Alaho Aulani!

Well, for the past three years, we have kicked off the New Year with our annual Disney Cruise adventure. This year; however, we took a slight departure from the norm, and decided to try one of the many on-land Disney resorts instead. Since the kids are still trying to catch up to Mom and Dad and check off all 50 states, the obvious choice for our winter getaway was a trip to our Disney time-share in Hawaii--Aulani. 

After checking out the many different flight options from Bismarck to Honolulu, we decided to go with (of course) the cheapest option--Allegiant Air--to get to our travel destination.  Consequently, we had to make a stop-over in Las Vegas on our way further west.  Though Vegas isn't my favorite city in the world, we made the most of the night.  The kids picked out Excalibur--the castle--to stay in, and we all got tickets to the Donny and Marie show.  It was an exciting evening, and served it's purpose well--that is to say, it kept the kids up half the night so that they all slept like babies on the six-hour flight the next morning.

When we all finally woke up, Pearl Harbor was coming into view and our four happy little children prepared to step foot on the beautiful Hawaiian Islands--and state number 49 in their travel log books!

Within a half an hour of being on the ground, Grandma and Grandpa McArthur also landed in Hawaii, and our eight-day adventure together kicked off with a bang. We picked up our rental car, made our way to the Disney Resort and Spa, and drank in the Disney VIP magic Hawaiian-style.  And I'll tell you what, there's nothing like a candle-lit dinner on a warm Hawaiian night when back home it is -20 degrees! Aloha Aulani!

 

Day 2 in Hawaii: We decided to so something that rarely happens on a Hoskins' family vacation--relax!  We hit Aulani's private beach and water park, complete with a private snorkeling reef and acre after acre of lush landscape.

(Note to self: these pineapple drinks were worth every penny!  NOT!)

 

Day 3 in Hawaii: Since it was Sunday, we attended a Honolulu branch, then made our way to a free outdoor venues we thought most conducive to the Sabbath day.  Our first stop was the World War II Memorial.

Then we drove over to the Rain forest and took a several hour hike up to Manoa Falls.

 

When we got back to the resort we made a light dinner and then spent the evening listening to an Aulani storyteller down by the ocean front.

 

Day 4 in Hawaii: Can we say tourist trap central?!  Oh well, we knew what we were getting into when we signed up for both the Dole Pineapple Plantation Tour, 

 

as well as the VIP family tour package at the Polynesian Cultural Center.  Dole was everything you would expect it to be; however, the PCC turned out to be above and beyond what we could have hoped for.  We signed up for a private family guide, and that made all the difference.  We got escorted around everywhere, got front row seats to every show, and had starring guest roles in all the productions.  Plus we got lay-ed over and over again!!  What more could you ask for!

 

 

Day 5 in Hawaii:  After a full day of touring, it was time for another

 day back at the pool, the beach, and Aulani's Rainbow Reef.

 

 

Day 6 in Hawaii:  Character dining at the resort, family photos, Pearl Harbor, and a trip to Turtle Bay and the North Shore. 

  

(BYU Hawaii)

(The Laie Hawaii Temple--Nick and I did temple work while Grandma and Grandpa took the kids pack to the PCC for a few hours.)

Day 7 in Hawaii: Souvey shopping in Waikiki, a trip to Leonard's Bakery for malasada puffs, swimming at Sandy Beach Park on the east side of the island, a dolphin and whale watching tour, and Aulani's own Hawaiian Luau to cap off the day.

  

Day 8 in Hawaii:  Yep, you guessed it, back to the pool and beach on site, one last time! Then a bit of shopping, dinner downtown, and one last sunset walk on Waikiki.

 

Day 9: Depart Hawaii and head back to the North Pole!!  

Happy New Year Everyone!  Aloha Aulani!