February 2nd we flew to Oahu. It was an early flight and the view of Kauai all the way to Waialeale was fantastic. Leilani, who is now a seasoned traveller was really good at the airport and during the plane ride, napped a little on the plane, and then a little more in the rental car.
Bright lights, big city (on the edge of Chinatown):
We had lunch at my favorite (vegetarian) Dim Sum restaurant, and since the place was cheap, clean and baby friendly went back there 2 more times. Next stop was the Honolulu Zoo, Leilani loves the animals, some of which she’d never seen before:
The Keiki (kid’s) Zoo had a lot of adventures, among them tunnels through a fishpool:
In the evening we went to a potluck and met Jaya’s friend Cassia and a lot of Adam and Aditi’s friends. Unfortunately we did not take photos and lost Leilani’s shoes, otherwise it was really nice. The next morning we went back to look for the shoes, and took a few photos at a nearby meadow:
We then had dim-sum brunch again and watched a few dragons and lions at a chinese pre-New Year celebration, but the loud banging music scared Leilani:.
Then we went to a children’s discovery center, Leilani enjoyed it, but since they charged every one of us it was pricy. On the photo below we are in their play kitchen. Leilan is toasting with (make-believe) tea. She sometimes drinks herbal tea now calls it tea when it is unsweetened and honey when it is sweetened with honey. It is also her preferred play beverage, she feeds it to all her stuffed animals, and all people within reach, making drinking noises and saying mmmmh at the end. (and yes, I will get a haircut, really soon)
Then we went to the Punahou (a private high school) Carnival: I had wanted to pack costumes and was surprised that it was just a fair. Leilani didn’t seem to mind the crowds, I estimate we saw as many people as the entire population of Kauai in the few hours there. We had Fair food, another thing Leilani enjoyed. In the evening we went on some rides, she had pointed to the one below every time we got close and indicated that she thought it was a lot of fun. She called it the “Dancy”. I patiently stood in the line for 15 minutes, and when we got on Leilani just loved it. She yelled “Wee-Wee-Wee” all the time and her face beamed. (“Wee-Wee-Wee” is what she yells on swings, slides, and on any other fast fun activity, some other kid or Andy must have taught her, and coming to think of it maybe it’s spelled Oui-Oui-Oui) [Andy says: I taught her that, it’s English so wee-wee-wee, and I took an awesome (lucky) photo below:]
Andy took her on the Merry-Go-Round (and didn’t have to stand in line). Leilan shows great form, except for the heels.
Peek-a-boo at the hotel (with a scratch on her nose from falling on a metal drain coverr at the fair):
Since the first 2 days had already been a little hard on Leilani – and us too – for a lack of naps and late bedtime, we took it easy on Sunday, packed, went to brunch with Francine, went shopping at a swap meet (baby shoes among many other things), and did a short walk at the Aiea heights state park.
Andy says: At the state park there is a heiau (Hawaiian temple). Leilani was running around in the grass and we wanted to walk into the heiau. Leilani went ahead but the path was rocky. So she stopped and waited for me and then said “hand.” She grabbed my fingers and walked confidently over the rocks with me.
