Hawaii: Day 2

We started off our day with a trip to the Laie Hawaii Temple... It was beautiful! We really enjoyed the experience...it's fun to see what is different...and what is the SAME no matter where we go in this great big world. After our session, we took a few pictures... we loved the view as you walk out of the temple. You can literally see all the way to the ocean. Beautiful!

While here on Oahu, we have stayed at the Turtle Bay Resort... it is just gorgeous! Only about a 10-15 minute drive from the temple and Polynesian Cultural Center...

When we bought our tickets for the "PCC" a few months ago, I had no idea that I was purchasing our tickets to be "rock stars." I thought a lot of people would buy the "Super Ambassador" tickets because it includes reserved seating for all the shows and a private tour guide...etc... but we were the ONLY ONES at the center today that had purchased these tickets. I think everyone was wondering who on earth we were...It was awesome and hilarious all in one! We even got to have a "part" in a ceremony on the "island of New Zealand." Dan played the part of a chief coming to visit the tribe. It was really amazing! I have now dubbed him the "Chief of the Land of Saratoga"...

Here is a guy who climbed a coconut tree...

Here is the "Chief" enjoying a shaved ice with our private tour guide...Alex from Guatemala...while watching the "parade of islands"...

The "parade of islands"...

Alex took this picture of us learning to "hula"... we are looking at each other like..."What?!"

Alex giving us a little history lesson in the school about the "Polynesian Triangle"... this is about the time my panic attack occured because I realized how far out in the middle of the ocean we are...

We attended the "luau" for dinner... front and center with our "rock star" tickets... Eating a purple roll...

Not often you watch your dinner get pulled out of a pit in front of you... delicious but a little gross if you really think about it...

This picture is for Courtney. I thought she looked like "Kanani"! She was so cute!

This picture is also in honor of Courtney! She is the one who usually pulls the hilarious faces in our family pictures on vacation! This was a pina colada smoothie! (Sorry Kenna... we couldn't bring one home to you!)

This is "Song" our waiter from South Korea! He was so cute and did such a great job! He just put in his mission papers and we promised to write to him!

What an amazing day... so many fun memories... tomorrow morning we will go to church and then head for the airport and a quick flight to the Big Island. We can't believe this vacation has just begun... we still have a full week left! Mahalo is our word of the day... Thank you Hawaii and all of our new best friends!