O'ahu, Hawaii

For Spring Break we flew to Honolulu, Hawaii and stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian Village on Oʻahu!

We've been to Hawaii once before (a different island though, Kauai), 14 years ago when Fox was 9 months old and somehow I've been blogging long enough that that entire vacation is documented starting HERE.

Let's gooooooo!

Our flight from Denver left around lunch time so we had a nice easy morning at home and drove out to the airport after saying goodbye to our furballs.

We took a nonstop flight on United to Honolulu which gave me 7 hours to stitch and listen to music. We'd been mentally preparing the kids for the long flight and helped them get excited for it by saying that when we drive to Utah it takes 8 hours and we're only in Utah, but when we fly for just 7 hours we're in HAWAII!!

Fox and Jane don't remember our long flights to and from Europe, so this was their first experience with airplane meals rather than just snacks. Verdict? Not too bad. This meal was a pineapple chicken and rice dish which actually ended up being tastier than some of the things we had on the island lol.

Goodbye mainland! Hello Hawaii!

The flight path took us west past the island and then we made a u-turn to land heading east. After we turned, I snapped this photo. I had no idea what I was looking at, I was just excited to see Hawaii! Only later as I was going through all our vacation photos did I realize this was actually the Disney Aulani resort I was seeing!

We landed about 3:30pm local time, which was 7:30pm in Denver. Not too bad. We weren't exhausted yet.

I took a picture of this store 14 years ago, too!

Fox and Jane take on Hawaii.

I had one goal for this trip (besides have fun with my family :) and that was to see a rainbow. It's the symbol of Hawaii!

Plus I'm planning to document this entire vacay in a rainbow sequin album so seeing a rainbow was a must!

After picking up our rental car, we found a local grocery store to stock up on the essentials. I think we ended up buying bottled water, white Monsters for Chris, Lay's potato chips, apples, and Chips Ahoy.

A rainbow! Check! We saw this as we drove from the airport/grocery store to our hotel in Waikiki.

For the past year or so, Chris and I have been watching the modern version of Hawaii 5-0. The Hilton Hawaiian Village features prominently in the show so we had to stay there.

Cool tree in the shopping area at the hotel complex.

Chris checked in on the app so we were able to go straight to our room and we were greeted with this stunning view! Wow!

Our home away from home in the Tapa Tower of the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

Jane took this picture of us soaking in the view on the balcony.

Waikiki Beach with Diamond Head in the background. I sat out on the balcony for hours just to see this pretty view and hear the lovely beach sounds.

The grounds around the hotel.

One of the pool areas. They filmed a lot of scenes in Hawaii 5-0 at this pool.

The Evanses in Waikiki on March 15th 2025.

It was so cool to finally be here. Chris and I booked this trip in August of last year and told the kids at Christmas.

Picture perfect.

Beautiful tropical flowers.

We were getting pretty tired by this point so we sat and ordered dinner at the restaurant at the base of our hotel tower. The pizza and burgers weren't too great, but we had fun tropical beverages! Smoothies for me and Jane and pineapple juice for Fox.

A family of baby ducks in one of the ponds on the grounds and two parrots in one of the palm trees.

We soon realized there were 2 families of baby ducks!

Koi ponds and turtles.

We went to sleep around 8pm Hawaii time and I woke up I think around 3am. I went out onto the balcony around 4am and marveled at it all.

Chris was also wide awake so we decided to go on a walk along the beach just the two of us.

After our walk it was still not even 6am but the kids were up too, so we went out into the dark for breakfast. McDonald's was open so we grabbed a bite to eat there before going back to the hotel to get ready for the day.

Early morning at the beach.

Our view was beautiful at every time of day.

Cotton candy clouds. Surfers doing their thang.

Our first activity was to visit Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona memorial.

It was an easy drive from our hotel over to the historic site and just like December 7th 1941, it was a beautiful Sunday morning. Fitting for our visit to this somber site.

When in Hawaii! But I wore it over the wrong ear, oops lol...

Love this composition of trees.

Visits to the USS Arizona memorial are on timed tickets to ride the ferry so while we waited for our turn, we explored the area. This monument lists the names of all the men, women, children, soldiers, sailors, marines, civilians, and others who were killed during the attack in 1941.

The site also has multiple museums along with the memorials detailing the history of Pearl Harbor, the infamous attack, and the war after the attack.

When it was our time slot, we boarded the Navy ferry and made the short trip across the harbor to the USS Arizona memorial.

The USS Arizona was commissioned in 1916 and served in the U.S. Navy throughout the interwar years. On December 7th 1941 during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the ship was hit by multiple bombs including a devastating armor-piercing one that ignited the forward magazine causing a catastrophic explosion. The ship sank in minutes, taking 1177 of its 1512 crew members with it. This accounted for nearly half of the total U.S. deaths during the attack.

The memorial was completed in 1962 and the stark white structure spans the sunken battleship which is the final resting place for 1146 sailors which includes 44 sailors who survived the initial attack but asked to be buried with their shipmates after they passed away.

Oil still leaks from the ship - about a quart a day - symbolizing, for some, the lingering wounds of that event.

The ships remains just under the water below the monument.

This wall lists all those who were killed aboard the ship during the attack.

Many of the original mooring quays still sit in the harbor.

Portions of the ship just visible above the water line.

Looking back towards Pearl City and the surrounding area that overlooks the harbor.

One of the forward gun turrets from the ship.

The push for the memorial started soon after the war, with public and private funding - including a notable boost from a 1958 benefit concert by Elvis Presley - making it happen. It opened to visitors in 1962 and has since become a key site for reflecting on World War II’s impact.

Designed by architect Alfred Preis, the structure spans the sunken battleship without touching it, symbolizing respect for the resting place below.

Fox and Jane on the ferry back to the visitor's center.

Such a beautiful place that harbors such a tragic history.

In the snack shack at the site Chris thought it was fitting to get a "Blue Hawaiian" Monster while in Hawaii. He and Fox also wore two of their patriotic Reyn Spooner Hawaiian shirts to the site.

A submarine which you can tour.

After we finished up at the museums and memorials, it was time for lunch. We decided to check out the swanky and huge Ala Moana shopping center for the afternoon.

I love flowers.

Yep. I do.

A lot.

I wish all parking garages were this pretty!

The Ala Moana Center is the world's largest open-air shopping mall spanning over 2.4 million square feet and featuring more than 350 shops, restaurants, and entertainment options.

Quick photo op with my darling Jane.

Fox and Jane living the good life in Honolulu. Chris and I found each other some fun birthday presents here for our upcoming fortieths!

One of the stores was called "It's Sugar" and sold countless varieties of candy and also had cool displays made from candy.

Another rainbow! Does this count?

Now that's a candy store!

After lunch and shopping we decided it was time to hit the beach. We drove back to our hotel, changed into our swimsuits, and enjoyed the beautiful afternoon.

Proof we all went in.

At first Jane tried to play it cool like she didn't want to swim. But soon enough she couldn't resist. She's always loved playing in the water, ever since she was a toddler splashing around in the south of France or Croatia.

I was happy to sit on the beach and watch the kids.

It wasn't overly crowded which was nice.

Chris' dad has a saying, "If you look up and see blue skies and palm trees, life is good." He's so right.

Jane starting to feel the pull of the ocean. Trying to resist.

Fox fully committing.

He's a goofy boy.

Finally Jane asked Chris to take her back to the room so she could change into her swimsuit so Fox made a sand castle while he waited for his sister/bestie.

I have the perfect cut file for these photos :)

After Jane came back they played in the ocean for awhile, then it was time to check out the pool.

They loved it.

After all that fun we took in the sunset on our hotel room balcony. So beautiful.

The next morning, after another early morning walk in the dark along the beach, we went searching for breakfast.

Chris had found a little place at the hotel next door the previous evening and saw they had more affordable breakfast options so we walked over to the Hale Koa hotel for breakfast when it opened at 6:30am.

We eventually found out that the Hale Koa is an Army MWR resort, like Edelweiss over in Germany. How fun! We loved our time in the army.

Beautiful flowers.

This became our usual breakfast spot at the Hale Koa the rest of our mornings here.

Fox and Jane on the beach after breakfast.

A lot of the weather was like this during our trip, not rainy or cold, just a little overcast. This is THE Rainbow Tower of the Hilton Hawaiian Village!

Duke's Lagoon at the resort.

Our plan for Monday March 17th was the Polynesian Cultural Center across the island in Laie. We were finally out the city and traffic and skyscrapers of Honolulu and into "real" Hawaii.

As Jane says, the vibes were giving.

Look at that view! The Ko'olau mountains are something else.

Chris had heard about Leonard's famous malasadas so we stopped at their location in Kaneohe as we made our way up to Laie. We ordered an assortment and waited as they made them up fresh and hot,

Holy cow. These were delicious. The box probably weighed 10lbs! We got a couple custard filled, a couple cinnamon, and a couple sugar.

Well, we actually got two boxes since the first one accidentally got dropped and the employees were nice enough to replace them.

After snacking on the absolutely delicious malasadas, we made the gorgeous drive up the shore to Laie.

Had to stop for a picture or two.

So beautiful.

After about an hour, plus our stops for malasadas and pictures, we arrived at the Polynesian Cultural Center.

The Polynesian Cultural Center is located in Laie on the northeastern shore of Oahu, Hawaii. It’s about 35 miles north of Honolulu along Kamehameha Highway. Sitting on 42 acres near Brigham Young University Hawaii, it’s a major cultural attraction showcasing Polynesian traditions from six island nations: Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Tahiti, and New Zealand. It’s a key stop for exploring Pacific Islander heritage.

We had a few minutes before we met our guide so we got hot dogs and shave ice for lunch.

Fox was a happy boy.

Time to go explore Polynesia!

The lounge waiting area while our guide got ready.

Our guide was a student at BYU Hawaii named Bruna and she was also nice enough to take a lot of family pictures of us as we explored the six areas.

Our first stop was weaving in Samoa.

We made fish! Then we watched a show about traditional fire starting methods using coconuts. This guy was a hoot. Look for him in the upcoming live action Moana movie climbing a tree.

At New Zealand we practiced our warrior skills.

We're quite fearsome.

Showing off our tattoos!

One of the authentic canoes at the center. Students at BYU-Hawaii often take these out on long ocean voyages in the traditional way.

On the right was the show in Tahiti showcasing traditional dances.

The beautiful lagoon at the center.

We took a guided canoe tour of the whole center.

Cruising along.

Fun to see the island areas from the water.

Each area has architecture characteristic of the region.

An island paradise.

Trying our hand at ukulele in the Hawaii area.

After a full day of shows and activities, it was time for the lu'au!

We were greeted with flower leis and the most delicious smoothies I've ever had in my life in these pineapple cups. Plus, they were bottomless! I may have had a couple of refills.

My adorable family.

Photo cred: Jane.

Oh, Jane!

Traditional Hawaii music serenading us as we watched the show.

Soon the food was ready! It was all delicious.

Fox went up to participate at one point during the lu'au.

All the kids (except Jane) learning some lu'au moves.

The cast of our lu'au. All the dancers are students at BYU-Hawaii.

Family photo op!

We didn't have it in us to stay for the final show, so we decided to head over the Laie Temple grounds.

It was a perfect evening. Warm, but the sky was moody and atmospheric.

The Evans Family at the Laie Hawaii Temple on March 17th 2025.

The Laie Hawaii Temple, dedicated in 1919, was the first LDS temple built outside the continental United States and the first in Polynesia, earning it the nickname "Taj Mahal of the Pacific" for its striking white concrete design inspired by Solomon’s Temple. Perched on a hill overlooking the ocean near the Polynesian Cultural Center, it’s surrounded by lush gardens and was a key factor in establishing Laie as a Mormon community hub, drawing thousands annually for its serene beauty and historical significance.

Looking down towards the ocean.

We swapped taking photos with another family - grateful to have all 4 of us in a picture!

We also drove by the BYU-Hawaii campus since we'd never seen it. I actually submitted an application to attend college here but was denied lol.

We made the drive back to Honolulu in the dark and exhausted from the fun, full day.

The next morning we had reservations to hike Diamond Head.

Our slot started at 8:00am which was perfect because it was warm, but not sweltering.

Here we go!

The Diamond Head hiking trail leads to a historic Fire Control Station built in 1911 where hikers can explore old military bunkers while taking in breathtaking views of Waikiki and the Pacific Ocean from the crater’s summit.

I liked the color of this building. But they thought it looked like a murder shack. Silly kids.

Diamond Head, known as Lēʻahi to Native Hawaiians, is a massive volcanic tuff cone formed over 300,000 years ago during a single explosive eruption, its name later coined by 19th-century British sailors who mistook its calcite crystals, sparkling mineral deposits found on its volcanic slopes,

for diamonds.

Towering 762 feet above sea level, this iconic Oʻahu landmark spans over 475 acres and serves as a natural protector of Honolulu’s coastline, its crater now a state monument is visited by millions annually.

During its ascent, the trail features a steep 99-step staircase and a 225-foot tunnel carved through the volcanic rock, offering a thrilling mix of natural beauty and a glimpse into Oʻahu’s early 20th-century coastal defense history.

Oh, and gorgeous views all around.

Inside one of the bunkers looking towards Honolulu.

We made it! The Evans Family on top of Diamond Head on March 18th 2025.

I spy the gorgeous pink Royal Hawaiian hotel.

Such a fascinating natural landmark to explore.

I like good views :)

Still loved up!

After soaking in the views, it was time to head back down.

Getting out early was a great idea. It was already very humid by the time we were heading back down at 9:00.

With it still being so early, we decided to check out some other fun sites around Honolulu and things we've seen on Hawaii 5-0. We drove over to the Ali'iolani Hale government building with its iconic statue of King Kamehameha.

We've seen this dozens of times on the show and it was so fun to see it in real life.

King Kamehameha I unified the Hawaiian Islands into a single kingdom in 1810 after years of strategic warfare and diplomacy, establishing a dynasty that shaped Hawaii’s history and culture.

For lunch we decided to go back to the Ala Moana Center.

Maybe she does like me after all!

After eating we went to more stores that we didn't get to the first time like Reyn Spooner, the Lego Store, and Jane's favorite: Hot Topic.

Next it was on to explore the iconic (PINK!) Royal Hawaiian Hotel.

Opened on February 1st 1927, the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, dubbed the "Pink Palace of the Pacific," was built in a Spanish-Moorish style with its signature pink stucco facade, quickly becoming a luxurious retreat for Hollywood stars and wealthy travelers arriving by steamship.

During World War II the hotel was leased to the U.S. Navy as a rest and recreation spot for sailors, its elegant grounds temporarily transformed with barbed wire and blacked-out windows before reopening to the public in 1947 as a symbol of Hawaii’s postwar tourism boom.

We walked out onto a pier and attempted a family selfie.

Hey! We just hiked that!

Designed by architects Warren & Wetmore, who also crafted New York’s Grand Central Terminal, the Royal Hawaiian Hotel’s original 1927 architecture features a six-story H-shaped layout with 400 rooms. Its pink exterior and lush gardens evoke a romanticized vision of Hawaii that defined early 20th-century luxury tourism.

Love it.

Notable visitors include Hollywood icons like Shirley Temple who famously strummed a ukulele on the beach in the 1930s and Marilyn Monroe who added to its glamorous reputation. Other stars such as Clark Gable, Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, and Kevin Costner have also stayed there, drawn by its elegance and prime beachfront location.

After a very full morning and early afternoon it was back to the hotel to rest and relax.

Looking down from our balcony to another of the pools at the resort.

Another gorgeous view.

Our last day in Hawaii started with a nice stroll around the beach.

We walked out to the end of the nearby jetty.

The Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, a five-acre man-made saltwater oasis, was transformed from a stagnant swamp into a pristine swimming spot after a major restoration, now circulating fresh ocean water three times daily.

Named after Hawaii’s legendary surfer and Olympic swimmer Duke Kahanamoku, the lagoon offers a calm, family-friendly alternative to the ocean. We rented a fun water tricycle to explore it.

Have fun kids!

Such a nice and relaxing spot to spend our last morning.

Chris and I also took a turn around the lagoon.

Darling Jane exploring the sea life in the lagoon.

She caught one! And of course put it back safely.

Then it was time to say goodbye to our hotel. It was a great spot to stay, right in the heart of the action!

We had the whole afternoon open before our evening flight home so we drove out to the Dole Plantation.

A rainbow ring around the sun, does that count? Because we hadn't seen any more rainbow since the drive from the airport!

Originally a modest fruit stand opened in 1950 by James Dole, the "Pineapple King," the plantation transformed into a major tourist attraction in 1989, now drawing over a million visitors annually to explore its Pineapple Express train, gardens, and the iconic Dole Whip.

Beautiful gardens and grounds.

We got tickets to ride the train and after waiting about 45 mins (what is this, Disneyland?!? LOL) it was our turn.

James Dole arrived in Hawaii in 1899 with just $1600 and a Harvard degree in agriculture, founding the Hawaiian Pineapple Company (later Dole Food Company) in 1901 which revolutionized the islands’ economy by turning pineapple into a global export and establishing O'ahu as a key player in the industry.

The fields weren't mature so no pineapples were visible yet for the season.

Chugging along.

Funny photo ops.

We grabbed some lunch at the cafe there.

And of course some Dole Whip.

Teriyaki chicken and rice for me made even prettier with a purple flower.

The highlight of this stop for the kids? The local cats. I love that they love animals so much.

Hi, kitties!

We walked around the gardens for a few minutes before it started to downpour.

With still a few hours before we had to head to the airport, we decided to check out the Disney resort called Aulani.

Walking in felt like a homecoming. The kids said, "This feels familiar," in the best way. What can we say? We're Disney people.

The main resort pool area.

We stopped in the gift shop.

Aulani blends Hawaiian culture with Disney magic, featuring a 321,000-gallon lazy river and a private snorkeling lagoon called Rainbow Reef where guests can swim among tropical fish.

Very cool place.

Fox loves Stitch.

Fun splash pad area for little kids.

Kohola Lagoon, one of the four man-made lagoons at the Ko Olina Resort, is a crescent-shaped, calm swimming area protected by a rock barrier, offering crystal-clear waters and a sandy beach ideal for families, with its name honoring the humpback whales (koholā) that migrate past Oahu’s shores each winter.

The resort has not one, but two wedding chapels.

Beautiful!

They had a DVC unit open to tour so we checked it out. The cast member asked where we were staying and we were like.... ummmm.... just passing through hahaha. CAUGHT!

The front desk area with a cool rainbow mural made up of beautiful pictures.

Snack time!

Mickey shaped shave ice FTW.

Corn dog bites for me.

Disney does it right.

Bye Aulani! 'Til next time!

I was tracking our incoming plane from San Francisco via Flight Aware and WE SAW IT! We saw our actual plane! It's even the same flight path we took when we landed and how I put two-and-two together that we saw Aulani out our window.