Pumpkin Patch at Aloun Farms

For more up to date information, use this link to read about our 2011 Visit to Aloun Farms.

A pumpkin patch in Hawaii? Yes!! This is what the little stand looks like where you pay for hay rides, pumpkins and other fresh veggies:

And here's a view of the pumpkin patch with Honolulu and Diamond Head in the background:

I had heard the pumpkin patch was hot and dusty but we decided to brave the elements and go see it for ourselves. As we pulled into the parking area we saw a mom slapping at her crying child with a slipper and when we got out of our car the sound of crying and whining children filled our ears as families made their way back to their cars. Oh boy, maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all...but on we went.

We had coupons for a free hayride (we got them at the Made in Hawaii Festival) and we headed to do that first. The ride took us around the perimeter of the pumpkin patch and we all had a fun time.
Then it was off to the pumpkin patch in search of the perfect pumpkins. We decided we'd get a small one for each child and a big one to carve.
Our girl had fun walking through the field and got herself quite dirty in no time. She liked the big pumpkins best and thought they made great drums. Our boy enjoyed the pumpkin selecting process. Our criteria was that he had to be able to carry whatever pumpkin he picked. He quickly found his own pumpkin, picked one out for his sister and offered lots of advice on which big pumpkin we should get.

As we wrapped up the pumpkin picking my husband and I realized we had very little cash between the two of us ($2 and some loose change in the car). We asked and found out the pumpkin patch only took cash and the nearest ATM was, well, not near. So we ditched the big pumpkin, paid for the kids' little pumpkins and then stopped at the pumpkin pile for one last photo op, where the kids were much more interested in playing with the pumpkins than posing for a photo.
We made it back to the car with no tantrums, tears or whining even though we'd said 'no' to the bouncy house and had only purchased two pumpkins. Hooray for happy kids and happy parents! I think that getting there after the heat of the day definitely worked in our favor.

Do it yourself:

The patch is open to the public for two more weekends. Go to the Aloun Farms website for all the details.

Waikiki Aquarium

Last week we met up with relatives who were on island and went to the aquarium. Our boy went there with Grandma last summer but I hadn't been in years and my husband and our girl had never been. Our boy wanted to see an octopus so that is what he was on the lookout for. This picture is a bit blurry but you can see that Mr. (or maybe Mrs.) Octopus cooperated beautifully and was waiting right up against the glass for us. When we passed by the tank later and could only see one of its legs sticking out of a hole in the rocks I realized just how lucky we'd been our first time by!
We got an audio guide at the entrance. I wouldn't have paid for one but they were free and we put it to good use. My boy actually listened to a couple of the descriptions of things and then my girl used it as a phone and chatted her way through the aquarium.
The aquarium is fairly small but makes up for its quantity with its quality. Lots of variety of sea life (my favorites were the different jelly fish they had), nice clean aquariums, great signs and labels on things - very well done.
After seeing the sights inside we went out to see the tide pool tank they have. We also saw the biggest and healthiest looking monk seals I've ever seen.

Do it yourself:
If you want more info., including directions and admission prices, visit the Waikiki Aquarium Website.

Ducks & Shave Ice

My boy decided he wanted to go feed ducks, so off we went one day this week to do just that. I decided to head to the canal in Kailua because there are always ducks there. We parked and walked to the edge of the canal and...no ducks. Not a single duck in sight. I decided to hang out there a few minutes and maybe ducks would show up. No ducks.

So we decided to leave and head to a different part of the canal and just as we turned to leave I spotted four white ducks across the canal, waddling down to the water's edge to swim over to us. My boy eagerly rushed to feed them and they eagerly headed toward the food. They were a little too eager actually and in this picture my boy has just jerked his hand away from a duck who nibbled on his thumb by mistake.
After that it was pretty difficult to get a picture of either of my kids feeding the ducks because they stood right next to me for protection from the ducks, which continued to appear from all directions.
All too soon we'd exhausted our supply of food for the ducks. We filled our empty sack with some trash from the edge of the canal (trying to leave the spot better than we found it) and headed to Island Snow for some shave ice. Yum! Their li hing mui flavor is the best I've had on the island and their keiki cups are not only a great serving size for a child but they actually come in cups - genius! So much easier for my boy to eat than when the ice is piled high above a tiny paper cone and half of it ends up on the sidewalk.

Makapu'u Tide Pools

We've hiked/walked up to the Makapu'u lighthouse a bunch of times but this was our first trip to the tide pools. I wasn't sure it was a kid-friendly hike, but friends who had done it before with their children were going so we figured it must be doable and we joined them. There's a low-lying trail that goes along the water to the tide pools but it was high tide and the ocean was pretty rough so we started out up the paved trail to the lighthouse.

Things took a turn for the worse when, still within sight of the parking lot, our boy decided he could not hike another step. He insisted he had to be carried. No way little buddy, sorry. You can do this! (Insert temper tantrum here.) Finally after a little time out on the side of the trail to consider his options (hike or home) he decided he could make it up the road after all.

About halfway to the lighthouse we turned off to go down to the tide pools. The mountainside is steep enough that you can't really see much of the trail from the top but you can see the tide pools and blowholes.

We made our way down the trail and arrived at the blowholes. They were really active and it was fun to watch them and listen to them.

Part of our group decided to take a swim in the biggest of the tide pools.

I was glad my husband and son hadn't gotten in yet when a big wave came and made the idyllic tide pool look like this:

Besides watching the blowholes I also really enjoyed watching the waves crash on the rocky shelf. Their power and beauty can't be fully captured in a picture.

It was overcast but even without the sun the turquoise color in the waves was really beautiful.

After enjoying the tide pool area we turned around and hiked back up the rocky mountain. Thankfully there were little dots and arrows painted into the rocks here and there to help us stay on the switchback trail.

Our little boy who could barely make it out of the parking lot earlier in the afternoon went all the way up this steep, rocky hill on his own without a word of complaint. I was glad he was in long pants for the hike. It made it easier for him to scramble over the rocks without getting his legs all scratched up. No pictures of our girl but she was on the hike too, happily riding in the backpack carrier eating her Cheerios.

Do it yourself:

• Take the usual: sunscreen, water, snacks and a cell phone. I'd also recommend good walking/hiking shoes.

• Check the surf report/tides before you go: 596-7873

• The turn-off to go down to the tide pool area is right by the sign about whales about halfway up to the lighthouse.

• I can't recommend this trail for all children but I can say that it isn't as steep while you're on the trail as it looks from above. Give it a try but turn around if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable with it.

• Respect the power of the ocean and the unpredictability of the waves and please don't get swept out to sea.
• Also on Oahu Mom: Shoreline Hike to Makapu'u Tidepools