Hawaii highlights

 Beach time! 

We went to the beach about a dozen times during our almost three week stay on Oahu. At first, I found the beaches with the calmest waters for Leo and I to swim in. Leo much preferred digging in the sand to touching any water, so we started going to the beaches with the biggest waves to watch them crash and watched a lot of surfing. Apparently, winter on the north shore of Oahu has some of the best surfing waves in the world. 

 Leo got resourceful and found a coconut to use as a shovel.

Leo's favorite beach was right by Honolulu's airport. The reef runway heads out on top of the water.

This is Sandy Beach where President Obama likes to body board. We didn't see him the day we went although he was on the island. The waves were pretty wild - go Mr. President!

Lion made it to the beach, too. This is Lanikai Beach, often voted one of the most beautiful in the world.

We met up with my high school friend, Diana. Her husband is in the Army and her family is stationed on the island. She was our tour guide and introduced us to the best shrimp bus on the north shore. Thanks Diana!

Her youngest daughter and Leo hit it off.

We stayed at Pearl Harbor base which is connected to Hickham Air Station. That is where the president and family fly into and we drove past their ride just about every day. This was the best picture I could manage!

We did some touristy things like go to the Dole Plantation to ride the Pineapple Express. Leo had fun on the train and we both felt a little ridiculous in the giant pineapple.

We walked and shopped in Waikiki. 

Leo liked the Ferrari store.

Leo was a great dinner date on the trip. This was our favorite restaurant. It was right on the water and had some of the freshest and best fish I've ever had.

We had some fun in Hawaii and certainly enjoyed the great weather and beaches. We are pretty happy, though, to be together with Nathan and Wilson and back to our regular life here in Japan.