Aloha

Audrey was given the opportunity to meet with Make A Wish back in fall of 2010. When asked if she had a wish she told the volunteers that she would like to see a volcano and cookie cutter sharks. A few months later we were contacted and told that Audrey's wish had been approved and they needed dates from us. We wanted to wait until after the holidays and suggested February or March. Correspondence went back and forth over the next few months and we were given dates: February 13-21st. We had one last meeting at Panera just a few days before we were scheduled to leave on Audrey's Make A Wish trip. We were going to Hawaii!

I will work on putting together a Shutterfly book for Audrey to document our time in Hawaii. I did keep notes on our daily activities and we took a lot of pictures!

Arrive Feb 13th 7pm (Hawaii time)
Picked up Avis rental vehicle - Chystler mini van
Made it to Hyatt Regency Hotel on Waikiki (directly across the street from the beach) around 9pm. Stayed in room 3267 of the Diamond Head Tower.

Feb 14th
Ate breakfast at Ciao Mein breakfast buffet
Kids played in hot tub and pool
Ryan, Nathan and Audrey took a walk on Waikiki Beach
All went to Ala Moana Mall
Audrey had her ears pierced
Nathan found the Lego store
Had dinner at the mall Islands Fine Burger and Drinks
Nathan fell asleep early Ryan took Audrey out for ice cream

Feb 15th
Went to Honolulu Zoo
Kids ate lunch at zoo and tried shave ice - neither of them liked it
Spent time in the pool
Walked to dinner Jimmy Buffets
Walked through the international market

Feb 16th
4:30 a.m. wake up to take a flight to the Big Island
Arrive at the Big Island at 8:00 a.m.
Alamo car rental - Lincoln Town Car
Breakfast (after getting lost) Short N Sweet Bakery (Brides Magazine voted 2010 America's Most Beautiful Cakes)
Went to see Rainbow Falls and Boiling Pots waterfall
Went to Volcanoes National Park
Kilouea Ike Trail - long and very difficult trail made it to the bottom where we actually walked on the crater. The crater looked smooth from the top of the trail when we made it to the bottom it was amazing to see the different elevations. Began to sprinkle we were grateful to have had so many pictures before the sprinkle turned to rain.
Went to visitors center, bought a few souvenirs and watched a movie.
Lunch at Kiawe Kitchen
Drove to end of Chain of Craters Road where we were able to hike on the latest lava spill which actually covered the road.
Attempted Lava Tubes but kids were sleeping and it was still raining.
Went to Jagger Museum if it had been clear we would have been able to see glowing lava.
Dinner at McDonalds before catching our flight back to Oahu.

Feb 17th
Breakfast at a muffin shop
Ryan, Nathan and Audrey had pool time
Lunch at Cheesecake Factory
Luau at Paradise Cove

Feb 18th
Kids breakfast at same muffin shop
Ryan and Tonya opted for Crepe House
Despite the fact that Tonya was very sick (later determined she had the flu) we went on our own island tour stopping at scenic overlook, blow hole, lunch at McDonalds, Kualoa State Park where we could see China Man's Hat, Laie Temple, North Shore, Motsumotos (shave ice shack)
Pizza delivered by room service

Feb 19th
Woke up to a symphony of coughs
Breakfast at Caio Mein breakfast buffet
Walked to Waikiki Aquarium
Ryan, Nathan and Audrey spent afternoon at Waikiki Beach
Dinner delivered by room service
Nathan and Audrey sleeping by 7:30
Ryan and Tonya had Haagen Dazs treat

Feb 20th
Laundry
Tonya and Nathan walk to McDonalds brought back breakfast to the room
Packed for leaving Hawaii
Went to Dole Plantation
Met friends George Butler and family went back to their house and had dinner stayed until time to go to the airport.
Flight left Hawaii 11:00 p.m.

Feb 21st
Arrived at Charlotte Airport 3:20 p.m.
Back in Asheville 6:00 p.m.

First thing in the morning on the 22nd took all kids to the pediatrician confirmed Nathan and Audrey had flu - Elysse well on her way. Tonya went to dr. in the afternoon and discovered Tonya's flu had turned into bronchial pneumonia.

Glad to be home. Glad to have pictures to remember our vacation.