Jennifer Lambert

A Sacred Balance

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Hawaii Unit Study

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September 14, 2020 By Jennifer Lambert 2 Comments

We lived in Hawaii for three years. We loved it.

But we realized we were temporary, other, haoles in Paradise, and it wasn’t our land. Looking back, I realize there was so much more I could have learned, done, thought.

My girls were very young and I can make amends now as we learn about the history and culture of Hawaii. The kids don’t even remember it.

Our Travels Around Hawaii

  • Big Island Hawaii with Kids
  • Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
  • Maui with Kids
  • Oahu with Kids
  • Honolulu with Kids
  • North Shore with Kids
  • Kaneohe with Kids
  • Our Kaua’i Weekend
  • Our Ni’ihau Day Trip
  • Makahiki – Thanksgiving in Hawaii
  • Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

My son chose the place of his birth for our homeschool geography fair.

We still had a lot of Hawaiian items from when we lived there.

He was so happy to talk to people about his birth place!

Hawaiian history and culture is complicated. We watched the news and social media with trepidation as the National Guard moved in on protestors at Mauna Kea for the site location of the Thirty Meter Telescope. We agree with Native Hawaiians and feel love and aloha in our hearts for them and their land. Some books may seem offensive to people unfamiliar with Hawaii and colonialism that has affected these beautiful islands and people.

Book List:

  • Spell of Hawaii by A. Grove Day
  • A Hawaiian Reader by A. Grove Day and Carl Stroven
  • Unwritten Literature of Hawaii: The Sacred Songs of the Hula by Nathaniel Bright Emerson  
  • Hawaiian Antiquities: Moolelo Hawaii by David Malo
  • Kalaupapa: A Collective Memory by Anwei Skinsnes Law  
  • Light in the Crevice Never Seen by Haunani-Kay Trask
  • Kue: Thirty Years of Land Struggle in Hawaii by Haunani-Kay Trask
  • From a Native Daughter: Colonialism and Sovereignty in Hawaii by Haunani-Kay Trask  
  • Hawaii’s Story by Hawaii’s Queen by Liliuokalani
  • Princess Ka’iulani: Hope of a Nation, Heart of a People by Sharon Linnea
  • Waikiki: A History of Forgetting and Remembering by Gaye Chan and Andrea Feeser  
  • Shoal of Time: A History of the Hawaiian Islands by Gavan Daws 
  • And the View from the Shore: Literary Traditions of Hawai’i by Stephen H. Sumida
  • Lost Kingdom: Hawaii’s Last Queen, the Sugar Kings, and America’s First Imperial Venture by Julia Flynn Siler
  • Aloha Betrayed: Native Hawaiian Resistance to American Colonialism by Noenoe K. Silva
  • Captive Paradise: A History of Hawaii by James L. Haley  
  • The Colony: The Harrowing True Story of the Exiles of Molokai by John Tayman  
  • Blu’s Hanging by Lois-Ann Yamanaka 
  • Moloka’i series by Alan Brennert 
  • Honolulu by Alan Brennert  
  • Hawai’i One Summer by Maxine Hong Kingston  
  • Waimea Summer by John Dominis Holt 
  • Hawaii by James A. Michener
  • Unfamiliar Fishes by Sarah Vowell  
  • Blue Skin of the Sea by Graham Salisbury  
  • Ancient History of the Hawaiian People by Abraham Fornander
  • Hawaiian Mythology by Martha Warren Beckwith
  • The Legends and Myths of Hawaii by David Kalakaua 

Keiki (Kids) Books:

  • How the B-52 cockroach learned to fly by Lisa Matsumoto
  • Too Many Mangos by Tammy Paikai
  • Moon Mangoes by Lindy Shapiro
  • The Goodnight Gecko by Gill McBarnet
  • Beyond ‘Ohi’a Valley: Adventures in a Hawaiian Rainforest by Lisa Matsumoto
  • Aloha is… by Tammy Paikai
  • Good Night Hawaii by Adam Gamble
  • Hawaiian Ocean Lullaby by Beth Greenway
  • Hush Little Keiki by Kim Vukovich 
  • Where Are My Slippers? A Book of Colors, The Magic Ukulele, This Is My Piko, and others by Dr. Carolan
  • A is for Aloha by Stephanie Feeney and Eva Moravcik 
  • Hawai‘i is a Rainbow by Stephanie Feeney
  • Limu the Blue Turtle and His Hawaiian Garden by Kimo Armitage
  • The Musubi Man: Hawaiʻi’s Gingerbread Man by Sandi Takayama
  • Animals Sing Aloha by Vera Arita
  • Surfer of the Century by Ellie Crowe
  • Island Toes by Christin Lozano
  • Ohana Means Family by Ilima Loomis
  • Ordinary Ohana by Lee Cataluna
  • Grandpa’s Mixed Up Lū‘au by Tammy Paikai
  • Honey Girl: The Hawaiian Monk Seal by Jeanne Walker Harvey
  • Peekaboo the Poi Dog by Wendy Kunimitsu Haraguchi
  • Girl’s Day in Hawai’i with Yuki-chan by Tokie Ikeda Ching
  • Boy’s Day in Hawai’i With Yuki-chan and Grant 
  • Shave Ice in Hawaii, 1-2-3 Saimin in Hawaii, Slippers in Hawaii and others by BeachHouse Publishing
  • Tūtū Nēnē: The Hawaiian Mother Goose Rhymes by Debra Ryll
  • Pig-Boy: A Trickster Tale from Hawaiʻi by Gerald McDermott
  • Pono, The Garden Guardian by Dani Hickman
  • Pele and the Rivers of Fire by Michael Nordenstrom
  • Naupaka, Hina, Maui Hooks the Islands, and Pele Finds a Home by Gabrielle Ahuliʻi
  • Tammy Yee books

Activities:

  • watch Moana
  • watch Lilo and Stitch
  • watch Elvis in Hawaii movies: Blue Hawaii; Girls! Girls! Girls!; Paradise, Hawaiian Style
  • Attend a Hawaii Luau or make Hawaiian foods
  • Listen to Israel Kamakawiwoʻole music
  • Learn to play ukulele
  • Learn to surf
  • Make a lei with real or silk flowers, paper flowers, kukui nuts, or candy

Resources:

  • Craft Knife
  • Time 4 Learning
  • Ben and Me
  • Homeschool Helper Online
  • The Homeschool Mom
  • Adventures in Mommydom
  • Compass Rose Homeschool
  • The Island Below the Star by Homeschoolshare
  • Starlight Treasures
  • Hawaii for Kids video
  • Lilo and Stitch Movie Study
  • Moana Educational Resources
  • Moana Party
  • Volcano Resources

Hawaii is magic. It is paradise. We left a piece of our hearts in the Islands.

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PCS to Hawaii

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January 13, 2020 By Jennifer Lambert 12 Comments

It was a surprise call from my husband’s commander, asking me if I would rather go to Hawaii than to Altus, Oklahoma.

Um, yeah.

The year was 2007.

I didn’t have a smartphone.

I had just begun blogging, more as a scrapbook for our homeschooling journey.

I didn’t know what MySpace or Facebook even was.

Sometimes, I long to go back to a simpler time, before Pinterest and Instagram. Just to live a life of uncurated online perfection.

PCS to Hawaii Guide

My husband is active duty Air Force, so I assume Navy and Marines and Army might be a little different.

We flew from San Antonio, Texas, to LA for a short layover, to Honolulu, Hawaii. It was a long travel time.

I had an infant, toddler, young child, and a cat. It was pretty stressful.

We arrived in July and the air smelled like plumeria and the ocean.

PCSing Overseas

PCS= Permanent Change of Station. Relocating from one duty station to another.

What to Do First

Look for social media groups.

Facebook is a great way to connect with families who already live in the area you’re moving.

There are local groups for online yard sales, pet tips, jobs, hobbies, homeschooling, parenting, travel, shopping, meetups, hiking, and more!

Have a PCS fund.

It’s always wise to have some savings for PCS time. Pet costs, travel, meals, illness, surprises, and refreshments for the movers can soon deplete funds. We usually use our tax return that year.

Organize paperwork.

Organize all medical, school, and personal paperwork in a binder.

We have a big zipper binder with lots of pockets for passports, birth certificates, social security cards, pet vet reports, kids school reports, PCS forms.

Close accounts and cancel services.

Contact companies like utilities, cable or satellite TV, and cellular phone service to cancel. Most accounts require at least 30 days’ notice with PCS orders.

Request Your DLA (Dislocation Allowance).

Discuss with finance if you will be responsible to pay back any moving costs. Usually, the government credit card is used for airfare and hotel – and that will be covered with filing a travel voucher, but make sure it’s paid before you spend your DLA on new curtains or something! Anything above and beyond your daily allowances (per diem allotment), you will be held responsible.

Update insurance.

Contact and update auto and home insurance to make sure you have enough coverage or the right plan for the area you’re moving to. Some countries require extra policies.

Update financial info.

Update banking information with a travel alert and update the new address when you get it. When PCSing overseas, you have to open a local account to pay local bills.

Packing Out

We have huge yard sales and purge, purge, purge every time we PCS.

To avoid confusion and make it easier: schedule unaccompanied baggage, household goods, and temporary storage packing and pick-ups on different days.

Keep valuables and important documents with you at all times.

Household Goods

We opted not to put anything into storage, but I would go back and do that if I had known more. Everything fit ok, but we really didn’t need some items and I would have stored them for safety had I known.

It took several weeks for our goods to arrive. Our temp and HHG actually arrived at the same time.

They have “Aloha Furniture” for temporary use until the goods arrive. It was super helpful and convenient for us to get settled into a routine with beds, a kitchen table, and a dish/cookware pack.

TLA (Temporary Lodging Allowance)

Request a TLF (Temporary Lodging Facility) assignment as soon as you know the dates. Keep all travel receipts. Get on the base housing list ASAP.

Depending on availability of on-base lodging, there’s a chance you’ll be authorized for TLA, which can be extended up from 30 to 60 days.

We didn’t get into a TLF unit on base because it was all full during primetime PCS season.

They booked us up in the Hale Koa Hotel.

The Hale Koa is one of four Armed Forces Recreation Centers around the world run by the Army. AFRCs are resorts that were built for the military and are exclusively for use by military members, retirees, DoD civilians, and other authorized guests.

First time seeing the Pacific Ocean

Housing

Housing in Hawaii is smaller than most places. Property is premium. We lived on base. I don’t know how people can afford to live off base. Utilities were included and we only paid for cable TV/internet/phone. Apparently, utilities aren’t included anymore, as of 2013.

Our base house was pretty small for our growing family. We only qualified for a three bedroom because our girls were so young. Our toddler and infant shared a room.

Front of our Hickam AFB House
Back of our Hickam AFB House

BAH is very high. Sacrificing some living space or commute time in traffic, you might find something affordable off-base to your liking and pocket some BAH money with the VA loan while building some equity.

PCSing to Hawaii with Pets

The state of Hawaii is rabies-free. They like to keep it that way.

Pets may be quarantined up to 120 days.

Pets with uptodate vaccinations may be eligible for 30-day, 5-day, or direct release from the Honolulu International Airport, if requirements are met. See the Hawaii Animal Quarantine info page for more.

Even though we thought we followed the pet travel and moving checklist to a T for immediate release, we had to put our cat in the quarantine kennel for 30 days.

He was fine and we visited him and he seemed happy in his big outdoor private fenced in kennel.

Shipping a Personal Vehicle

Military members are authorized a shipment of 1 POV (Privately Owned Vehicle) at government expense.

We chose to sell our Sante Fe SUV before moving and purchase a Dodge minivan in Hawaii.

We didn’t know any better. I did worry about shipping a brand new vehicle and not having a car for six weeks. But, everything is more expensive in Hawaii because they’re islands.

Just like PCSing overseas anywhere, a POV must be cleaned and inspected before shipment. I recommend shipping the POV as early as you can so it’s ready for you as soon as possible after you arrive.

We only needed one car while we were in Hawaii. We lived on base where my husband worked and he walked or rode his bike everywhere. Occasionally, he needed the car for meetings or something, but it was usually fine for us.

Expenses and Shopping

The Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) is given to government employees stationed overseas (including Alaska and Hawaii) to offset the higher cost if living in those areas. The amount received ranges from $500 to $1500 per month and is determined by a number of factors like rank, years of service, and number of dependents. COLA is not taxed by the federal government, but it may be taxed by the state of Hawaii. My husband’s state of residence is Illinois, so we were not taxed.

I transferred my driver’s license to Hawaii since I am a nonworking spouse and don’t really have a state of residence. As a resident, I got Kama’aina discounts at some places we visited. Many tourist attractions offer great rates for military and Kama’aina and free kids tickets.

Since Hawaii are islands, we realized pretty quickly that if I saw something at the BX, commissary, or in a local store, I better snatch it up immediately because it wouldn’t be there next time.

The commissary ran out of sugar and Cool Whip during the holidays. Canned pumpkin was seasonal and only available during November.

Shopping in local grocery stores was very expensive. Everything is cheaper at the BX and commissary. Gas on base is cheapest.

There’s a big resale business. Lots of yard sales, swap meets, online sales.

We didn’t think about the things we might miss in Hawaii. There weren’t as many commercials stores and restaurants as there are now. No Chick Fil A or Target. I learned not to care so much and I shopped less often than I used to.

Shopping online has extra shipping charges. We learned to live without many things I wouldn’t purchased unless it was available locally.

Laws

The Honolulu City Council just passed a bill that allows the City to fine you if you are texting while walking across a street ($15-$99 fine).

Talking on a cell phone while driving is also against the law in Hawaii.

Everyone (including back seat passengers) must wear seatbelts.

Motorcycle helmets are optional (until you go on base) but advisable for safety.  

Hawaii is very strict on firearms. You have a short grace period upon arrival, which is 3 days.  You’ll need to register your firearms with the Honolulu Police Department. Take the unloaded firearm to the Firearms Division of HPD for inspection along with proper identification and proof of ownership. You will be fingerprinted ($16.50 fee) and photographed. Also, register with base security if living on base.

Culture

You’ll hear Aloha a lot. It’s hello, welcome, love, a way of life.

Mahalo means thank you.

While driving, people say “thanks” with the shaka sign which is the same as the ASL sign for play. Make sure to return it!

Traffic is awful. There’s only like two or three highways. We quickly learned to deal with it and when to go places.

Leave your shoes outside or by the door when you visit someone’s home. You’ll probably soon be living in flip-flops (“slippahs”) anyway.

On Oahu, there’s the windward side (east), the leeward side (west), town (Honolulu), Central (Pearl City, Mililani, and surrounding areas), and the North Shore. Mauka (mow-kah) means on the mountain side of the road in the context of directions. Makai (mah-kigh) means on the ocean side of the road in the context of directions.

Learn to make friends with geckos. They come in your house and eat the bugs and they’re noisy at night. Don’t go near the feral chickens. They’re mean and carry bugs. Avoid the humongous centipedes. Many people and pets go to the ER with centipede stings.

It never gets cold, but December is rainy season.

Hawaiian Christmas

We were sad to leave Hawaii. We PCSed from Hawaii to Utah with another baby, two preschoolers, an older daughter, and two cats. It was a pretty stressful and long flight.

We loved living in Hawaii for three years and wish we could’ve stayed longer.

We have some great memories and the kids long to return now that they’re older.

You might also like:

  • Homeschool Space in Hawaii Base Housing
  • The Best and Worst of Hickam AFB
  • Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
  • Honolulu with Kids
  • North Shore with Kids
  • Kaneohe with Kids
  • Oahu with Kids
  • Big Island Hawaii with Kids
  • Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
  • Maui with Kids
  • Kauai Weekend
  • Niihau Day Trip
  • Makahiki – Thanksgiving in Hawaii

More PCS Tips:

  • 5 Stages of Grief PCS
  • Preparing for a PCS
  • PCS with Kids
  • Third Culture Kids
  • Homeschooling during PCS
  • Homeschooling Where the Military Sends Us
  • Real Food Cooking During PCS
  • PCS OCONUS with a Vehicle
  • Chance of a Lifetime
  • When the Rhythm is Disrupted
  • PCS to Germany
  • PCS from Germany back to the States
  • How to Make Your Move Less Stressful
  • Military Life Stress
  • 5 Things I Learned during PCS
  • My Kitchen Essentials
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Oahu with Kids

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August 14, 2017 By Jennifer Lambert 4 Comments

We lived on O’ahu for three years. Living in Hawai’i isn’t the same as a vacation there. But every single day, there’s a rainbow!

My husband was stationed at Hickam AFB. We lived on base. It was mostly magical. The kids still call it home and we all long to go back.

The thing about living in paradise is that you’re living in paradise. It’s not a vacation every day. Dishes and laundry still have to get done. We homeschooled. Everything is expensive. Gas and food prices are high. Traffic is terrible. You have to watch out for centipedes.

But you can go to the beach whenever you want. There are lots of lovely parks and gardens and hiking opportunities. Those are FREE!

O’ahu is a great place for families!

Be sure to check out:
Hawaii Activities
Non-profit Sustainable Tours
Reef Safe Advocacy

Attractions in Kaneohe

The Windward Coast is a tropical paradise.

  • Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden
  • Bellows Air Force Station
  • Sea Life Park
  • Hanauma Bay
  • Kualoa Ranch – Lots of movies and shows filmed there like Jurassic Park, Pearl Harbor, Lost, and Hawaii Five-O. There are ATV tours.
  • Kane’one Sandbar

North Shore Attractions

The beaches on the North Shore are best for families to visit during summer months. The waves get huge mid-November through March and host the famous Triple Crown of Surfing Championships.

There’s TONS to do on the North Shore of Oahu!

  • Matsumoto’s Shave Ice
  • Shrimp Trucks
  • Ted’s Bakery
  • Haleiwa Joe’s
  • Uncle Bo’s
  • Ray’s Chicken
  • Art Galleries
  • Surf Shops
  • Puu O Mahaka State Monument
  • Waimea Beach and Falls
  • Turtle Beach
  • Sharks Cove

Honolulu Attractions

Honolulu is the Hawaii state capital and of course, there are lots of fun things to do in the big city!

  • Honolulu Zoo
  • Waikiki Aquarium
  • Discovery Center Children’s Museum
  • Pearl Harbor
  • Pacific Aviation Museum
  • Diamond Head
  • Ko’olina
  • Bishop Museum
  • Friday Night Fireworks on Waikiki Beach (FREE)
  • Lili’uokalani Botanical Garden (FREE)

We loved living on Oahu for three years, exploring most of what the island had to offer. Some things we didn’t get to see or do since we had very little children. We’d love to go back!

We also traveled to Mau’i, Kaua’i, Ni’ihau, and The Big Island.

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Honolulu with Kids

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August 9, 2017 By Jennifer Lambert 32 Comments

Attractions in Honolulu, Hawai’i for families are plenty!

Honolulu is the Hawaii state capital and of course, there are lots of fun things to do in the big city!

  • Honolulu Zoo
  • Waikiki Aquarium
  • Discovery Center Children’s Museum
  • Pearl Harbor
  • Pacific Aviation Museum
  • Diamond Head
  • Ko’olina
  • Bishop Museum
  • Friday Night Fireworks on Waikiki Beach (FREE)
  • Lili’uokalani Botanical Garden (FREE)

Be sure to check out:
Hawaii Activities
Non-profit Sustainable Tours
Reef Safe Advocacy

Honolulu Zoo

This is a nice zoo with mammal, birds, and reptiles. There are also lovely gardens to enjoy.

There’s a great children’s area with a petting zoo and playground.

We loved the exhibits you can climb inside for closer looks!

General Admission
$14.00 – Adult 13+
$6.00 – Children 3-12 yrs.

Kama’aina/U.S. military*
$8.00 – Adult 13+
$4.00 – Children 3-12 yrs.
* I.D. required for kama’aina/U.S. military rates.
FREE – Children 2 and under

Waikiki Aquarium

A lovely Hawaiian aquarium with coral life, monk seals, aquaculture, seahorses, and jellyfish.

We loved viewing the shallow aquariums and experiencing the touch pools.

General Admission
$12.00 – Adult 13+
$5.00 – Children 4-12 yrs.

Kama’aina/U.S. military*
$8.00 – Adult 13+
* I.D. required for kama’aina/U.S. military rates.
FREE – Children 3 and under

Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center

A fun children’s museum featuring the temporary special exhibits and permanent exhibits like the human body, busy town, world cultures, farming, rainforest, and Hawaiian habitats.

General Admission
$12.00

Kama’aina/U.S. military*
$10.00
* I.D. required for kama’aina/U.S. military rates.
FREE – Children under 1 

Friday Night Fireworks in Waikiki!

Every Friday night around 8 PM, Hawaiian Hilton Village sets off a fireworks show – and it’s FREE! It’s great to plan a picnic, watch the sunset, and then view the fireworks!

Lili’uokalani Botanical Garden

Portions of this garden were once the property and favorite picnic grounds of Queen Lili`uokalani, the last reigning monarch of Hawaii.  She later donated her land to the City and County of Honolulu to be used for the public’s enjoyment.  This developing garden is devoted to native Hawaiian plants. It’s FREE!

Diamond Head

This is a great hike with gorgeous views!

$5.00 per car or $1 per person for pedestrians. CASH ONLY. NO PETS.

The 0.8 mile hike from trailhead to the summit is steep and strenuous, gaining 560 feet as it ascends from the crater floor. It was hard for us with little ones!

Pearl Harbor Historic Sites and Memorials

  • USS Arizona Memorial
  • Battleship Missouri Memorial
  • USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park

Kids have to be over 8 years old to go on tours, but most of the smaller memorials are accessible to military ID holders.

We took my parents on the private tour of the USS Arizona for military members and it was something we’ll never forget!

Pacific Aviation Museum

Over 70 years of Pacific aviation history. Full access to 50+ aircraft and all exhibits, including WWII Hangars 37 & 79, MiG Alley, historical videos, the Museum Store, Laniakea Café and the award winning Pearl Harbor documentary East Wind, Rain.

General Admission
Adult: $25
Child (Ages 4-12): $12
Kama’aina & Military Admission
Adults:  $15
Child(Ages 4-12):  $10
FREE – Children under 4

My daughter is a history buff and went to a Tuskegee Airman presentation and book signing.

Bishop Museum

Hawaiian cultural heritage and natural history, a planetarium and science museum.

We also loved the Farm Festival in July.

General Admission
Adult: $22.95
Child, ages 4-12: $14.95

Kama’aina/Military Admission
Adult: $14.95
Child: $10.95
FREE – Children under 3

Ko’olina

Kapolei has great quite lagoons and kid-friendly beaches. It’s just a short drive from Honolulu.

Whale watching is another great activity in this area. We saw honu, dolphins, a few spouts, and some fins.

Ko’Olina is a romantic location for couples to stay or dine or visit. The marina offers lots of options for fishing, snorkeling, and whale watching. Ko’Olina also has the Aulani Disney Spa and Resort now.

The area around Honolulu offers so much for families!

We loved living on Oahu for three years, exploring most of what the island had to offer. Some things we didn’t get to see or do since we had very little children. We’d love to go back!

We also traveled to Mau’i, Kaua’i, Ni’ihau, and The Big Island.

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North Shore with Kids

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August 2, 2017 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

North Shore Attractions

The beaches on the North Shore are best for families to visit during summer months. The waves get huge mid-November through March and host the famous Triple Crown of Surfing Championships.

There’s TONS to do on the North Shore of Oahu!

  • Matsumoto’s Shave Ice
  • Shrimp Trucks
  • Ted’s Bakery
  • Haleiwa Joe’s
  • Uncle Bo’s
  • Ray’s Chicken
  • Art Galleries
  • Surf Shops
  • Puʻu o Mahuka Heiau State Monument

Be sure to check out:
Hawaii Activities
Non-profit Sustainable Tours
Reef Safe Advocacy

There are several pretty and safe beach spots for kids!

We loved visiting new beaches year-round.

  • Waimea Beach and Nature Park
  • Turtle Beach – great for honu viewing!
  • Sharks Cove – great for snorkeling!

Polynesian Cultural Center

It’s an absolute tourist trap, but a must-do! We all loved it.

Kids receive a “Passport to Polynesia” booklet which includes:

  • Spaces to collect stamps from each island village to show they completed the games or activities
  • A schedule of the day’s activities geared toward the family experience
  • Space to write down the greetings for each island
  • A fun illustration and the name of each island’s games or activities to help the keiki remember it when they return home.

We learned about all the Polynesian Islands. Each island exhibit showcases games, dances, costumes, art, and more about that island’s culture.

  • Aotearoa (New Zealand)
  • Fiji
  • Hawaii
  • Rapa Nui
  • Samoa
  • Tahiti
  • Tonga

General Admission
Adult: $59.95
Child: $47.96
Under 4 FREE

Ali’i Luau and General Admission Package
Adult: $114.95
Child: $91.96
Under 4 FREE

The canoe parade showcasing each island with its representatives dancing in traditional dress was stunning.

We had great seats for the show.

We gorged ourselves at the Ali’i Luau Buffet & Dinner Show.

Dole Plantation

Originally operated as a fruit stand beginning in 1950, Dole Plantation opened to the public as Hawaii’s “Pineapple Experience” in 1989.

The Gardens are lovely. The Maze is fun. The Pineapple Express Train Tour is not to be missed!

Combo tickets for all three tours (best deal):
Adult 22.00
Child $18.00
Kama‘aina/Military $20.00

The North Shore of Oahu is a must-see!

We loved living on Oahu for three years, exploring most of what the island had to offer. Some things we didn’t get to see or do since we had very little children. We’d love to go back!

We also traveled to Mau’i, Kaua’i, Ni’ihau, and The Big Island.

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Kaneohe with Kids

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July 26, 2017 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

We lived in Hawai’i for three glorious years. We loved learning about the culture and history. We enjoyed the food and traveling all over the islands!

Attractions in Kaneohe: The Windward Coast

  • Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden
  • Bellows Air Force Station
  • Sea Life Park
  • Hanauma Bay
  • Kualoa Ranch – Lots of movies and shows filmed there like Jurassic Park, Pearl Harbor, Lost, and Hawaii Five-O. There are ATV tours.
  • Kane’one Sandbar

Be sure to check out:
Hawaii Activities
Non-profit Sustainable Tours
Reef Safe Advocacy

Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden

This was one of our favorite places!

Ducks and flowers are exciting.

Waimānalo Beach at Bellows AF Station

117 recreational lodging rentals: cabins, condos, camp cabins, campsites, and RV sites. Rent equipment or take classes at Turtle Cove.

We loved just going to pretty tree-lined beach. The surf sometimes got a little rough and the lifeguard would warn us about the children getting knocked over by the waves.

Sea Life Park

This is the ocean park shown in the movie 50 First Dates with Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore.

You can opt for encounters with dolphins, sharks, sea lions, rays, and more!

Admission
$39.99 (13 and older)
$24.99 (3-12 years)
FREE – Children under 2 

The Windward Coast near Kaneohe offers so much for families.

We loved living on Oahu for three years, exploring most of what the island had to offer. Some things we didn’t get to see or do since we had very little children. We’d love to go back!

We also traveled to Mau’i, Kaua’i, Ni’ihau, and The Big Island.



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The Best and Worst of Hickam AFB

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July 19, 2017 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

You either love Hawai’i or you don’t love Hawai’i.

I knew people who resented not having cooler weather or who didn’t like sand or beaches. What?!

We were surprised to get stationed there for three years.

Living in Hawai’i isn’t the same as a vacation there. But every single day, there’s a rainbow!

We lived on base. My son was born in Hawaii. We loved it and the kids still call it home. We long to go back!

I couldn’t limit my list to just 10 items!

Best of Hickam AFB

  1. Beaches

    All beaches are open to the public. We love the beach life!

  2. Festivals

    So many fun festivals, like the Merrie Monarch, SPAM, Makahiki, and The Lantern Festival. Hawaiians love to party!

  3. Weather

    It’s almost always gorgeous. Never cold and mostly sunny. Except December is a rainy month.

  4. Food

    If you love food, there is a plethora of it! It’s so, so good!

    Some of our favorites:

    Wailana Cafe for Macadamia Pancakes and the best coffee!
    Puka Dog
    Hale Koa Bar for the best mai tai!
    Ono Seafood
    Nico’s Pier 38
    Leonard’s Bakery
    Teddy’s Bigger Burgers
    Anna Miller
    Boston Pizza
    Zippy’s
    Wah Kung
    Nam Fong for the best Peking Duck!

  5. Culture

    Aloha culture is welcoming and joyous. We never felt discrimination for being white or haole. Aloha Fridays were the best – leave work early to get a start on the weekend!

  6. Activities

    Lots of fun, outdoorsy things to do: hiking, wildlife exploring, camping, beach activities, history, and culture.

Worst of Hickam AFB

  1. Traffic

    There are only 3 major highways on O’ahu. Traffic can be rough during rush hour times. We had to always plan accordingly or just suck it up.

  2. Centipedes

    These not so little critters get into everything. I once threw out a hamper when one crawled inside. I didn’t even play. They sting quite badly. Also, mosquitoes and other bugs are a nuisance since it’s always warm.

  3. Isolation

    People get island fever. The mainland is about 8 hours away by plane.

  4. No Autumn or Winter

    We didn’t mind this at all, but we knew some people who missed cooler weather. They complained that Christmas didn’t feel like Christmas. We made the most of it and had lots of fun with tacky decorations. December is the rainy season and our lanai turned green!

  5. Vog

    We always had the sniffles and were prone to respiratory infections due to the Vog. It’s the volcano fog floating over all the islands from The Big Island smoldering volcanoes. It was sometimes very hard to breathe and alerts would issued to stay indoors.

  6. Expensive

    There was no possibility of our living off-base. Housing is super expensive. Food in local grocery stores is super expensive. The commissary sometimes ran out of sugar and other staples during peak times, so we learned to stock up before the holidays instead of running out to a local store.

We lived on Hickam AFB on O’ahu for three years. It was a magical time and we have lots of great memories!
We traveled to Mau’i, Kaua’i, Ni’ihau, and The Big Island.

Be sure to check out:
Hawaii Activities
Non-profit Sustainable Tours
Reef Safe Advocacy

I love this helpful list of Facebook groups to join when PCSing to Hawaii!

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Our Ni’ihau Day Trip

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April 4, 2017 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

In March 2009, Aaron and I spent a 3-day weekend in Kaua’i.

The Hawaii ITT trip was an all-inclusive (plane, hotel, rental car, meals) and Ni’ihau helicopter tour!

I don’t remember it costing more than $500 for all of it. It was an amazing weekend, the two us, alone. We’ve never had a weekend alone, before or since.

The helicopter tour was about 30 minutes from Kaua’i to Ni’ihau. Then we had a couple hours to explore, ate a picnic lunch, and flew back to Kaua’i.

About Ni’ihau:

Keith Robinson and his brother, Bruce, own the approximately 70-square-mile island of Ni’ihau in the Hawaiian island chain, which has been in the private possession of their family since their great-great-grandmother, Elizabeth McHutchinson Sinclair (1800–92), purchased it from King Kamehameha V for US$10,000 in gold. He is also the manager of a private botanical garden on the Hawaiian island of Kauaʻi. Robinson makes his home on Kaua’i, but visits Ni’ihau at least once per week on average.

We flew in the helicopter from Kaua’i to Ni’ihau.

I’d never been in a helicopter before!

We zoomed all around the island…saw whales near the surface, the lovely Lehua Crater, and wild horses!

I love how all the Hawaiian islands have their own interesting and original landscape.

We landed and were given our instructions.

We had only a couple hours to explore. It was chilly and rainy.

As soon as we landed, I rushed over to see the beach!

The water was pretty chilly.

There were seals sunning themselves and a couple turtles bobbing in the waves.

We walked along the beach, exploring and gathering shells.

The shells on Ni’ihau are exquisite and the jewelry made with them are very expensive.

Common colors are ke‘oke‘o (white), ‘ākala (pink), lenalena (yellow), and ‘ōma‘oma‘o (green).  Shades of colors are often identified as ‘āhiehie (light) or ikaika (dark).  A few other terms include kahakaha (striped), ‘ōnikiniki (spotted), ‘āpu‘upu‘u (bumpy), and even waha ‘ula‘ula (red mouth).

We loved our time on the Forbidden Island of Ni’ihau!

Be sure to check out:
Hawaii Activities
Non-profit Sustainable Tours
Reef Safe Advocacy





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Our Kaua’i Weekend

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April 3, 2017 By Jennifer Lambert 24 Comments

In March 2009, Aaron and I spent a 3-day weekend in Kaua’i.

The Hawaii ITT trip was an all-inclusive (plane, hotel, rental car, meals) and Ni’ihau helicopter tour!

I don’t remember it costing more than $500 for all of it. It was an amazing weekend, the two us, alone. We’ve never had a weekend alone, before or since.

We stayed at the Kaua’i Hilton Beach Resort. It apparently is now an Aqua hotel and not a Hilton property.

We stopped at Fort Elisabeth to get a picture because our eldest daughter is named Elizabeth!

We enjoyed local beer at Brenneke’s Beach Broiler.

We stopped at Kaua’i Coffee Plantation and got a sample.

Chickens are everywhere! Some places, we were scared to get out of the car since they seemed ready to attack.

Monk seals are protected. In Hawaiian, they are known as Ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua, or “dog that runs in rough water.” You can see the rope on the sand to keep people from getting too close. It’s illegal to get closer than 50 yards to a monk seal or sea turtle.

Turtles were swimming near the rocky beach!

Another was sunning on the beach.

All sea turtles in Hawaii are protected by both State and Federal Law! It is illegal to kill, capture, touch or harass sea turtles. Fines can be as high as $25,000 and may include a year in prison.

There’s a place to pull over and park to view Spouting Horn, a rock and wave phenomenon that is quite lovely.

We enjoying seeing famous Wailua Falls!

Waimea Canyon was misty when we first got there, but then it cleared up for a picture!

We loved seeing Kaua’i. It was a special time without the kids!

Be sure to check out:
Hawaii Activities
Non-profit Sustainable Tours
Reef Safe Advocacy




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Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

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September 29, 2016 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

We visited the Big Island of Hawaii for Elizabeth’s 9th birthday in October 2009. I was pregnant with Alex at the time.

It’s a quick and cheap hop over from the island of Oahu on Hawaiian Airlines. We lived in Honolulu for three glorious years.

We actually stayed inside Volcanoes National Park.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is a very educational family trip with so many activities for everyone.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Family Trip

There are two campgrounds and lodge.

We stayed in an amazing 3 Bedroom Cottage with Kitchen & Jetted Tub at Kilauea Military Camp.

big-island-model

Here is where a newer lava flow meets an older lava flow.

old-and-new-lava-flows

On Steaming Bluff, overlooking the caldera.

overlooking-the-crater

Walking past Steam Vents. It was ethereal and made the forest look misty and magical.

hiking-the-trails

We loved seeing the vibrant and stunning flowers that grow nowhere else in the world!

red-flower
yellow-flower

Aaron and Liz walked along the Sulphur Banks Trail (Ha‘akulamanu). It’s 0.6 mile.

The warning signs said the odor could be hazardous to pregnancy, young children, or anyone with heart or breathing problems, so I took the younger girls to the visitor’s center to wait.

sulphur-path

Aaron also took the girls to view the Lava Tube. It was wet and slippery and dark, so I stayed behind for that one.

lava-tube

The rock formations inside the lava tube were very interesting.

lava-tube-rocks

As easy hike for kids is Crater Rim Trail to Waldron Ledge. It’s 1 mile.

crater-rim-trail-hike

There are some awesome views!

crater-rim-trail-view-of-caldera

Our last day, we hiked Devastation Trail. It’s 1 mile.

It is still revitalizing after being buried by cinders from the 1959 Kīlauea Iki fountain eruption.

sisters-on-devastation-trail
devastation-trail

The kids loved the Jagger Museum.

volcanoes-national-park-museum

Liz earned her Junior Ranger badge!

junior-ranger-badge

Be sure to check out:
Hawaii Activities
Non-profit Sustainable Tours
Reef Safe Advocacy

Areas of Study at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park:

Botany, Geology, Mythology, History, Ecology, Meteorology, Forestry!

Education Resources:

  • Volcanoes National Park Junior Ranger Program
  • Volcanoes National Park Teacher Curriculum Materials
  • Hawaiian Unit Study from Adventures in Mommydom
  • Hawaii State Study Notebooking Pages from The Notebooking Nook
  • State Study Pages Bundle from NotebookingPages
  • Volcano Unit Study from Stacy Sews and Schools
  • Volcanoes Lapbook and Unit Study from Homeschool Share
  • Volcanoes Mini Study from DIY Homeschooler
  • Volcanoes Unit Study AND Hawaii Unit Study from Homeschool Helper Online
  • Winterpromise Free Volcano Study
  • Hawaii Activities from Rose Garden Homeschool
  • Hawaii State Pack from Enchanted Homeschooling Mom
  • The Island Below the Star Literature Unit Study from Homeschool Share
  • Hawaii Unit Study from Craft Knife
  • Hawaii Printables from EdHelper
  • Enchanted Learning Hawaii Printables
  • DLTK Hawaiian Activities and Printables
  • Education.com Hawaii Resources
  • Hawaiian Activities from ChildFun
  • A to Z Kids Stuff Hawaii Facts and Fun
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