For spring break this year, we went to the Kea Lani. I don’t know how this trip never disappoints…but it never does! We had THE BEST TIME!!! It is literally a trip that is filled with relaxing and family time. In my eyes — nothing beats those two things. And to top it all off, Seth’s family came to meet up with us for the last three days. It was like…just when the trip can’t get better — it did!
Lei Making was a hit.
Hula Dancing was awesome.
One of the highlights was the Koi, bullfrog races, and crab hunting.
Crab hunting was new for us this year, and it became a nightly adventure.
There may have been an intense sand fight.
There may have been a few grumpy moments from tired children.
There may have been a few tube wipe outs, that daddy had to attend to.
There may have also been some “sentences” written.
But ice cream always did the trick.
Cousins made everything better.
The sand always soothed.
Some of my favorite memories of the trip were:
One night as we were shopping, Scout saw this ring for $5. He really wanted to get it for Navy, but Nonnie and I both told him that we weren’t giving him the money to buy it. So that determined little boy disappeared for about 20 minutes. When he returned, he had a cute little package for Navy. When she opened it, she loved the starfish ring — it was so cute between them. Then Nonnie and I asked, “Scout…you didn’t have any money. How did you get that?” He said, “You see all those fountains out there? I found just enough change in them to buy it.” My eyes got really big, and then I started laughing at the site of him handing a handful of wet change to the store clerk!
A balloon lady came to the resort to make balloon animals for the kids. She was the best balloon artist I have ever seen. Anything someone said, she could make it. It was really fun to see her work. Her time was up at 2:00, and she still had about six of us in line. She called in to clock out, and continued making balloons for all of our kids, while she turned others away. She was so good and so nice. At the very end, she took a picture with us, and then said to me, “I have never been around a bunch of kids who were nicer than yours.” She proceeded to tell me that she is around kids all the time with her balloon stuff, but that she was really impressed with our group. She also said that she had mentally noted that each of them thanked her for the balloon…and then all continued to comment on her talents. That’s the kind of stuff that keeps me motivated and happy!
Dash earned us renting this personal jet ski. This boy loved, loved, loved it! He was so entertained on it, and he asked what he could do to earn it again about 10 times! I told him his best bet, was to go ask Nonnie instead of me!
This isn’t really a memory, but a moment when I saw my oldest seeming like a big kid — one who could hang with the adults.
It was kind of like one of those moments that will be impressed in my mind forever.
One of the greatest and definitely most entertaining memories of the trip, was Pippi’s Posse. Pippi was a complete independent the whole trip. She would cruise around the pool, go up to the top of the slide and then down it, go in the hot tub, go check out the fish, go get sunblock…etc. She started in the morning, and never looked back…EVER. The best part, was that by the middle of each day, she had a posse. Everyone knew her. And then when we would go around the hotel, people all knew her. And I’m not just talking young people. Everyone from adults to children knew her. When one lady left the pool one night, she said, “Hey, we are leaving tomorrow. Do you think Pippi would want this float?” (I had never even seen this woman.) Another time, she had a group of girls following her everywhere, and they shared their poolside lunch with her. My favorite day was the day when the two girls in the picture kept asking Pippi if she was going to be done with her ice cream soon. She made them wait about six times, and then went to play. When she finally did, Covey followed them and was cracking up at how two girls that were way older were obsessed with Pippi. When Covey left, he came running back screaming something. When I finally understood him, he was saying, “Pippi now has bodyguards!” Apparently, when Pippi got in the water, she ditched the two girls for two boys who wanted to play with her. Then they said to her “Pippi, we will swim with you, and we will be your bodyguards”! Covey was in complete disbelief over random kids, who were way older, wanting to hang with Pippi all day long.
Micah and I were also in a little disbelief, and it really was comical. And truth be told — she was the popular girl, who everyone knew. Every single Kea Lani pool employee was obsessed with her, as was every kid in a 3-16yr. old age span!
When we showed up in Hawaii, Navy was sick. then when we got there, Scout and Micah both got sick. Nothing too long, but a few days of down and out. One night, Scout woke up at 3:30am. He was struggling, so I told him that I would run a warm bubble bath that might help. We were virtually silent, and Scout just laid in the bath to appease his sickness. About three minutes into the bath, Pippi showed up. She had climbed out of her crib, undressed, and hopped in the bath with Scout. Scout was so sick, but even he had a small smile crawl up on his lips at peppy Pippi crawling in the tub at some absurd hour.
One night we were playing games. I would say things like, “First one back with a lizard gets a point”. I really stumped everyone, when I said, “First one back with a coconut gets a point”. Between my kids and Seth’s kids — we had some serious competitors. After ten minutes of looking, the kids started trickling back to us, saying “There aren’t any coconuts!!!” After a while, some of the kids got creative, and got coconut flakes from the restaurant, and coconut syrup. But no coconut — until Scout showed up with one, about an hour after I gave the challenge! We were laughing so hard! He said that he had to stack a bunch of beach chairs, and then scale up a tall tree to get it. We were amazed that he did it.
But sure enough, as we walked down to the beach after the game, he showed us where he got it — and he did exactly what he said! I’m glad I didn’t see it in person, because it was dangerous and not within the hotel’s rules I am sure. As an added bonus, he got his pocket knife, made a hole, and stuck a straw in it for me, to indulge in the freshest coconut water I’ve ever had!
One of the greatest memories — when we discovered the Oeshi Sushi.
Heaven on a plate!
Another amazing memory — was Glen. One day, while we were up at our favorite restaurant, Pippi left the masses by the pool and made her way up to us. Let me preface this by saying…Pippi knew that hotel’s layout better than any of us. But when she got there, we had already moved on to the ice cream store behind the restaurant. Meanwhile, Glen (the manager of the restaurant) saw her, and asked her what she was up to. She said, “My mom is lost”. He was worried that she was lost, and put her at her own table, and served her a Sprite and scoop of homemade ice cream. When I discovered her, he told me the story..then looked at Pippi and said, “Pippi…if you are ever lost again…come see me for some more ice cream.” I laughed and told him that he should have never made that promise!
Fast forward to the next night — as we leaving to the airport. We all stopped at the ice cream shop for a parting scoop. Pippi didn’t want what we were having, so she walked into the restaurant (during the busy dinner rush) in her dripping bathing suit and found Glen. He took her out to her own table, and said he would bring her his favorite — chocolate oreo…made fresh that morning. (Keep in mind, this wasn’t available to us — only the restaurant goers!) As we all walked out with our cones, we asked Pippi why she was sitting at her own table? Then told her to come down. She ignored us, and told us that her friend was coming. We weren’t sure who her friend was….and that’s when Glen showed up with a huge double scoop for Pippi. We all laughed so hard! We were amazed at Pippi’s ability to work the system. And Glen — who knew she was working it — didn’t care, because she was literally so stinking charming to him!
Worst memory — when we all had to say goodbye.
But NOOOOO!
Starting at 2 pm on the day we were supposed to leave, our flight was delayed from its original 10pm departure. It continually got delayed, so the Kea Lani put us up in a hospitality suite for the “night”, until we left at 6am to catch our 8am flight. When we drove to the airport, they told us that they were able to finally get us to L.A., but that we would miss our connecting flight to San Diego. They offered to put us up in a hotel in L.A., but we asked if we could stay in Hawaii instead. They agreed, and then we asked if they could get us back to Wailea — because we still had family there. He told us that they didn’t have availability over there — but her would double check. We drove away, and then got the greatest news! not only did he have Wailea, but he had the Grand Wailea — two hotels down from the Kea Lani, and one of the nicest resorts on the island! SWEEEEET!
Here is our view from the ocean-view room at the Grand Wailea! Not bad…not bad at all. In the end, we stayed for two more days, and got to have two more awesome days of vacation in Hawaii — for free! Seth’s family was stoked. We were stoked. And then they started sending us vouchers to apologize for the inconvenience. Little did they know, that our inconvenience was the raddest vacation bonus!
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Update: Delta is awesome! After we got home, they ended up giving us each $300 in travel vouchers. Then after I called, they gave us another $300 in vouchers. Finally, they told us to send in all of the receipts from when we were in Hawaii those two extra days. I sent in everything — things they would weed out…everything. My good friend at Delta (Jameel), said that Delta wanted to make everyone that was affected those days feel okay about the mistake. So after $600 each in travel vouchers….we got a $2400 check sent to us! WOW. I’ll always fly Delta, if they are that amazing in customer service!
Mahalo Hawaii!
Until next time…
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