Mauna Kea (in Hawaii) is the world’s tallest mountain peak. When measured from the ocean floor to its summit, it’s 33,476 feet tall, but only its top 13,803 feet extend above sea level.

 Right now the Volcano is erupting all over the place.  There is steam all over the island, and there are lots of cool places that you can go to.  Lava heated tide pools that are 95 degrees.  Lava tubes that you can explore that are miles long, ancient petroglyphs (drawings in stone), massive rain forests, entire towns wiped out by lava, black, white, and even green sand beaches, 1,500 ft. waterfalls, and lots more.  Between my wife and I we have been to all the Islands, and this one is the coolest.  Its just so big that it takes forever to get there.  So if you have more than a week, go there.   If not, go to one of the other Islands.  They all have the same stuff… except the Volcano.  If you want that… go to the Big Island.

So How Did The Kid Do?

Now that Marley is 13 months… traveling is much different.  A week before we went to Hawaii, we went to Palm Springs… it made a nice test run for the big trip to Hawaii.  We noticed that quite a few things have changed since the last time she was on a plane, when she was for or five months old.  She used to sleep the whole time, it was nice… but I guess those times are over.  We are lucky if she sleeps for a half hour.

This is what we did.  I think that Marley is a exceptional travel, so this might not work for all babies.  

She loves books, so that was the only toy that we brought for her.  If there is something that your kid really likes and will sit with for hours, bring it.  If there is nothing that does this for your kid, you better take them to the store and find something… or your in for one, nasty, ride.

Bring lots of diapers and wipes-  for some reason, babies like to drink a lot on the plane, maybe because that is all that there is to do, I don’t know.  But if they drink a lot, they pee a lot.  On our trip to Hawaii, Marley must have peed at least five times. Wipes will come in hand for all the throw up and mess that they most certainly will make

Milk, Water, and Juice- Be sure that the kid is drinking or sucking on a sucker or something during takeoff, until your ears stop popping, and on the decent to land.  This is when the air pressure build up is the greatest, and can be really irritating for lots of babies.