she ended up finding it at Kukui’ula and buying one each for John and Rory.
6. Leapin’ Lizards!
Made me jump when I saw it move out of the corner of my eye in the bathroom in Waimea!
7. Swimming at The Point at Poipu
Makai stayed overnight at John and Rory’s and did a lot of morning swimming.
8. Salt Pond Beach
Dallas and I met up with them at Salt Pond Beach Park where we saw endangered Hawaiian monk seals on the beach.
9. Waimea Town
Dallas went home to cook. We then hit Shrimp Station and JoJo’s Shave Ice. Makai and John named all the chickens — the biggest one was named Todd, for some reason!
10. Egret!?I saw this in the yard!
11. Bon Dance at Waimea Higashi Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
Later on we went to the bon dance festival. Dallas ran into multiple childhood friends, some of whom he hadn’t seen for decades!
Festival Food: Akule
(got an extra one to bring home for George! Aunty Jane, working the counter, talked me into banana bread and coffee cake too!)
Festival Food: Andagi (Okinawan Donuts)
Festival Foods: Flying Saucer
Festival Food: Pronto Pop (corn dog)
Dallas was surprised to see his childhood friend, Kari. She lives in LA now! Her parents still live in Waimea and her dad told us a lot about the Bon Dance.
We found out Tandy was in town, but Dallas was surprised to see his childhood friend Lad and his sister Rona at the dance too!
Makai and John – John wanted to know when the ninjas were going to jump out!
Bon Dance begins! The leader at the temple came from Japan via Honolulu. This was the first Bon Dance since before covid!
We found out the next day that the woman in white is Janice’s grand daughter, Dana!
12. Family Monopoly Game
Dallas and his mom found their family Monopoly set and figured it is close to 70 years old. The hotels and houses are made of wood.
13. Day at Home
We did laundry. I sat sat on the porch alternating between looking at a book and looking at the ocean. Makai helped grandpa with yard work and running errands. Dallas and Kathy prepped for a party later.
14. Makai, Meet Makai
Makai and I went to get lunch at Porky’s and the guy that took our order was named Makai!
Grilled Cheese with Kalua Pig
Kalua Pig Bowl
15. Friends BBQ
We had a big barbecue with friends and it was great to spend time with people we had not seen for a long time!!!
On one of our past trips, Dallas made chimichurri, which is not a common thing to eat in Hawaii. Aunty Nancy requested he make it again. Janice made homemade pronto pops (corndogs) and the kids loved them. Rory ate 4 in a row! Janice’s grand daughter, Dana, handmade ti leaf and plumeria leis. And funny story, we discovered I’d taken a photo of her the night before dancing at the Bon Dance!
At one point, we realized every one of the kids at the party were hapa haole so we took a photo of them all together.
Dallas invited Ladd and Rona, who we’d run into the night before at the Bon Dance. Kathy was so bummed out she didn’t get to see them because she skipped the dance. She was so shocked and excited to see them at her front door!
Caroline and I, both from Wisconsin, talked with Såfina for a while. She is going to Lakeland University in the fall for Physical Therapy and to play volleyball. I hope we get to see her and her family more since she will only be 2 hours away from Chicago!
Rory running after Janice’s wontons!
Janice’s grand daughter, Dana, hand made these ti leaf and plumeria leis!
Makai, John, Rory
Janice made homemade pronto pops (corn dogs). Rory ate 4 in a row!
Dallas, Ladd, Uncle Bob, Swede, Marissa, Uncle Bob’s brother Warren, Safina, Aunty Nancy
Xavier, Janice, Kathy, Dana (Janice’s grand daughter)
Chris, Kai, Kanoa, Tandy, Rory
Danny, Tandy, Kanoa, Kai, Chris, Safina, Nancy, Caroline, Warren, Marissa, Bob, Dallas, Ladd, Swede, George, George, Linda, Rona
All the hapa kids! Back: Safina, Swede, Kai. Front: Makai, Rory, John, Kanoa
All the hapa kids! Back: Safina, Swede, Kai. Front: Makai, Rory, John, Kanoa
Make a funny face!
Childhood friends reunited: Tandy, Dallas, Rona, Ladd, Marissa
Aunty Nancy, Uncle Bob, Ladd, Rona
Kanoa and Rory
16. Sleepover
John and Rory stayed over 2 nights in Waimea!
17. Mini Golfing
Kathy took Rory, John and Makai mini golfing at Kukuiolono. Chris, Kai and Kanoa joined them!
18. Shopping at Kukui’ula
With Dallas and Danny golfing with George, and Kathy taking the boys mini golfing, Caroline and I had free time to go shopping!Lappert’s in Hanapepe closed and there was a rumor that the one in Poipu did too, but luckily that was untrue!
Funny sign.
Lunch at Living Foods
19. Red Salt
We went out to eat with Danny and Caroline at Red Salt in the Koa Kea Resort in Poipu. This was our first time to Red Salt. I didn’t love my entree and it was very expensive. Also felt like we were sitting in a hotel lobby. Our view was people getting in and out of the pool. For the price would expect a more luxe setting and exceptional food.
Driving from Poipu to Waimea
20. Waffles
Rory and John stayed overnight. Makai got up early and made everyone waffles.
21. Legos
Makai and John and Rory played Legos with Dallas’s old Legos many of the days of the week!
22. Salt Pond
We met Caroline and Danny at Salt Pond Beach Park. The two Monk Seals were not on the beach any more, but there was one in the water that just kept circling. Every time it came by everyone had to get out of the water!
23. Waimea Town
Afterwards we had lunch at Shrimp Station and Island Taco and JoJo’s again!
24. More swimming!
Makai went to swim at Caroline and Danny’s condo. The kids were tired from a long day!
23. Stevenson’s Library
Dallas and I had dinner at Stevenson’s Library with Tandy, Chris, Kari and Jeff.
Jeff and Kari, Dallas and Rachelle, Tandy and Chris
24. Grandpa’s Pidgin Lesson