I've been pretty quiet about this year's Passports With Purpose effort, but the reality is that a lot has been going on behind the scenes.
You might remember last year's fundraiser, in a few short weeks we raised almost $30,000 to build a school in Cambodia and gave away thousands of dollars worth of travel related prizes to our donors. Almost a year later, the school has been built, and is now in session! I owe a very heartfelt thank you (as do the students who now have an opportunity to get both an education and one healthy meal per day).
This year's fundraiser is going to be even bigger and more fun than it was last year. With your help, we will be raising $50,000 to build a village in India! We've partnered with LAFTI International, an organization that has been doing successful land rights in India for 30 years, and has won two international humanitarian awards for their efforts. I could tell you more, but this inspiring video does a far better job than I ever could.
How You Can Get Involved
Beginning on November 15th, you'll be able to browse a list of all the available prizes, and make a tax-deductible donation directly to Friends of LAFTI International to support this effort. When you make a donation, you'll also get to choose which prize giveaway(s) you'd like to enter! This is a great way to give a gift, and potentially win one too!
There are a few ways you can help out before November 15th:
On Twitter I'll be co-hosting a twitter conversation about responsible tourism with @QuintessClub this Friday at 10am PST. Follow me @deliciousbaby or watch #TravelWell or #PwP
Sponsors:
I'm absolutely blown away by the support we have gotten from our sponsors this year. Each of these companies has made a contribution directly to Friends of LAFTI to help build a village in India and move 25 families out of mudhuts and into real homes.
Platinum
I couldn’t be more pleased to announce our top tier sponsor, BootsnAll. They’re longtime friends of the crew at Passports with Purpose and of travelers in general, and we’re delighted that they’ve decided to give back in this generous and meaningful way. I hope you'll check out all the great information (and travel deals) on their site.
Gold
There's lots of data showing that people learn language best through conversation, that's why Live Mocha's new online learning communities seem so appealing. Live Mocha allows people around the world to help each other with language learning, and provides our community with opportunities to learn and practice new languages together.
You’ll want to follow this family’s adventure as they journey around the world for one year. They’ll be volunteering and blogging as they go – they even plan to visit the Passports With Purpose village in India and write about their experiences on RTWWithUs.org!
Silver
HomeAway is a great resource for finding vacation rentals around the world, and we're thrilled to have them join us for a second year.
The TravellersPoint travel community is an online meeting place where travelers can share information. We're excited to have them join us for the second year in a row!
Bronze
We hope you'll help us welcome back Raveable for the second year in a row. Raveable is a great resource for finding hotel and accommodation reviews from all over the web before you book.
Hostelling International makes it easy to find and book hostels around the world. They even have a special category for "family hostels."
This trip was sponsored by the Hawaii Convention and Visitor's Bureau who generously covered our accommodations, a portion of our transportation, and some meals.
Lobby at the Honua Kai Resort in Kaanapali Beach
Can I tell you a secret? We're not big resort-goers. If you've been reading DeliciousBaby for a while, you've probably figured that out on your own. Sure, we've tried the odd resort here and there, even I need to slow down once and a while. And the resort-condo? The seeming favorite type of accommodation for families visiting Hawaii? We've never even tried it.
So believe me, nobody is more surprised than I am to find out how much I enjoyed our stay at the Honua Kai resort in Maui. Perhaps I've changed - with kids, we just need more downtime, or perhaps there was something about this spot that just resonated with me. I can tell you, though, that on the night we arrived, I just really fell in love with these expansive lawns.
Lawns at Honua Kai Maui
It was evening, the sun was setting, and families were out on the lawn running, playing, and grilling up dinner on the Barbecues that are available to all guests. Somehow it just made sense, and I laid back on the lawn as the kids ran off the energy they'd built up on the flight from Oahu to Maui.
The suites themselves made a lot of sense too. We had a two bedroom room suite big enough that our family of five could really spread out. There was a full living room, a huge covered lanai, two bedrooms a full kitchen, a washer and dryer and two en-suite bathrooms. The kids slept in one room and we slept in the other. I wheeled Eilan's crib between the living room and our bedroom depending on which space seemed quieter at the moment. Everything from the carpet to the sheets and light fixtures, but it was the amount of space that made the suite truly luxurious for our family.
Bedroom(s)
Master Bedroom at the Honua Kai Resort in Kaanapali Beach, Maui
Each of the two bedrooms had a king sized bed with the soft sheets and cozy pillows you'd expect. Each had its own bathroom. One had a standard tub and the other had a HUGE tub that the kids just loved.
Living Area
I'm not sure my pictures show how big the living room area was. There was a full sized dining table and plenty of comfy seating. The kids had space to spread out, and we left the huge glass wall open virtually around the clock to let the fresh air and the sound of the ocean in.
Honua Kai Resort Living Room in Kaanapali Beach, Maui
Kitchen
This was is a kitchen I'd be happy to have in my own home. A gas stove, stainless steel appliances, and cabinets stocked with pots, pans, and all the utensils you need to cook up a meal. This is a vacation, so I certainly didn't cook every meal, but it was fun to head to the market across the street for macadamia-nut & chocolate chip pancakes and cook them up for the kids in the morning.
Kitchen in Honua Kai Resort, Kaanapali Beach, Maui
Kids Club
The kids club here is small but clean and with plenty of toys and crafts. Kids can drop in for a full day, half day, or even for just an hour and pricing is reasonable. This is one of the few resorts where the kids club begins at age three, making it a good option for families with young children. Still, the small space would make me hesitant to leave the kids here for too many hours.
Pool
The pool area had lots to choose from for kids of different ages. There was a quiet, traditional pool that would appeal mostly to lap swimmers, and of course a waterslide (you must know how to swim and cannot ride on an adult lap). We spent virtually all our time in a shady grotto area designed for younger kids. It included a small pop fountain, a sandy bottom zero-depth-entry pool, and a shallow pool complete with caves and a waterfall to explore. We ordered dinner poolside from Duke's Beach House (the hotel restaurant) and that made for a fun and easy afternoon.
Cove for young kids at the Honua Kai Resort in Kaanapali Beach, Maui
Beach
To get to the resort's beach, you'll wind along walkways and down some stairs. Shoes are required (our kids wore thick soled sandals) because of the corals on this part of the beach. Hotel staff can point you to the nearby "baby beach," a short car ride away, where a cove protects young swimmers from big waves.
Location
The Honua Kai Resort, Maui is located in a resort-heavy area of Kaanapali Beach. There's a full-fledged supermarket across the street, but not much else to drive too. The charming town of Lahina is a short drive, and has lots of low-key restaurants, a great luau, and the show Ulalena.
Traveling with kids is tricky enough most of the year, but during the Thanksgiving season, the crowds at the airport and the road traffic make it even harder than usual to get to your destination and back again. Here are some of my favorite tips for minimizing your stress during this busy travel season.
D stirring up something good for Thanksgiving Dinner
If You Fly
Fly on Tuesday or Thursday Most people fly the Wednesday before Thanksgiving (with the majority leaving after work on Wednesday). Unless there's a Thanksgiving party they'll be heartbroken to miss, the kids aren't going to do much at school on Wednesday. Go ahead and pull them out of class for a day. Another strategy is to leave on Thursday morning and arrive in time for Thanksgiving dinner.
Don't fly on Saturday In recent years, savvy travelers have started to return on Saturday (leaving Sunday to settle in at home). Guess what? It's now the busiest travel day of the year! Instead, return on either Friday or Sunday.
Travel Light It's always helpful to pack light when you have kids to maneuver through the airport, and its is even more true at Thanksgiving. Consider sending items ahead (or using Amazon to order essentials to your destination.) We keep extra carseats at Grandma's house to avoid lugging them through the airport.
Take Public Transportation If you have a friend drop you at the subway or bus instead of the airport, you'll not only save a boatload of cash on parking, but you'll also save the stress of navigating the busy freeways and airport parking lot yourself.
Parking at the Airport? Make a reservationThe most popular airport parking lots (i.e. the ones that are inexpensive or well located) fill up during the holidays. Luckily, many take reservations. If yours doesn't call ahead to see who has space so that you don't spend precious time circling the airport to look for an open lot.
Plan for Delays Have you ever heard a Thanksgiving travel story that didn't include some sort of delay? Bring along extra snacks and Travel Toys
Leave for the Airport Early Road traffic, full parking lots, long lines at baggage check and security. You'll probably experience many of these things if you're flying the day before Thanksgiving. Be sure to allow plenty of time to get to the airport. If you do happen to get to your gate early, take advantage of the time by giving your kids a snack, having them use the restroom, and letting them stretch their legs.
Didn't Get Seats Together Don't stress. Arrive early and ask the gate agent for help. Still separated? I have yet to meet the passenger who would prefer to sit next to an unattended child than switch - something will work out onboard.
If You Drive
Have Your Car Checked Before you hit the road, make sure you have enough oil, wiper fluid and air in the tires. If your car needs routine service, be sure to book it soon, auto mechanics get busy during the weeks before Thanksgiving.
Be Prepared Gas Station lines are likely to be long and supermarkets will be crowded. Fill your tank and stock up on snacks the day before you hit the road.
Traveling in Cold Weather? Be Double Prepared This winter preparedness checklist is a great resource. Invest in a Winter Severe Weather Travel Kit and supplement it with enough emergency blankets, snacks, water, and warm clothing for your entire family.
Find a Pit Stop Playgrounds and public libraries (assuming you're not driving on Thursday) always make great places to stop with kids. On Thanksgiving day, Barnes and Noble, many Starbucks locations, most zoos and many aquariums are open, and they also make great destinations for you and the kids to stretch your legs.
Pack the Pillows Having familiar sleeptime items from home will help your kids settle down to sleep both in the car and at your destination.
Bring a Car Charger If you're counting on a DVD player or iPad to keep your kids busy for at least part of the drive, make sure you have the chargers to go with it. I'm a fan of this USB Car Charger that lets you charge any USB device using your car's cigarette lighter.
Readers: D you have a favorite Thanksgiving Travel Tip? Let me know in comments
Want more advice? Be sure to check out all the tips from my fellow family travel bloggers at BestFamilyTravelAdvice.Com
Amazon must be gearing up for the holidays just like the rest of us! I thought I'd pass on information about sale products on some of the items I recommend in my Family Travel Gear and Toys Guide
The Go-Go Kidz Travelmate is on sale for 78.74 (12% off). This product lets you convert your car seat in to a stroller and wheel it through the airport with your child onboard.
The Sunshine Kids Radian80 SL Convertible Car Seat car seat is on sale for 229.49 (15% off). This is the seat I use in my own car. It's extra narrow and works for a child up to 80 pounds - meaning that you can seat an older child with a five point harness instead of just the car's shoulder strap. You can read my full review of the Radian 80 Car Seat here
Every parent knows the feeling. You've been on vacation with the kids for a few days, and you are desperately in need of an evening that feels a little more "grown-up." You'd like the kind of food, service and atmosphere that comes along with a meal at a nice restaurant, but you're worried that the kids will bother everyone else, or force you to make an early exit. That's exactly where my husband and I found ourselves after a few days in Waikiki. After all, this is Hawaii, we should be sitting under an umbrella with fruity drinks and watching the sunset.
Hawaiian music and a beautiful sunset, what could be better?
Somewhere in my planning, I'd seen a review of House Without a Key, a beachfront restaurant with live music just a block from our hotel. The pictures looked lovely, and outdoor restaurants often work well with the kids. It seemed like exactly the sort of place we'd want to unwind after a full day. Still, this was an upscale restaurant, and I didn't want to be so busy keeping the kids quiet that I wouldn't be able to enjoy it. I gave the restaurant a call, and got a pleasant "we consider ourselves to be a family restaurant, come on down," so armed with stickers and crayons we walked over.
When we got there, I relaxed almost immediately. Yes, this is a very nice place, but the staff brought over a high chair for Eilan and kids menus. Milk in plastic cups showed up almost immediately. The music was relaxing, the sun was getting ready to go down, and the kid were happy with their meal choices.
But here's the ace in the hole, there's a lawn adjacent to to the seating area. While we waited for our coconut shrimp, the kids turned somersaults.
Everest tries a somersault at House Without a Key in Waikiki
While I feasted on the fish of the day, the kids played duck duck goose with their new friends.
Fish of the Day at House Without a Key at the Halekulani Hotel in Honolulu
And while I polished off my second fruity drink and watched Kanoe Miller dance hula (she's been dancing at House Without a Key for over 30 years and is exceedingly lovely) the kids practiced their own hula moves.
Kanoe Miller, former Miss Hawaii, dances Hula at House Without a Key
Everest, Darya and Eilan practice their hula moves at House Without a Key in Honolulu
And while my husband settled the bill, I played on the lawn with the kids.
It can be so difficult to truly unwind when you have kids to watch, but this was a relaxed evening for all of us, kids and adults. This is what we came to the islands for, but rarely find a way to do, a chance to breathe. Now that I have the perspective of a month back home, this relaxed time on the lawn is one of my favorite memories. It's funny how these little found moments can turn out to be better than any of the activities I carefully plan before we go!
Darya's birthday was this week, and somehow between bringing cupcakes into school and picking her up early, I managed to spend almost the entire day with her. For the middle child in a house with three little kids, that's a huge treat!
After a "tea party" at a kid-friendly coffee shop (this is Seattle, coffee culture starts early), I took her to Carkeek Park, which has one of the loveliest playgrounds in Seattle. Just look at that view!
Carkeek Park playground in Seattle, WA
And check out the salmon slide
Salmon slide at Carkeek Park in Seattle
Carkeek park is about eight miles north of Space Needle, and you need a car to get here, but can you imagine a better memory of Seattle with Kids than a slide shaped like a salmon?
About Photo Friday:
You are invited to join us for Photo Friday! It's a great way to get to know other bloggers and to help them get to know you. Just post a "Photo Friday" picture on your own blog, and link directly to your post from the linky below (If your url is longer than 100 characters, you will need to use a url shortening service, like bit.ly)
What is Photo Friday?
Post a travel photo on your site. It can be about any topic, as long as it is G-rated.
The focus of the post should be on your photo.
You don't need to be a professional photographer (I'm not), but do showcase your best work, and make it big enough to see well!
It's nice to include a few sentences about the photo, but it is not required.
Link back here so that your readers can see all the other great Photo Friday posts.
Last week I wrote about our family visit to the Bishop Museum's Hawaiian Hall. At the end of the story, the kids were stretching their legs outside in the hot Hawaiian air. Once they got their jiggles out, we headed into to the Science Adventure Center, one of the museum's other exhibition halls, and perhaps the most kid friendly permanent exhibit.
Everest sits on a Nene (Hawaiian State Bird) statue outside the Bishop Museum's Science Adventure Center
My family rarely meets a science museum it doesn't like, and we're excited to check out a new science museum in almost every city we visit. Still, most science museums seem to exist in a vacuum, teaching kids about physics, chemistry, and the other sciences using exhibits that could be done in any city in the world. The Bishop museum has taken a different approach, focusing on science as it relates to Hawaii's environment, including volcanology, oceanography and biodiversity - there's even a fun exhibit that helps kids understand the difference between native species and introduced ones (and why we would care). It's that focus that makes it worthwhile to take time out from your Hawaiian vacation to visit the Bishop Museum's Science Adventure Center even if you're not a science nut.
The kids don 3d glasses to check out an image of volcano Lo'ihi's crater
For my kids the main attraction was the volcano exhibits. They've been interested in Volcanos ever since we were stranded in London for 10 days when the ash cloud emitted by Eyjafjallajökull's eruptions closed Heathrow airport.
We started our visit by descending through a lava tube into the core of a man-made volcano. As we walked deeper into the volcano, we hear chanting and snippets of Hawaiian stories. Magical looking creatures adorn the walls, and because the tube is illuminated with black light, we begin to glow. It's unusual, but not scary, and the kids have been completely won over. They can't wait to see what's at the core of the volcano.
Everest steers an underwater sub using remote control
If you arrive at the right time, you can catch a "lava show" where real lava is melted at at about 2700 degrees and poured out to make a lava flow. We missed it, but you can get the daily schedule at the museum entrance. Even if you miss the show, there are some other neat exhibits in the core, including remote-operated submarines visitors can steer around a deep-tank mock-up of underwater volcano Lo'ihi, and a melted wax demonstration of a volcanic lava flow, where kids turn a crank to make lava flow out the top of of a volcano. Eventually, I dragged my kids away from these two exhibits, and we rode an elevator up to the volcano crater.
This volcano erupts several times per hour inside the Bishop Museum in Honolulu
Poor Darya was a little worried about that crater - after all, if an eruption in Iceland could ground our flight out of London, what would happen if you were right next to a live volcano?! But soon enough she realized that it was all in good fun, and we headed downstairs to explore the rest of the science center.
A volcanic slide! Of course ;)
There's tons more to do here, but eventually the kids got hungry, and we headed to the museum's cafe for a bite to eat and then to the bookstore for a cuddle and and the opportunity to leaf through the excellent collection of Hawaiian children's stories.
The kids loved these drawers, each of which contains bones, shells, or other artifacts from local animals
Disclosure: I received Gypsy Mama Water Wrap sling from Gypsy Mama for review. I received no compensation, and Gypsy Mama did not require that I express a particular point of view. My review policy does not allow me to keep products valued over $40, and I will send this carrier back to the manufacturer. I do not receive a commission if readers purchase this item.
Several months ago I reviewed the SportsBaby Carrier a sling for use in the water that didn't quite live up to its promise of comfort. One of my readers suggested I check out the Gypsy Mama Water Wrap, and the company generously agreed to send me a carrier in exchange for a review. I took the wrap with me to Hawaii and tried it out in our hotel pools.
Overall Recommendation
This wraparound baby sling is similar to the Moby Wrap I owned when my babies were very little. Instead of being made out cotton, it's made of a very lightweight synthetic fabric. The sling is supportive and comfortable for both mom and baby. For young babies, this sling would offer enough support to keep them safe in the water. With an older (and more squirmy) baby like Eilan, you'll need to keep a hand on your child so that he doesn't wiggle his way out. If you need a water sling, I would recommend the Gypsey Mama Water Wrap.
Fit
It takes a careful read of the instructions, and a few tries to get used to wrapping the sling around you and inserting baby, but once you get the hang of it, it's not difficult. You'll need to have someplace safe to set the baby while you get yourself all set up.
The sling is supportive and comfortable. The stretchy fabric is not quite as restrictive of baby's movements as cotton would be, and I found myself keeping a hand on 15 month old Eilan as he stretched, squirmed, and splashed in the water. For a young baby, there's no reason you couldn't wear this sling throughout the day (as long as you planned to have another alternative once it got wet). Baby can be worn on the front or the hip (I tested only the front position).
Usefulness
I loved being able to get right in the water with E and D without worrying about Eilan squirming out of my arms while I helped them with something or pulled them around on a kickboard.
Expect to stay in relatively shallow water with this carrier, and don't wear baby on your back. You do need to be aware of where baby's head is with respect to the water at all times.
The manufacturer guarantees a UPF (UV Protection Factor) of 45 to help prevent sunburn/minimize sunscreen use, and the fabric can be arranged to cover baby's head (though they'll probably only let you do that if they are sleeping).
Weight Limits
According to the manufacturer, this sling is appropriate for newborns and toddlers up to about 25pounds. Some people may still find it comfortable, when used in the water (because the water helps support the weight of the child) with a child over 25 pounds.
Convenience
The Water Wrap is made of a quick drying fabric. If you can stretch the 5 years of material over your shower curtain rod overnight, the wrap would be dry by morning (or sooner)
Price
The Gypsy Mama Water Wrap Carrier is available online at Gypsy Mama website and retails for $56.00
About Photo Friday:
You are invited to join us for Photo Friday! It's a great way to get to know other bloggers and to help them get to know you. Just post a "Photo Friday" picture on your own blog, and link directly to your post from the linky below (If your url is longer than 100 characters, you will need to use a url shortening service, like bit.ly)
What is Photo Friday?
Post a travel photo on your site. It can be about any topic, as long as it is G-rated.
The focus of the post should be on your photo.
You don't need to be a professional photographer (I'm not), but do showcase your best work, and make it big enough to see well!
It's nice to include a few sentences about the photo, but it is not required.
Link back here so that your readers can see all the other
great Photo Friday posts.
Some parents would balk at the idea of taking time out from their sun-and-sand filled Hawaiian vacation to take the kids to a museum. Most kids would too. Still, I think it's important to learn at least a little about each of the places we visit, in part because learning about other cultures is what fuels me, and in part because, for the kids, it helps make history, geography and geology concrete living studies instead of abstract facts to be memorized.
On my own childhood trips to Hawaii, the cultural piece always came in the form of a Polynesian Luau. Those were fun (and memorable) experiences, but it always felt like there was an element missing. Somehow those experiences were more about the glamor of a big show than about connecting with Hawaii. How did people live? What did they eat? What's unique about Hawaii (besides the year round balmy weather)? None of those questions were answered, and when I left, Hawaii felt more like a gigantic amusement park and less like a real-world destination with a complex history and culture (or any history at all, really). I wasn't old enough to care, or complain, but I think that lack of connection tainted my adult ideas about Hawaii as a destination.
Bishop Museum's Hawaiian Hall
We started with the Bishop Museum's Hawaiian Hall. This historic building was built in 1888 to house the Royal Family's collection of Hawaiian artifacts, and it was completely renovated in 2009. Some renovations are all glamor and no depth, but not this one. The antique woodwork is all in-tact, and the collection is beautifully organized. What did the kids think though? Hmm.... I can't fool them, it still looks like a museum.
We raced through the collection, with brief stops to check out something cool - hey, look at those royal robes made of bird feathers. Wow, look how they fished. Neat baskets! But the one thing they really stopped to take in was this model building - complete with several models (computerized and physical) that showed how it would have been built, and where it would have been placed in a larger temple complex. I'm not sure my kids have ever really considered how a house gets built, and they just loved the idea that this one was built out of real world materials - not carefully cut and processed wood from Home Depot.
Model of typical Hawaiian construction at the Bishop Museum
A small, and nicely done, hands on area also held their interest for a while. (Yes, Everest is wearing his swimsuit to a museum. It's Hawaii after all!) They got to check out native Hawaiian wildlife, try their hand at using Hawaiian tools and play the musical instruments that they would see later at Hula dancing shows.
Hands on Area in the Bishop Museum's Hawaiian Hall
When poor Darya finally gave up and started begging to get back outside, I had no husband to tag-team with (he was off working on a last minute project). We couldn't tag team with one person taking the kids while the other viewed the collection. Aching to learn more, and a little disappointed, I headed outside where (lucky for me) there are huge lawns and even a running sprinkler or two.
The surprise, for me, came several days later when we took the kids to 'Ulalena a stunning musical about Hawaiian History. "OOOOOOH," breathed Everest as the feather standard bearers walked onto the stage, "the king is coming." Somehow, between the glazed over looks and the hustle to get back outside, he'd taken in the core of what the museum was about, and it provided an anchor that made the eye-candy filled show more meaningful and real.
I doubt the kids will ever thank me for taking them to cultural museums when we travel. I don't mind. Hearing them start to relate to the places we visit is reward enough.
About Me I'm Debbie, mother of three delicious kids and I write about traveling with little kids. That's my daughter in the backpack and my son in Paris on Halloween.
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to order essentials to your destination.) We keep extra carseats at Grandma's house to avoid lugging them through the airport.
and supplement it with enough emergency blankets, snacks, water, and warm clothing for your entire family.
that lets you charge any USB device using your car's cigarette lighter.
is on sale for $60 off at $219.95. Here's my 
is on sale for 78.74 (12% off). This product lets you convert your car seat in to a stroller and wheel it through the airport with your child onboard.
car seat is on sale for 229.49 (15% off). This is the seat I use in my own car. It's extra narrow and works for a child up to 80 pounds - meaning that you can seat an older child with a five point harness instead of just the car's shoulder strap. You can read my 
