Oahu, Hawaii Trip - Day 4: Lanikai Sunrise, Kailua Beach, Pali Lookout

On Friday we chatted with Chris and Naomi to decide what was on the agenda for Saturday, Day 4.  We decided it would be cool to drive to the East shore and watch the sunrise, then grab breakfast and hit the beach to swim.  We got on the road in time to catch the sunrise from Lanikai beach.  We arrived just in time.  The sun was actually rising right behind Na Mokulua, which are two rocky islands on the horizon.  The girls played in the sand while we watched the beautiful sunrise.  There were some clouds, but the way they were lit made for kind of a moody, unique sunrise.  After the sun was sufficiently high and I had had my fill of photography fun we packed up and headed out for breakfast.

Moody skies, blue waters

Palette of blues, yellows and magentas with palm silhouettes in the distance

footprints in the sand

Naomi, Abigail, and Chris

Sweet Declan

Horseplay

An attempt to photograph Abbie sleeping resulted in a sweet family photo

Daddy daughter silhouette 

When Naomi's family visited recently, they all went to breakfast at Cinnamon's in Kailua.  After hearing rave reviews we wanted to give it a try.  We sat in the open atrium and had a nice, casual (and delicious breakfast).  One of their specialties is red velvet pancakes.  And yes, they are as good as they sound and look!  I had a tall stack of red velvets which have melty, gooey white chocolate in between each pancake and drizzled over the top.  They just melted in my mouth.  Matt had an omelet and the kids shared some buttermilk pancakes.  We also tried some of their specialty cinnamon rolls.  

After breakfast we headed to Kailua beach in hopes of beating the crowds.  The parking lots usually fill quickly on the weekends, and it's no surprise.  The beach is picture perfect with blue waters and soft sand.  It was a little windy but the water was sufficiently warm and the shade was welcomed as the sun beat down.  The kids played in the sand, swam, and dug their own private pool with the help of Dads.  The Mama's ended up in the shade with two sleepy beach babes.  

The lotioning begins

The best way to keep him from eating sand?  Plug him up

Beautiful landscapes of Kailua beach

Lots of kite surfers

Silly heads in the sand

Daddy & daughter footprints to the ocean

Teagan's first ocean swim

Dads and girls digging a private pool

Two peas in a pod

Blue lips and shivers

Spectator with sleeping baby

After Kailua beach the kids were spent so we took a drive.  We were headed home past the Pali lookout which offers breathtaking views of the eastern shore of Oahu.  Way up in the mountains you have a high level view of the landscape below all the way to the shore.  Some weather had started to blow in and rain made our stop at the lookout short.  It was VERY windy so everyones hair blew in all directions, which made for cute photos.  

lush, green landscape and blue waters

Hold her tight or she might blow away!

Coming soon - Day 5: Hanauma Bay Beach, Blow Hole, Rainbow Drive-in, Round Top Drive Lookout