December 23-25, 2006: Christmas at Polihale

Wow! What an amazing Christmas this year!  Where do I start????

First, we had a trip to the hospital.  I woke up Saturday, stepped out on the lanai and glanced toward my car.  Stood there wondering (for about 3 seconds) why the black paint on my car rack was gone.  Ahhh, figured that out pretty fast.  Samantha had been out the day before all day and I was fast asleep when she came home.  So... guessed that my Christmas present involved the rack on the car.  What did that equal?  A Kayak of course!  Then here comes Samantha wandering out of her room in major pain.  She said she had been up most of the night as she had hurt herself.  Looked like a bad fracture to me.  Sammie (Friend from Manoa College on Oahu) had done a great job of applying ice so the swelling wasn't too bad.  So, as we're loading up for the emergency room I told her I knew the big secret.  Yes, she looked at me dumbfounded as I told her I knew what my Christmas present was and why and that she must have hurt herself manhandling it on the car, so fess up.  You guessed it!  Her remark was..."well, you don't know what kind, and it's the best!"  LOL.  The hospital took forever, but luckily it was just a bad sprain and gave her crutches and a brace for her leg to wear for 5 days.  She is doing better now.  Didn't stop her from riding the slip-n-slide.  Just had to be a little creative so it didn't get banged.  At first anyway, after that all bets were off. 

Rhian, Craig and Jeremy built this very kewl slip-n-slide SLASH Jacuzzi.  The hole at the bottom has bench seats and was VERY comfortable to sit in during the hot days.  What an amazing job they did.  This is their third annual slide and it made Christmas very special for a lot of visitors to their campsite.  We loved it!  Really, really, really, thank you for the great fun!  You are very special friends.

We stayed the night at Polihale with Craig, Rhian, and Jeremy, and then left on Sunday evening.  We wanted to get a good meal, cleanup and enjoy our beds for one night before we hit the other side of the island.  We woke up pretty early and after Samantha gave hot and cold hints of where my present was we were off to Anini beach.  This is the longest fringing reef in the Hawaiian islands and a great place to snorkel and kayak.  It's also the hangout of Sam's friend Patience and her family.  They are always so welcoming when we come out there.

 So, here are some pictures and videos.  Can't wait till next year.  Hana hou!

Click for Polihale Camping and Slip-n-Slide

Click for Anini Beach Kayaking

Opening Ceremonies

Dawn on the Slip-n-Slide

This video is of Sammie after she lost a bet with Craig.  Sammie is the horse.

Video of Samantha & Jeremy.  This was her punishment for loosing a bet.  Our team lost the Bocce Ball competition and she had to give Jeremy a ride down the slide.

Video of Rhian... the champ!