We got to the Big Island on a Wednesday and before long, it was everybody, into the pool! Jesse's floatie was some sort of unidentified sea
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLgKU56rz5WQvU85KhCTEPe8XSJM3JRPmBYwNQoFN0BI5hv9bKV0QLphGQfAyW-gknE_4njrrLrggV-axIYXHhr-FF1MSGWCUZmkxG_279Fq_js5C3s9xAs1L7Gh8adcxOl5m2jg/s320/IMG_0187.JPG)
creature, a cross between a seal and a dolphin, maybe? Regardless, we called it "Turtley" for the rest of the trip.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDlHZt7Gmteai0jO1hzumofeiaCMQOzW7RFkdkBaYwhO0_RylgqO6VJUEg3o0pO13O5K6K3BjIIvcLXLXtTR9AaT1bFX7cRLWk7TkA5E0Unpns3znHTq6RFgPeQ2l9349DelFOg/s320/IMG_0189.JPG)
Connor was also happy to get in the pool, though it was more decorative than athletic.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZGhO-wl0JQEiDmbX-LiuhI8F5YJHqtFLciSBVfSs4zWv8NyK8JdRmGeboGlc83VprQ-fK8ThyphenhyphenU18szh5M3HvCs8WIXalpz6FrvDbashJkyIPQJpY5vGaAtoNWnL-ujCNDsPSog/s320/IMG_0196.JPG)
...And for the grownups, there was a great poolside bar and a view of the sea!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMnIgRIQrrydj94PwEaNVzwh_nYGu4AO5xW4NU6hS2iJtK71woxeiIKLqGNPJ9zW1gmBPfZnJjjI0p5wc7ATD2a_m4pylnw7rKPvNO6jA6NQGeyR97BAmBI2-8cD8_RpEYD_1NSQ/s320/IMG_0197.JPG)
Rick looks like he belongs there, doesn't he?
It wasn't ALL slobbing around the pool. There were great views, too!
We couldn't very well just sit around soaking up all that sunshine, right? The second day, we took a trip up to the summit of Mauna Kea.
It's almost 14,000 ft above sea level, and home of several international observatories. It's just about the best place in the world to stargaze.
It's also a pretty nice place for watching the sun set into the clouds below.
As my friend Mardie said, "HAWAII PICTURE FAIL."
Just a couple more shots. It was completely worth braving the cold.
The next afternoon, the cousins arrived! YAY! Now the party was getting started. This is Michael, Connor, Jesse, Alex and Sam out by the Buddha statue at the nearby Hilton.
Ted and Theresa out at that poolside bar I was talking about. I think this was on Superbowl Sunday.
Good thing they had their Nintendo DS's. I don't know what they would have done otherwise.
Insert about a week of seaside, pool, beach, boat, surf, etc. pictures here.
Rick and I decided we HAD to go see the lava flowing from Kileauea, so we decided to take a Kalapana Cultural Tour. I'm not sure there was anything especially cultural about it, but it was pretty exciting getting up close and personal with the lava.
All in all, a great vacation and lots of memories of our time with family in Hawaii. Too many memories, and photos don't really do them justice. That's why we took VIDEO. Stay tuned.
![Posted by Picasa](http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif)