Day 6 - Luau at the Veloria's

 After a quick beach run in the morning, we headed back to the hotel to get cleaned up for shaved ice on the way to Marci's friend Rena's parent's house to where they were holding a luau for our group.  Thankfully, Rena also tipped us off to this shave ice truck.  Oh my goodness.  I don't think I will ever be able to eat shave ice again without being disappointed. This stuff was fluffy, and creamy, and divine. The line was soooo long the first time we went...and it was blistering hot.  Very worth the wait.  We went back a second time :)

Libbie's pineapple cream.

 When we arrived at the Veloria's we were greeted with kindness and love.  Such giving, sweet people.  Uncle Earl put the everyone right to work preparing our dinner on the imu ( underground oven).  Even the kids got to participate.  So fun. One layer of banana leaves on the bottom.

 Then the meat (pork and chicken), corned beef, and taro.

 A good layer of more banana leaves.

 Then quickly cover the leaves with burlap.

 And finish off the burlap with a layer of dirt.  Then we waited three hours time for it to be all ready.

 So we checked out their beautiful property.  Can you imagine that view every day of your life? Heaven.

 Trying out the swing.

 Tyce bossing Zeus around. Little puppy.

 Uncle then had Nathan and Ben knock a few coconuts out of the tree.  He then taught them how to open the coconuts.  Nathan ended up with a bruise on his hand from all the slamming and tearing he had to do to shell and husk the puppy.  At last we all got to sample the water.  Not too many coconut water fans I'm afraid.

 Jaren loves to pretend he thinks it's delicious.

 After the first hour of the imu cooking, Libbie was on duty to check for escaping steam and cover those areas with dirt.

 Auntie Audrey was perhaps the sweetest woman I have ever met in my entire life.  Some people just have such a light in them and she is one of those people.  She taught us how to make head leis and spent time telling us about her experience making leis when she was a little girl.  So fun!

 Tyce eating the plumeria.  Boys!

 Auntie showing Libbie how to start the lei.

 Working hard.

 Uncle getting Claire's lei to be the right size for her head.

 Hawaiian beauties.  These two are such peas in a pod.

 Time for the big reveal.   Just wet your hands and go to town uncovering layers and pulling out the food.

 Before dinner, Uncle taught us the proper way to start the gathering with the blowing of the conch shells.  It was a great thing to witness the beauty and the culture of such a ceremony.

 Jaren and Wyatt doing "hang loose" with the elders. So cute!