Summer day camp at Mar Vista Horse Stables

Grace was thrilled to get to horse camp this Monday...she'll be there for two weeks. Mina joined her for part of the time...sorry I didn't get any pics. Here she is with her horse for the week, Francesca...they seem to be a good match. Grace always has something to say about Francesca at the end of the day...and she brings apples and carrots to keep her happy. (Remember: double click any photo to make it bigger.)

Grace: Horse Girl Extraordinaire.

Taking Francesca for a ride. Grace says that the horse is small...just right for her. She can get on and off with no assistance.

Bringing Francesca home.

Unsaddling Francesca.

Grace, fellow camper Callie, and horse Goldie.

our last aloha from hawaii

It's Tuesday and we finally discovered the best snorkeling place on the island. Our previous ventures were beautiful, but there was a 'swell in', so they say, throughout southwest Maui, where we have been staying, creating waves and choppy water even at the special fish preserves. So, we drove north of Kaanapali, to Honolua Bay. As you can see below, it is a completely protected bay with very calm water. We finally saw a sea turtle! ...(double click any photo for a larger version)

The completely protected Honolua Bay.

Getting ready to snorkel in Honolua Bay...for the first time, the water is completely flat!

By the way, we haven't spent all our time in the water...there have been shopping trips, homemade meals...toad-in-the-hole breakfasts made by the girls, barbeque ahi fish dinners, and a couple of delicious restaurant meals; farmer's market trips for the freshest papaya, banana, maui gold pineapples; mojitos for happy hour.

snorkeling and all-around water play at Ulua Beach

Ulua beach: great beach for snorkeling, easy swimming, playing in the waves, sitting under a shady tree, and viewing neighboring islands

The girls have their flippers and masks ready to go in...it was calm enough to go snorkeling at 8 am on Saturday. I went again at 11 am on Sunday, but the waves were a little difficult to manage...still saw fish!

Double click any photo for a larger version.

Upside down Grace...you can see this pose almost every 5 minutes in any body of water.

A walk in the rainforest

The Iao Valley is one of the most distinct and breathtaking areas in Maui, where mountains reach high into the sky and then suddenly plunge again into the ocean, their craggy rock faces covered with lush vines and plants. One of the most recognizable formations is the Iao Needle, a steep pinnacle overlooking the Iao stream. This was an historical altar where warriors would make sacrifices as they looked upon the surrounding Pu'u Kukui Crater.

Get ready for something really silly

Watch this movie at your own risk...of laughing out loud.

At the beach

At Kamaole Beach Park II we find gentle waves, easy for swimming, and of course, great water temperature.