After months of waiting, I was finally able to pin down Devlan and Diana Doyle to talk with them about their favorite things to do on the islands of Hawaii. Although busy, the couple was very gracious and polite, and they spent the afternoon with me without complaint. I was even more charmed in person than I thought I would be. It was quite an experience. Our conversation wandered more often than not, but I had a wonderful time hanging out with the lovely couple.
The interview took place on a Sunday afternoon in the Doyle’s Malibu home. The home itself is more beautiful than anything I have ever had the pleasure to visit and has certainly graced the cover of a few magazines. But the
scattered children’s toys gave it a homey feel. Looking around, I could easily see little Bryce Doyle riding down the bannister or even trying to swing from the huge chandelier in the foyer, and the curving staircase is going to be a perfect spot to make an entrance for lovely little Hannah when she starts dating. The two kids came and went during the interview, and, like their parents, they are beautiful and gracious children, wise beyond their years. Hannah, now nine, is the spitting image of her mother, and Bryce, now three, is a handsome image of his father. Watching their parents interact with the kids showed me a level of patience that you would never expect from such a busy couple. But after a few minutes, it was easy to tell that their children come first. I think I liked that the most about the Doyles. Despite their fame and fortune, they’re very family-oriented.
Collette: Thank you for offering to meet with me in your beautiful home.
Diana *laughing*: Of course. It was actually easier for us this way. Bryce still takes an afternoon nap, so this way he can still rest and not be in the way. I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about the kids interrupting.
Collette: I have three kids of my own. Trust me, I understand.
Diana: You do? Oh, wow. Three? That’s so neat. I have so many questions for you. Do you mind if I ask you a few?
Devlan *reaching out to cover Diana's hand with his*: She’s here to ask you questions, not the other way around.
When Diana turns to Devlan, frowning, I immediately step in.
Collette: Of course you can. I don’t mind sharing. My kids are very special to me; I love talking about them.
Several minutes pass where Diana tosses her head and smiles triumphantly at Devlan. He sits back and crosses his legs at the ankle to wait. Although I know he’s bored, he never lets on that he’s impatient, and I realize my fears of an argument were completely unfounded. It’s obvious that Devlan adores Diana. He watches her as we speak, only occasionally glancing at me when he pipes in to share an anecdote about the kids. It comes to my attention that Diana is considering getting pregnant a third time, but they’ve been very busy traveling and doing charity work. She fears she might not have time to devote to a third child. That’s where I step in and say that it’s very doable. I have three, and we’re a tight family even though we’re always busy. Having my youngest was a true blessing that I wouldn’t change for the world. I think Diana and Devlan have much to talk about when I’m gone.
Collette: So where should we start? I wanted to ask you a few questions about your trip to Hawaii.
Devlan: Which one?
Collette: Oh, so you’ve been back?
Diana: We go twice a year now.
Collette: You’re very fortunate.
Devlan *grinning at Diana*: She tells me all the time that we have the boat and may as well use it.
Collette: If you go twice a year now, obviously you enjoy Hawaii. Do you have a favorite island?
Diana and Devlan together: Maui.
Collette *laughing*: Obviously you love Maui. Can you tell me why? What is it about the island that you like the most?
Diana: It’s not as built up as Oahu, but it’s more built up than say, Kauai, for instance. It’s the best of both worlds. Enough quiet yet places to shop and eat.
Collette: Do you explore the islands every time you go to the ship?
Devlan: Absolutely. Hannah and Bryce love to play in the sand, and the boat gets a little small after a few days on board. We like to go ashore to stretch our legs.
Diana: Play some golf, you mean?
Devlan *grinning sheepishly*: And Diana likes to shop. She hits the flea market on Honolulu every time we come out.
Diana: Hannah’s a little daredevil, and her latest thing is spending the day on the zipline. There’s a good spot where they take kids as young as five.
Collette: To Devlan: You don’t mind watching Hannah hovering thirty feet or more off the ground?
Devlan: Of course I do. I swear that young lady will give me another heart attack one of these days. She’s
tough.
Diana *giggling*: You should see her surf.
Collette: She surfs too?
Devlan *proudly*: I’m teaching her.
Collette: Is Bryce doing his best to keep up with Hannah?
Diana: Hannah’s very overprotective of Bryce. When he tries to follow her around, she very calmly and patiently tells him why it’s so dangerous. Considering how eager she is for an adventure, I find it amusing that she’s so careful with him.
Collette: They are funny aren’t they? So what other activities do you enjoy in Hawaii?
Devlan: Our next best thing is snorkeling. The kids love sea turtles, and they’re plentiful on the islands. We must have hit every beach in the island chain, but one of my favorite places to go is Ke’e Beach on Kuwaii. It’s right near the trailhead to the Napali Coastline. Have you ever been out there, Collette?
Collette: As a matter of fact, I have. I didn’t hike the entire trail, but we went out a ways. What a sight! It’s beautiful.
Diana: We brought the kids out to the end when Bryce was 16 months.
Devlan *rolling his eyes*: It was a nightmare.
Diana *laughing*: That’s an exaggeration, honey.
Devlan: Collette, if you had a toddler, a seven-year-old and a tent walking through a tropical downpour that did not stop until almost midnight, would you consider that a good time?
Collette: Absolutely not.
Devlan: That’s exactly my point. We were wet, hot, and the baby was miserable. Even Hannah got fed up and cranky. We hiked out first thing in the morning.
Diana: Only because you insisted. The beach was beautiful, and it was deserted that night. I seem to remember you enjoying that part.
Devlan *clears throat and smiles*: That was the only redeeming quality on that particular adventure.
Collette: Do you still attend luaus?
Devlan: Bryce gets scared of the costumes, so we’ve put those on hold. Sometimes we just prefer to stay out of the limelight.
Collette: I understand that.
Diana: You’d think after all this time the paparazzi would leave us alone. But after Roxanne got into trouble, it all fired up again.
Collette: How is Roxanne?
Devlan: Thankfully down in San Diego and out of our hair.
Diana: Honey! Be nice.
Devlan: Why? She’s been cruel to you.
Diana: She’s had her reasons.
Devlan: That’s no excuse. I hope that guy keeps her in line down there.
Collette: A guy?
Devlan: I don’t know, so don’t ask. All I’ve heard is that she’s been clashing with someone down there.
Diana: I think she’s finally met her match.
Devlan: It’s about time.
Collette: My time’s growing short. Is there anything else you can add about your favorite things to do on Hawaii?
Devlan: Driving around the islands. You can see a lot from the ship, but actually getting in a car and driving through the islands is a gift not to be missed. They’re so beautiful, and you just can’t appreciate the beauty of them until you’re right in the middle.
Diana: I love the volcano on the Big Island. Seeing the lava flows is a great reminder of how little we are.
Collette: Do the kids have any favorites?
Diana: They both love to see the whales and dolphins swim alongside the boat. They immediately run topside when they spot one, but I get nervous when the whales go under our boat. It’s not my favorite, that’s for sure. The spring visit is the worst. It seems as though the water’s teeming with whales then.
Devlan: She’s afraid they’ll punch a hole in the boat.
Collette: It would have to be a big whale. I’ve seen photos of your yacht. It’s pretty large.
Devlan: That’s what I tell her, but she doesn’t listen.
Diana: I listen when I need to.
Collette: Well, I think I’ve taken up enough of your time. Thank you for being so warm and inviting. I’ve had a wonderful time.
Devlan: It was our pleasure. I hope you’ll come to visit again soon.
Diana: Yes, please. I’d love to talk more about how you juggle three kids around.
Collette: I’d be honored.
They walked me to the door, and I left grinning like a fool. I had so much fun visiting with Diana and Devlan, and Hannah and Bryce are just delightful. It was not until I got home that I realized we got off topic so many times that I wasn’t able to ask half the questions I wanted to. The one interesting thing I did get was a bit of gossip. Roxanne has a new guy… Now that little tidbit was worth losing some of my
questions!
The interview took place on a Sunday afternoon in the Doyle’s Malibu home. The home itself is more beautiful than anything I have ever had the pleasure to visit and has certainly graced the cover of a few magazines. But the
scattered children’s toys gave it a homey feel. Looking around, I could easily see little Bryce Doyle riding down the bannister or even trying to swing from the huge chandelier in the foyer, and the curving staircase is going to be a perfect spot to make an entrance for lovely little Hannah when she starts dating. The two kids came and went during the interview, and, like their parents, they are beautiful and gracious children, wise beyond their years. Hannah, now nine, is the spitting image of her mother, and Bryce, now three, is a handsome image of his father. Watching their parents interact with the kids showed me a level of patience that you would never expect from such a busy couple. But after a few minutes, it was easy to tell that their children come first. I think I liked that the most about the Doyles. Despite their fame and fortune, they’re very family-oriented.
Collette: Thank you for offering to meet with me in your beautiful home.
Diana *laughing*: Of course. It was actually easier for us this way. Bryce still takes an afternoon nap, so this way he can still rest and not be in the way. I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about the kids interrupting.
Collette: I have three kids of my own. Trust me, I understand.
Diana: You do? Oh, wow. Three? That’s so neat. I have so many questions for you. Do you mind if I ask you a few?
Devlan *reaching out to cover Diana's hand with his*: She’s here to ask you questions, not the other way around.
When Diana turns to Devlan, frowning, I immediately step in.
Collette: Of course you can. I don’t mind sharing. My kids are very special to me; I love talking about them.
Several minutes pass where Diana tosses her head and smiles triumphantly at Devlan. He sits back and crosses his legs at the ankle to wait. Although I know he’s bored, he never lets on that he’s impatient, and I realize my fears of an argument were completely unfounded. It’s obvious that Devlan adores Diana. He watches her as we speak, only occasionally glancing at me when he pipes in to share an anecdote about the kids. It comes to my attention that Diana is considering getting pregnant a third time, but they’ve been very busy traveling and doing charity work. She fears she might not have time to devote to a third child. That’s where I step in and say that it’s very doable. I have three, and we’re a tight family even though we’re always busy. Having my youngest was a true blessing that I wouldn’t change for the world. I think Diana and Devlan have much to talk about when I’m gone.
Collette: So where should we start? I wanted to ask you a few questions about your trip to Hawaii.
Devlan: Which one?
Collette: Oh, so you’ve been back?
Diana: We go twice a year now.
Collette: You’re very fortunate.
Devlan *grinning at Diana*: She tells me all the time that we have the boat and may as well use it.
Collette: If you go twice a year now, obviously you enjoy Hawaii. Do you have a favorite island?
Diana and Devlan together: Maui.
Collette *laughing*: Obviously you love Maui. Can you tell me why? What is it about the island that you like the most?
Diana: It’s not as built up as Oahu, but it’s more built up than say, Kauai, for instance. It’s the best of both worlds. Enough quiet yet places to shop and eat.
Collette: Do you explore the islands every time you go to the ship?
Devlan: Absolutely. Hannah and Bryce love to play in the sand, and the boat gets a little small after a few days on board. We like to go ashore to stretch our legs.
Diana: Play some golf, you mean?
Devlan *grinning sheepishly*: And Diana likes to shop. She hits the flea market on Honolulu every time we come out.
Diana: Hannah’s a little daredevil, and her latest thing is spending the day on the zipline. There’s a good spot where they take kids as young as five.
Collette: To Devlan: You don’t mind watching Hannah hovering thirty feet or more off the ground?
Devlan: Of course I do. I swear that young lady will give me another heart attack one of these days. She’s
tough.
Diana *giggling*: You should see her surf.
Collette: She surfs too?
Devlan *proudly*: I’m teaching her.
Collette: Is Bryce doing his best to keep up with Hannah?
Diana: Hannah’s very overprotective of Bryce. When he tries to follow her around, she very calmly and patiently tells him why it’s so dangerous. Considering how eager she is for an adventure, I find it amusing that she’s so careful with him.
Collette: They are funny aren’t they? So what other activities do you enjoy in Hawaii?
Devlan: Our next best thing is snorkeling. The kids love sea turtles, and they’re plentiful on the islands. We must have hit every beach in the island chain, but one of my favorite places to go is Ke’e Beach on Kuwaii. It’s right near the trailhead to the Napali Coastline. Have you ever been out there, Collette?
Collette: As a matter of fact, I have. I didn’t hike the entire trail, but we went out a ways. What a sight! It’s beautiful.
Diana: We brought the kids out to the end when Bryce was 16 months.
Devlan *rolling his eyes*: It was a nightmare.
Diana *laughing*: That’s an exaggeration, honey.
Devlan: Collette, if you had a toddler, a seven-year-old and a tent walking through a tropical downpour that did not stop until almost midnight, would you consider that a good time?
Collette: Absolutely not.
Devlan: That’s exactly my point. We were wet, hot, and the baby was miserable. Even Hannah got fed up and cranky. We hiked out first thing in the morning.
Diana: Only because you insisted. The beach was beautiful, and it was deserted that night. I seem to remember you enjoying that part.
Devlan *clears throat and smiles*: That was the only redeeming quality on that particular adventure.
Collette: Do you still attend luaus?
Devlan: Bryce gets scared of the costumes, so we’ve put those on hold. Sometimes we just prefer to stay out of the limelight.
Collette: I understand that.
Diana: You’d think after all this time the paparazzi would leave us alone. But after Roxanne got into trouble, it all fired up again.
Collette: How is Roxanne?
Devlan: Thankfully down in San Diego and out of our hair.
Diana: Honey! Be nice.
Devlan: Why? She’s been cruel to you.
Diana: She’s had her reasons.
Devlan: That’s no excuse. I hope that guy keeps her in line down there.
Collette: A guy?
Devlan: I don’t know, so don’t ask. All I’ve heard is that she’s been clashing with someone down there.
Diana: I think she’s finally met her match.
Devlan: It’s about time.
Collette: My time’s growing short. Is there anything else you can add about your favorite things to do on Hawaii?
Devlan: Driving around the islands. You can see a lot from the ship, but actually getting in a car and driving through the islands is a gift not to be missed. They’re so beautiful, and you just can’t appreciate the beauty of them until you’re right in the middle.
Diana: I love the volcano on the Big Island. Seeing the lava flows is a great reminder of how little we are.
Collette: Do the kids have any favorites?
Diana: They both love to see the whales and dolphins swim alongside the boat. They immediately run topside when they spot one, but I get nervous when the whales go under our boat. It’s not my favorite, that’s for sure. The spring visit is the worst. It seems as though the water’s teeming with whales then.
Devlan: She’s afraid they’ll punch a hole in the boat.
Collette: It would have to be a big whale. I’ve seen photos of your yacht. It’s pretty large.
Devlan: That’s what I tell her, but she doesn’t listen.
Diana: I listen when I need to.
Collette: Well, I think I’ve taken up enough of your time. Thank you for being so warm and inviting. I’ve had a wonderful time.
Devlan: It was our pleasure. I hope you’ll come to visit again soon.
Diana: Yes, please. I’d love to talk more about how you juggle three kids around.
Collette: I’d be honored.
They walked me to the door, and I left grinning like a fool. I had so much fun visiting with Diana and Devlan, and Hannah and Bryce are just delightful. It was not until I got home that I realized we got off topic so many times that I wasn’t able to ask half the questions I wanted to. The one interesting thing I did get was a bit of gossip. Roxanne has a new guy… Now that little tidbit was worth losing some of my
questions!
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