Oahu Brotha's Ball!!!!!!!!
So we have hinted a couple times that we would be taking a trip at the end of summer and we finally got it all mapped out! Waikiki Beach on the island of Oahu, Hawaii!!!!!! We were brainstorming ideas of locations for the next Brotha's ball (aka. a family trip with Brad's brother Eric, his wife Jenn and our niece Audrey) and I believe Eric mentioned Hawaii, we all jumped on board of course- who wouldn't want the hard decision of pool or beach!?! This is the largest post I have ever done and the videos are also posted to our YouTube Channel. Jenn also did an amazing post on our trip for their blog and you can see it here. So grab a beverage, snack and make sure you are ready for loads of pictures as we explore the Oahu Brotha's Ball. :)
Jenn and I did most of the planning. The Brotha's had their input in things that were a must for them as well. After careful research, modifications, mapping, re-mapping, review reading and Groupon/Living Social hunting....BAM! it all came together.
We planned 8 days in Oahu with the majority of our time being at our Condo on the Waikiki beach. We were very careful not to over-book our time and come home still needing a vacation.
Day 1 for us was leaving Portland at 11am our time. Flying to LAX for a layover that allowed us to eat a meal in the airport before catching our final flight into Honolulu. We arrived in Hawaii at 7pm Hawaii time (10pm Portland time, aka Bed time ;)). We took our shuttle to the Condo, hauled all our luggage up to our room, checked out the room and scenery and said a quick hello to Jenn (Eric and Audrey had already passed out seeing how it was 11pm Colorado time). These Oregon Neeleys then claimed our beds and passed out for the evening!
Day 2 was a day to explore the beach and our surrounding hotel area. We were all up nice and early being that we were still adjusting to the time change. Brad was up at 5am and went up to the Colorado Neeley's room for what he thought was breakfast, turned into a walk to see an amazing sunrise.
The rest of us woke about 6am and were ready to hit the beach by 8am! The kids were so excited to get to play on the beach and in the water. The water was a bit chillier than what I thought it would be, but the kids did not mind one bit and once the sun was awake a little more, it really did feel quite good.
We grabbed some lunch and then had to almost run down the beach to catch our afternoon Catamaran ride we had booked! We were all excited to get out on the ocean and take in the views. It was a gorgeous day! Brylee fell asleep (as did Audrey) as we raced to the boat and then slept through the first half of the boat ride. The ocean was a little rough that day and Jenn and I began to feel it shortly after the boat left the beach. The captain and first mate were great! I did my best to focus on the horizon and not the constant up and down of the boat, but when we took the turn to head back to shore, I lost it (literally, lost my lunch in a bucket). :( Jenn also felt super sick and just stayed in a constant state of nauseousness. I do have to say that the views were amazing! It was peaceful and only two things would have made it better- not getting sick and seeing some dolphins. Brayden says he saw one, but I am a bit skeptical of that.
We made it back to shore, had a nice dinner and caught the fireworks from the balcony of the Colorado Neeley's room. Our condo building was right next door to the Hilton Hawaiian Village and every Friday night they do a fireworks show.
Day 3 was a beach day. The kids decided on wanting to explore the Lagoon. Brad and I tried to get a little sunbathing in while they played in the sand and water. The boys were having a good time playing (and arguing) with Aunt Jenn and her pink air mattress. They also played with Brylee and Audrey with shovels and splashing. Uncle Eric took some underwater video with his camera and Brad filmed everyone playing with our camera.
I then hopped in with a group heading into the Hilton pool and we all got to enjoy their pool, slide and hot tub before heading back for lunch.
We spent some time exploring the Army Museum at the Hale Koa as well. Brock absolutely loved this place and then asked if he could get one or two of those tanks for his birthday!
Day 4 was our first adventure day when we used a rental car to visit Hanauma Bay and Diamond Head. We decided on Hanauma Bay first, since our research said that the parking lot is often full by lunch time. The weather was a little rough after we arrived with a good couple down pours of rain, but Brad, Eric and Jenn took in the snorkeling experience. I did not. If you know me, you know my issue with water and if you don't then let me just say snorkeling is not my thing. I was plenty happy hanging on the sand with the kids watching them dig a hole deeper than them (with help from Brad and Eric) and taking in the scenery. The sun did come out and actually this is the day we all got a little burnt. I did not reapply the sunscreen that well this day and each one of us Oregon Neeleys had a little red patch on our backs.
We took a break back at the condo and then headed back out in the early evening for our trek up Diamond Head. We made it so that we were one of the last ones to make the journey up before closing. The sun was setting and the wind was a nice greeting as we started our hike. The boys were amazing and walked the whole way up and back down. Brylee was passed back and forth between myself and Brad. We did make it though. We took the "old way" of 99 steps up to the top. The views were breathtaking! Really beautiful. We took picture after picture to take it all in.
We took the "new way" set of stairs back down the mountain and made it out just before closing. Brad and Eric had visited Diamond Head with their parents during a family vacation as children. So for them, it had memories of their trip to Oahu as well.
Day 5 was another adventure day. We planned Pearl Harbor for our morning festivities. Brad and Eric had also visited here as kids, but they have changed the Memorial a lot since that time. The Pearl Harbor Memorial received funding to add several new areas to the Historical exhibit. It really is amazing to see and hear stories. It was wonderful to finally put "real life" images in my head versus the movie or other video clips I have seen.
The Brotha's then got in a little fun, by going Parasailing! It was just the two of them, so I don't have any pictures of that but Eric did take a video of their time and you can see it here.
Day 6 we took a break from the running around and played at the pool and beach. We got to relax all day and then head to a Luau in the evening. The food was so so, but the dancing and festivities we all took part in and ended up getting most of us up on stage at some point in the evening!
Day 7 was our farthest exploration. We headed up to the North Shore. We had planned on everyone going, but due to a nasty little car incident with Enterprise car rental in our previous days, Eric and Jenn decided to opt out of renting another car and just spent the day at the pool.
For Brad and I, we were super excited to visit some locations of one of our favorite shows LOST. ;) We hit up the Camp Yerdman YMCA first and visited the LOST village filming location. It really did feel like we were walking into the "Others" camp! Super COOL!
We also made a stop to see the beach locations for the filming of where the airplane had crashed on the beach. The props are gone now, but still so awesome to see where everything took place. The drive up there was gorgeous too!
We ended our time up North by visiting Turtle Beach. It is famous for seeing loads of Sea Turtles just lining the shoreline. It was one of our favorite parts of the trip! I LOVE Sea Turtles!!!
Day 8 was our final day. We relaxed, spent time at the beach for our last day, gathered souvenirs and gifts and packed up for the journey home.
It was such an AMAZING time!!! I cannot stress how perfect it was to take a break from the craziness that the days bring and just relax. We had just the right amount of "sight-seeing" with our beach/pool (aka relaxation) days. We love seeing new places with our favorite traveling partners, the Colorado Neeleys. The kids all had a great time together. Brylee picked up on a couple of Audreyisms and hopefully, Audrey did not pick up on any Bryleeisms. ;) We cannot wait for our next Brotha's Ball, or another trip to the great state of Hawaii!
MAHALO!!!!
P.S. If you have not gotten your fill of pictures... here are some outtakes/bloopers. :)
Jenn and I did most of the planning. The Brotha's had their input in things that were a must for them as well. After careful research, modifications, mapping, re-mapping, review reading and Groupon/Living Social hunting....BAM! it all came together.
We planned 8 days in Oahu with the majority of our time being at our Condo on the Waikiki beach. We were very careful not to over-book our time and come home still needing a vacation.
Day 1 for us was leaving Portland at 11am our time. Flying to LAX for a layover that allowed us to eat a meal in the airport before catching our final flight into Honolulu. We arrived in Hawaii at 7pm Hawaii time (10pm Portland time, aka Bed time ;)). We took our shuttle to the Condo, hauled all our luggage up to our room, checked out the room and scenery and said a quick hello to Jenn (Eric and Audrey had already passed out seeing how it was 11pm Colorado time). These Oregon Neeleys then claimed our beds and passed out for the evening!
Day 2 was a day to explore the beach and our surrounding hotel area. We were all up nice and early being that we were still adjusting to the time change. Brad was up at 5am and went up to the Colorado Neeley's room for what he thought was breakfast, turned into a walk to see an amazing sunrise.
The rest of us woke about 6am and were ready to hit the beach by 8am! The kids were so excited to get to play on the beach and in the water. The water was a bit chillier than what I thought it would be, but the kids did not mind one bit and once the sun was awake a little more, it really did feel quite good.
We grabbed some lunch and then had to almost run down the beach to catch our afternoon Catamaran ride we had booked! We were all excited to get out on the ocean and take in the views. It was a gorgeous day! Brylee fell asleep (as did Audrey) as we raced to the boat and then slept through the first half of the boat ride. The ocean was a little rough that day and Jenn and I began to feel it shortly after the boat left the beach. The captain and first mate were great! I did my best to focus on the horizon and not the constant up and down of the boat, but when we took the turn to head back to shore, I lost it (literally, lost my lunch in a bucket). :( Jenn also felt super sick and just stayed in a constant state of nauseousness. I do have to say that the views were amazing! It was peaceful and only two things would have made it better- not getting sick and seeing some dolphins. Brayden says he saw one, but I am a bit skeptical of that.
We made it back to shore, had a nice dinner and caught the fireworks from the balcony of the Colorado Neeley's room. Our condo building was right next door to the Hilton Hawaiian Village and every Friday night they do a fireworks show.
Day 3 was a beach day. The kids decided on wanting to explore the Lagoon. Brad and I tried to get a little sunbathing in while they played in the sand and water. The boys were having a good time playing (and arguing) with Aunt Jenn and her pink air mattress. They also played with Brylee and Audrey with shovels and splashing. Uncle Eric took some underwater video with his camera and Brad filmed everyone playing with our camera.
I then hopped in with a group heading into the Hilton pool and we all got to enjoy their pool, slide and hot tub before heading back for lunch.
We spent some time exploring the Army Museum at the Hale Koa as well. Brock absolutely loved this place and then asked if he could get one or two of those tanks for his birthday!
Day 4 was our first adventure day when we used a rental car to visit Hanauma Bay and Diamond Head. We decided on Hanauma Bay first, since our research said that the parking lot is often full by lunch time. The weather was a little rough after we arrived with a good couple down pours of rain, but Brad, Eric and Jenn took in the snorkeling experience. I did not. If you know me, you know my issue with water and if you don't then let me just say snorkeling is not my thing. I was plenty happy hanging on the sand with the kids watching them dig a hole deeper than them (with help from Brad and Eric) and taking in the scenery. The sun did come out and actually this is the day we all got a little burnt. I did not reapply the sunscreen that well this day and each one of us Oregon Neeleys had a little red patch on our backs.
We took a break back at the condo and then headed back out in the early evening for our trek up Diamond Head. We made it so that we were one of the last ones to make the journey up before closing. The sun was setting and the wind was a nice greeting as we started our hike. The boys were amazing and walked the whole way up and back down. Brylee was passed back and forth between myself and Brad. We did make it though. We took the "old way" of 99 steps up to the top. The views were breathtaking! Really beautiful. We took picture after picture to take it all in.
We took the "new way" set of stairs back down the mountain and made it out just before closing. Brad and Eric had visited Diamond Head with their parents during a family vacation as children. So for them, it had memories of their trip to Oahu as well.
Day 5 was another adventure day. We planned Pearl Harbor for our morning festivities. Brad and Eric had also visited here as kids, but they have changed the Memorial a lot since that time. The Pearl Harbor Memorial received funding to add several new areas to the Historical exhibit. It really is amazing to see and hear stories. It was wonderful to finally put "real life" images in my head versus the movie or other video clips I have seen.
The Brotha's then got in a little fun, by going Parasailing! It was just the two of them, so I don't have any pictures of that but Eric did take a video of their time and you can see it here.
Day 6 we took a break from the running around and played at the pool and beach. We got to relax all day and then head to a Luau in the evening. The food was so so, but the dancing and festivities we all took part in and ended up getting most of us up on stage at some point in the evening!
Day 7 was our farthest exploration. We headed up to the North Shore. We had planned on everyone going, but due to a nasty little car incident with Enterprise car rental in our previous days, Eric and Jenn decided to opt out of renting another car and just spent the day at the pool.
For Brad and I, we were super excited to visit some locations of one of our favorite shows LOST. ;) We hit up the Camp Yerdman YMCA first and visited the LOST village filming location. It really did feel like we were walking into the "Others" camp! Super COOL!
We also made a stop to see the beach locations for the filming of where the airplane had crashed on the beach. The props are gone now, but still so awesome to see where everything took place. The drive up there was gorgeous too!
We ended our time up North by visiting Turtle Beach. It is famous for seeing loads of Sea Turtles just lining the shoreline. It was one of our favorite parts of the trip! I LOVE Sea Turtles!!!
Day 8 was our final day. We relaxed, spent time at the beach for our last day, gathered souvenirs and gifts and packed up for the journey home.
It was such an AMAZING time!!! I cannot stress how perfect it was to take a break from the craziness that the days bring and just relax. We had just the right amount of "sight-seeing" with our beach/pool (aka relaxation) days. We love seeing new places with our favorite traveling partners, the Colorado Neeleys. The kids all had a great time together. Brylee picked up on a couple of Audreyisms and hopefully, Audrey did not pick up on any Bryleeisms. ;) We cannot wait for our next Brotha's Ball, or another trip to the great state of Hawaii!
MAHALO!!!!
P.S. If you have not gotten your fill of pictures... here are some outtakes/bloopers. :)
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Grandma Carol & Grandpa Brian