Surfing at Queen's Surf Beach in Waikiki

On Sunday we spent the day with a bunch of friends at Queen's Beach in Waikiki.  While we were there my boy got his very first surfing lesson - and in my proud opinion he did really well!  We sure had the right crew there for it.  A friend with a long board who would help launch him into the waves, Daddy to catch him before he ended up on the sandy shore, and even another friend on a surfboard with a video camera in a waterproof case to film the whole thing.  

It was really flat on Sunday but not quite as flat as it looks in the picture.  The waves were indeed big enough to give him forward momentum.  It was a perfect spot for a first lesson.  Shallow enough for adults to easily help, deep enough that he didn't get banged up on rocks when he fell in, and right next to a rock pier where I could stand and be close to the action with my camera and document his progress. 

Do it yourself on Oahu:

• Queen's Surf Beach is on the Diamond Head end of Waikiki across from Kapiolani Park.  

• Hawaiian royalty used to frequent this beach and Queen Liliuokalani had a beach house here, hence the name.

• The beach is known for its body boarding (some areas are exclusively for body boarding), snorkeling (there's a nice reef out in front of the Waikiki aquarium), and of course swimming (although it is a little rocky in some areas) and playing in the sand.  The beach is popular with the LGBT community but on any given day a wide variety of people can be found enjoying this beautiful spot.  There is a nice lawn next to the beach with some shade and a couple great banyan trees with roots that are fun to swing on.  

• There are restrooms and outdoor showers here.

Scenic Sunday: Sunset in Waikiki

I didn't post earlier because we were gone all day, enjoying the great outdoors.  It was a beautiful day to the very end!

Ulupo Heiau in Kailua

Over the summer I took my kids and some friends to the heiau in Kailua but didn't get a chance to blog about it until now.  (For those who don't know, a heiau is a temple built and used by ancient Hawaiians.)  I'd driven by it countless times and even peeked at it from the YMCA pool area but had never taken the time to check it out.

From the top it is an impressive foundation of stones, upon which wooden structures are thought to have been built when it was in use.  But it's when you walk around to the lower side of the heiau that it's massive size can really be appreciated.  It is clear that a lot of time and energy went into building this place.

My kids would have loved to climb around on the rocks of the heiau, but out of respect for the site and those who hold it sacred I took them down the path below the heiau to explore there instead.  There are a number of taro patches planted below the heiau and it was interesting to see the taro in various stages of growth and to check out the ditch irrigation system that waters them all.  

The path ends at the Kawainui marsh where it is built out onto the marsh for a short ways, similar to Na Pohaku O Hauwahine which can be seen from this spot.

This was a fun spot to spend time outdoors and teach my children a little about ancient Hawaiian culture at the same time.

Do it yourself on Oahu:

• Directions:  Tour buses use a pull-out on Kailua Road to get to the heiau, but if you have a car it is better to park at the Kailua YMCA.  Coming from Kailua on Kailua Road, take a right on Uluoa St., another right on Manu Aloha St., and one last right on Manu Oo St. which will end in the YMCA parking lot.  Take the sidewalk to the left of the YMCA building which will lead you to the entrance to the heiau.

• Here is the Hawaii State Parks' website for the Ulupo Heiau State Historic Site.

• There are no restrooms or other facilities here.

Seeing Jack Sparrow, AKA Johnny Depp

This is old news now, but based on the interest in my post about the pirate ship in Kaneohe Bay, I think people will enjoy hearing about this celebrity sighting so I'm going to share even though it's a bit after the fact.

A friend of mine took her kids to see the Queen Anne's Revenge when it was at He'eia Pier for the filming of Pirates of the Caribbean 4.  She chatted with a security guard who told her they were filming at night and Johnny Depp usually stopped to greet fans on his way out to the ship, in his full Jack Sparrow costume.  She decided to go down the next evening to see if she could see him and when she told me about it I invited myself along.  We weren't the only ones with this bright idea.

We got there around 8 and waited about an hour and a half before Johnny Depp/Jack Sparrow showed up.  The energy in the crowd was high, but it got much higher when a black SUV stopped and out jumped Jack Sparrow/Johnny Depp.  He went right over to the pedestrian gates and started working his way down the line, shaking hands and signing a few autographs.  He took extra time to chat with kids.  We had left ours at home so we didn't have that draw, but I got some good pictures and my friend got to shake his hand.

The guy with Johnny Depp kept moving him along and apologizing that there wasn't more time and they couldn't do autographs.  It made Johnny Depp look like the nicest guy who really wanted to stop and chat with everyone and meet every request but wasn't allowed.  A brilliant PR move, as was the idea of stopping in the first place.  I guess the rest of the actors just drove from make-up out to the ship, but Johnny Depp chose to stop and see his fans every night.

I'm not usually a celebrity stalker, but it was pretty cool to be right up at the rope line and see Jack Sparrow in all his piratey (a word I just made up) glory.  

One last picture.  Can you find the pirate in this photo?  He's there!

Do it yourself on Oahu:

Unfortunately, you'll have to wait for the next movie.  Johnny Depp only filmed at He'eia Pier a couple more nights after we were there and I hear Hawaii filming for Pirates 4 wrapped in the middle of August.

Scenic Sunday: Rainbow

I've decided to start doing "Scenic Sunday" on my blog where I share a picture I've taken here in Hawaii.  I never cease to be amazed by the beauty of these islands!

Rainbow out my window.

To see other beautiful photos from around the world, check out Delicious Baby.