Skiing off the Bucket List

Hubby crossed off another Hawaii Bucket List adventure. This one involved Son1. Can you guess?

He has been dying to take Son1 jet skiing. I put my foot down when he was about two years old. He was too young! I was a teeny bit nervous now two years later, but Hubby and the company owner were confident Son1 would be fine. Ahh I am easily convinced!

We wrangled up our family and drove to Haleiwa Harbor. We drove across the historic twin span Rainbow Bridge, the entrance to the north end of Haleiwa. What do you know, I captured a rainbow over Rainbow Bridge. Can you see it on the right, in the clouds?We arrived and told Son1 Daddy had a surprise for him. We parked in the boat harbor. He was not impressed. Where was the beach? He wanted the beach!We explained he was headed for the open ocean on a jet ski. He just listened. He was nervous! When the time came to jump on with his daddy, he made a quiet little walk up the boat ramp toward me. I quietly walked him right back down! I assured him he would love it! He jumped on with his daddy, and with great trust, he was off! Meanwhile, Son2 and I walked the short boat dock over and over. I walked and he strolled. At one end we gazed into Haleiwa Beach Park. We turned around and walked back up the docks along the boat slips. We spied many crabs hiding in pukas (Hawaiian word for hole, no one says hole here).
Small fish swam along the boat slips. He peered down and watched them closely.Son2 and I enjoyed our quiet alone time, taking in our surroundings. An engine rumbled somewhere in the distance. A half an hour later we cheered when the big boys appeared in the harbor.
Son1 LOVED the jet ski! They got up to good speeds, and they even spotted two huge Hawaiian green turtles in the middle of the ocean. Son1 made me all giggly with his turtle impersonation.
Do you just love the shower the jet ski company offers? Aahh the spa treatment!

After the jet ski adventure we were starved. Now you can imagine where we landed our little selves. Think teriyaki cheese fries and half pound burgers with whole avocados and spongy buns. Oh yeah, uh huh, we were not going to pass up a Grass Skirt Grill dinner! We ordered dinner to go, and swung by McDonald's (yes, in a town of three thousand) for a chocolate milk shake for the kids. Their fries and chicken strips came from Grass Skirt Grill, though.

We looped back to the north entrance to Haleiwa, and pulled into Ali'i Beach park. We found picnic tables under a stunning tree. We planned to eat dinner at the park, and then catch the sunset on the beach. Ali'i Beach is also known as the Royal Beach. Many scenes from Baywatch Hawaii were filmed here, and this is also home to many surf competitions.
The sun started to set, and it was obvious dinner was all we could manage. So Hubs caught the sunset behind my absolute admiration for my burger. Aaahh this was romance. NO I did NOT throw away the bun like Dr. South Beach suggests. And you know every time we dine on Grass Skirt I must share pictures with you.

Son2 was incredibly content with dinner. He is just like his parents! He loves a great meal!
But after awhile he took in the expanse of the near empty park and insisted on tumbling and running with his brother. They ran and chased until it was time to go. Son1 willingly climbed into the car. Now his brother was a different story. His daddy tackled him and did that munchkin laugh at the thought of a possible escape! But for the time being, his daddy and I are bigger than him!