This will be Trip 116. Our 50th anniversary trip to Hawaii.
It is Tuesday June 3, 2014 and we have three days in which to get ready. The packing is under control, sort of, and all we need to do is get healthy and stay healthy. Obviously we will be flying to Hawaii. I would rather drive the Dragon, but the obstacles are just too big.
Fifty (50) years ago. We honeymooned in Canada. While in Quebec city we had a street artist paint our profiles and he also had a painting of the Chateau Frontenac Hotel where we stayed while in the city. With a little modern day magic here we are, as we were fifty years ago.
It is Tuesday June 3, 2014 and we have three days in which to get ready. The packing is under control, sort of, and all we need to do is get healthy and stay healthy. Obviously we will be flying to Hawaii. I would rather drive the Dragon, but the obstacles are just too big.
Fifty (50) years ago. We honeymooned in Canada. While in Quebec city we had a street artist paint our profiles and he also had a painting of the Chateau Frontenac Hotel where we stayed while in the city. With a little modern day magic here we are, as we were fifty years ago.
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Showing off our lucky coins in our shoes. I don't know why I just have one.
We left the reception one our way to the Marott Hotel here in Indy. It was pretty elegant in its day and it is still there today as the Marott Apartments. It's older than we are being built in 1926, |
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Trip 116 June 2014…50th Anniversary to Hawaii
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Finally 2:30 Saturday morning rolled around and we got up and headed to the airport at 3:10 AM. We arrived there at 4:00 went through security with no problems. The plane left on time but was 25 minutes late arriving at Phoenix because of going around storms near Kansas City.
Our first class seats were great and we had a pretty good breakfast. Nan Lou was so comfy she curled up with pillows and a blanket and slept for an hour or so.
We had 1 hour to go a long way to next plane. Got there half hour before take off. Long long line but the first class line had one person. We scooted right in. Last plane was an Airbus this one is a Boeing 757. Looks older. Seats not quite as good but still a damn site better than coach by long shot.
NL not sleeping. Talking a lot. We had another breakfast. Pretty good. NL lost her pillow behind her seat. Pain to get it. I think she has taken whoopsie pills. Everything funny.
These first class tickets cost $30 more than coach for some unknown reason and well worth it. Saved $50 on checked bags and $40 on meals. The best thing is the two side by sides and all the room.
I think we have 4:30 hours to go.
We been over water for a long time now. It is 8:00 Hawaii time. We get to Maui about 11:30.
I can't seem to sleep. Doze off and eyes pop open. Try to read and eyes close. Nan Lou can't sleep and is restless.
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Finally 2:30 Saturday morning rolled around and we got up and headed to the airport at 3:10 AM. We arrived there at 4:00 went through security with no problems. The plane left on time but was 25 minutes late arriving at Phoenix because of going around storms near Kansas City.
Our first class seats were great and we had a pretty good breakfast. Nan Lou was so comfy she curled up with pillows and a blanket and slept for an hour or so.
We had 1 hour to go a long way to next plane. Got there half hour before take off. Long long line but the first class line had one person. We scooted right in. Last plane was an Airbus this one is a Boeing 757. Looks older. Seats not quite as good but still a damn site better than coach by long shot.
NL not sleeping. Talking a lot. We had another breakfast. Pretty good. NL lost her pillow behind her seat. Pain to get it. I think she has taken whoopsie pills. Everything funny.
These first class tickets cost $30 more than coach for some unknown reason and well worth it. Saved $50 on checked bags and $40 on meals. The best thing is the two side by sides and all the room.
I think we have 4:30 hours to go.
We been over water for a long time now. It is 8:00 Hawaii time. We get to Maui about 11:30.
I can't seem to sleep. Doze off and eyes pop open. Try to read and eyes close. Nan Lou can't sleep and is restless.
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We finally arrived in Maui just about 30minutes late at 11:56 AM. The landing was a little rough because of some high winds, I guess. As usual we popped up to stand and wait until the jetway came and everyone started to get off. We had a very long walk to baggage which wasn’t far from the shuttle to the Budget car rental. The line at Budget was long and slow but we finally got our car, a Nissan Sentra. Driving around looking for a place to eat was futile so NL asked Siri where Denny’s was. She had seen a sign for Denny’s as we were driving around. We found it and weren’t to enthused by the look of it. We were seated and ordered something. While waiting someone came from the bathroom with two feet of kinda dirty toilet paper stuck on her shoe. Naturally it came loose next to our table. We promptly changed tables and fought our way through our rather poor lunch.
Next we were off to the private cottage we had rented through Airbnb. It was a bit of a surprise being behind a modest house with all sorts of wood fences to keep three dogs enclosed. The lady owner, Rhonda. showed us around our cottage which was an old garage with a couple of room additions. It is fairly clean if you don’t mind a few ants and a giant beetle and the junk stacked up between the front door and the gate to the area. It all looks old but has a fairly fresh coat of paint on the walls to spiffen it up.
We went to bed around six, we were very tired. hb
Next we were off to the private cottage we had rented through Airbnb. It was a bit of a surprise being behind a modest house with all sorts of wood fences to keep three dogs enclosed. The lady owner, Rhonda. showed us around our cottage which was an old garage with a couple of room additions. It is fairly clean if you don’t mind a few ants and a giant beetle and the junk stacked up between the front door and the gate to the area. It all looks old but has a fairly fresh coat of paint on the walls to spiffen it up.
We went to bed around six, we were very tired. hb
Sunday, June 8, 2014
We were out and about around 9:30 heading for Charlie’s about 9 miles away in Pahi because our landlord recommended it. Pahi was very touristy and parking on the street was nonexistent. There was a city lot with spaces about three blocks from the restaurant which wasn’t bad. The restaurant’s main claim to fame was the fact Willie Nelson has been there when he is in Maui. The food was pretty good with prices in the Patachou range.
From there we went to the cottage, changed clothes, and went exploring to where we will be staying for the next five days. Then we drove to Kehai which is much like the places in Florida with rows of condo complexes. We stopped in a strip mall for a few things and then another one to eat at Peggy Sue’s, a very small version of the one we found in Southern California last year. Their club and tuna salad sandwiches were good and Nan Lou’s malt was king size.
We found another route back to the cottage and checked out our next B and B before and are now resting before bed time. Yes, when one is as old as we are one needs to rest before going to bed.
Below are several photos of our first cottage in Maui. We call it Rhonda's, because it is Rhonda's. Top left is the view out across our lanai. Top right is the queen size bed. Bottom left is one end of the sitting room. Bottom right is a copy of one of the original paintings. There were many fine paintings throughout the cottage. I really liked them.
Monday, June 9, 2014
Time to pack up and head for our second Maui B&B. We were on our way before 11:00 and stopped to eat breakfast before we found Shellanes waterfront condo. It was pretty nice with a bedroom, bath, kitchen, and lanai where we could see the ocean. It took a little doing to get to the water and even then there was an 8 foot drop over a lava wall to a rocky (lava) area where the waves crashed in a froth of white.
At Rhonda’s we thought the lights were pretty dim and really weird but Shellane’s lights were more normal but with really dim bulbs. After a closer look NL decided it wasn’t all that clean. NL was quite put out when we read a couple of notices telling us to dump all our trash and start a load of towels in the washer before we left.
We ate at a local pizza place and had a Hawaiian special with pork and pineapple. It tasted OK at first but the more I ate the less OK it became. I’ll stick to pepperoni. hb
Time to pack up and head for our second Maui B&B. We were on our way before 11:00 and stopped to eat breakfast before we found Shellanes waterfront condo. It was pretty nice with a bedroom, bath, kitchen, and lanai where we could see the ocean. It took a little doing to get to the water and even then there was an 8 foot drop over a lava wall to a rocky (lava) area where the waves crashed in a froth of white.
At Rhonda’s we thought the lights were pretty dim and really weird but Shellane’s lights were more normal but with really dim bulbs. After a closer look NL decided it wasn’t all that clean. NL was quite put out when we read a couple of notices telling us to dump all our trash and start a load of towels in the washer before we left.
We ate at a local pizza place and had a Hawaiian special with pork and pineapple. It tasted OK at first but the more I ate the less OK it became. I’ll stick to pepperoni. hb
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Tuesday, June 10, 2014 We explored the area by heading up the coast to Lahaina which proved to be quite a touristy place. We might have eaten at an old hotel there which served a pretty good breakfast and had a very noisy African Grey parrot in a cage. I started to get a cold with a sore throat which only lasted a day or two but moved into my head to make me snot and cough. I was told I was not very good company. I do suffer poorly. hb |
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Wednesday, June 11, 2014 Today we did more exploring up and down the coast to the places we visited yesterday. It was all very pretty but I was feeling yucky and was told I was a mean SOB. Thursday, June 12, 2014 Even more of the same plus we stopped at a couple of beaches to look for hearts. NL found two heart like hunks of lava and one that is kinda iffy in my humble opinion. We took the road to Hana which is supposed to be a very big thing on Maui. It was a very nice drive and we saw tropical a rain forest with all kinds of plants we had never seen before. I think the most interesting one was several big trees we stumbled across when we pulled off the road to look at something else. The bark looked to be very smooth and it had all kinds of colorful streaks on it. Blue, green, red, yellow, orange and probably more. Some of the trees were a little muted in color and some were pretty bright. Whatever they were remained a mystery until we returned home and stumbled across a photo of them on Bing's picture page. They're called Rainbow Eucalyptus and are from the Philippines and some also here on Maui. In places the road was very narrow, like one way, with a few stopping places for waterfall or ocean views, many of them without any parking places left. At the halfway point (about 17 miles) there was a little shop called Halfway To Hana selling high priced ice cream and the best shave ice ever, so we read. We stopped there on the way back. Some of the interesting things to see were down little trails which we were averse to take being as wimpy as we are. Hana was a small town with a pretty beach and a $600.00 a night hotel which we drove by quietly. It is a long way off the beaten path to Hana and the road continues farther diminishing to a four wheel drive road but we turned around at Hana and headed back up the mountain and then back down into Paia. I thought it was a pretty nice drive but I'll take the Pacific Coast Highway through California, Oregon, and Washington. That is really unfair comparing the 38 miles to Hana to something like 1000 miles on the mainland. I will be stoned, or maybe as they do on these volcanic isles, lavaed. Friday, June 13, 2014 This is our 50th anniversary. We went to eat dinner at Mala’s Ocean Tavern which is right on the water. I made a reservation earlier in the day and they said we could be seated at a window table. It was pretty nice there and people watching was good. The sun set about 30 minutes after we finished eating and we sat on a bench next to Mala’s until it was gone. Happy Anniversary from Grouchy Ham to Lovely Lou. I love you very much. I’d burst into song but my back up band didn’t want to put up with me and left for Bali. “I love you more today than yesterday, but not as much as tomorrow.” 
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Saturday, June 14, 2014 It was time to leave Maui and fly to the Big Island (Hawaii). We packed and left without doing the laundry or taking out the trash as suggested in the book the owner had on the coffee table. On the way to the airport we had breakfast at Starbucks then finished the drive to the rental car return. Then it was the usual shuttle bus that took us to check in for Hawaiian Airlines where we did the bag checking and security. We had about an hour to wait for takeoff and we sat and watched a couple of earlier flights from our gate load up before it was time for us. The plane had three rows on one side and two on the other. We were in the two row side which was nice except for the fact that the seats were just as tiny and crowded as on the other side. The flight was a little over a half hour and we landed at Hilo to find that it was pretty laid back and not a bit like the hustle and crowds of Maui. In fact the rental cars were within walking distance. This time we got a Chrysler 200 and it was a lot quicker service than in Maui. We found a grocery store/deli and ate sandwiches there then headed out for Dennis and Paul’s place located in some remote area near Pahoa. The phone map couldn’t come up with the location and we drove around until we feared darkness would render us helpless in the jungle. Finally I dug out the directions they had emailed and was able to backtrack from where we were to their place down a dirt road about a mile from any main, and I use the term loosely, road. Dennis and their three dogs came to greet us as we were gong through the gate into their driveway. After the last two places, on Maui, we were very pleased to see the uniqueness of Mangolay, as they have named their property. Dennis is an architect, or a retired architect, and they have done a great job of making a luxurious home out in the boonies of the Puna area of the big island. There is no electricity or water service. All the water is rain water filtered and treated for potability. They have solar panels and twenty big deep cell batteries to provide the place with electricity. They also have a very nice pool with the water heated in tubes under the surrounding pavement. There is an outdoor water garden surrounded by all sorts of lush tropical vegetation and a winding pond with koi in it. There are many decorations that they have brought from their many world wide travels. It is mostly Indonesian statuary and art work. I seem to have run on and on, but I was impressed. hb 
We had our own private outdoor shower.
Near the pool are a pair of Triffids. Who remembers the Triffids from a 1951 movie? Don't go near 'em.
Sunday, June 15, 2014
We ventured into Pahoa for breakfast which was pretty good in the Black Rock Cafe which might be voted as the dirtiest place in town. We had been told about an open air Sunday market and after a little bit of roaming around we found it. It was very crowded and we lucked into a good parking when I went the wrong way down a one way drive and an attendant directed me backward into it. Mahalo. There were many vendors selling their handmade jewelry and fresh farmed organic fruit. We found a guy who had a tiny donut making that worked like the ones we used to see on a much, much larger scale back in the day. They were good. People watching was great. Many of all ages who looked like hippies and/or bikers both buying and selling all kinds of goods. I imagine there was a certain amount of imported crap, but not too much. Then we went into Hilo and ended up at a shopping center to check out Macy’s and Hilo Hattie’s. I either lost the keys or locked them in the car and it was panic time. I called Alamo and ended up with AAA busting into the car where I found the keys. I was quite happy we didn’t have to be towed to the Alamo place at the airport and get set up with another car. They said they only had the one set of car keys. I say bull ticky, they just wanted to soak us for towing and sundry related costs. This is a good place to mention that the Budget car rental in Maui was about $26 a day and the Alamo in Hilo was $48 per day. Of course we did pay about $85 extra because we were leaving it at the Kona airport. That still made it a $39 per day rate. These rentals were made through Costco and were notably less than doing it directly or through other agencies. We went into Pahoa to eat at their best restaurant, Kaleo’s where Nannie had set us up with a gift card for our anniversary. The meal was good and of course we had left overs to take home. Thank you very much Nannie. hb Monday, June 16, 2014 Today was the day to head up the road to Volcano National Park and exorcise the spirit of Pele who had landed Nan Lou in the hospital when we were here in 2009. We managed to do that although she tried to strike back with lousy food in the hotel’s lounge. The viewing area was teeming with sightseers, most of them Asiatic. I offered to take a photo of three of them and before I could say much of anything many more of their tour group appeared to have their photo taken with the crazy man from Indianapolis. There was one who spoke English and said they were from Hong Kong. The crater was releasing steam or poison gas and the road around the larger crater was half closed as it was in 2009. On the way up the volcano we stopped at an orchid farm and saw many different types of orchids. On the way down we stopped at a gallery which had a vegan restaurant, closed when we got there, and bought a few small things. By the time we got back to Mangolay we were pooped as usual. 
My Volcano Photo Phriends
The crater looks a little tired. The last time we saw it there was more smoke and steam.
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
We were scheduled to leave Mangolay today but we felt we hadn’t spent enough time in the area and decided to stay for another day since they had no one booked for today. We went to Pele’s Kitchen in Pahoa for an excellent breakfast. It was a cute place although very small. Nan Lou saw a planter carved out of lava in the form of a volcano complete with red lava flowing down the slopes. She has started a quest to find a volcano shaped hunk of lave which she can make into a planter. 
Downtown Pahoa above and to the right.
Pahoa gent with a chicken on hie handlebars.
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Approaching the Big Island
On the road to Mangolay.
Mangolay, above. Very nice with very nice hosts.
The Sunday market with many interesting people.
Kaleo's, the best restaurant in Pahoa. Our second anniversary dinner compliments of our darling daughter, Lou II.
Breakfast at the Tin Shack in Pahoa with a fine mix of locals.
An exemplary breakfast in Pele's Kitchen in Pahoa.
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Pahoa is an unusual place. It is full of people that were called hippies back in the late 60s and 70s. Long hair, beards, tattoos, and even smoking big fat doobies as they walk down the street. Paul told us many of the younger ones are here working on the organic farms for low wages and a place to stay. We mentioned the older ones and he said they came in the 70s and just stayed. He said he referred to some of them as Trustafarains, a play on Rastafarians.
The difference between Pahoa and and any part of Maui is like night and day. Maui could be any tourist town in America, from those in Florida, California, or on the east coast. Full of tourists spending big bucks and locals who are like our neighbors. Pahoa is cool.
One last adventure before leaving D and P’s. Along the coast we found a hot pond that had easy access unlike some other things. In fact it was a hot pond park. There was a pool about 60 feet wide and 120 feet long. It was separated from the ocean by two stone walls with a small passage for fresh ocean water to wash in and out. They say it is heated by the heat from underground volcanic action. I stuck a foot in it and it was a little warm, not like a hot tub, but warmer than the ocean.
The difference between Pahoa and and any part of Maui is like night and day. Maui could be any tourist town in America, from those in Florida, California, or on the east coast. Full of tourists spending big bucks and locals who are like our neighbors. Pahoa is cool.
One last adventure before leaving D and P’s. Along the coast we found a hot pond that had easy access unlike some other things. In fact it was a hot pond park. There was a pool about 60 feet wide and 120 feet long. It was separated from the ocean by two stone walls with a small passage for fresh ocean water to wash in and out. They say it is heated by the heat from underground volcanic action. I stuck a foot in it and it was a little warm, not like a hot tub, but warmer than the ocean.
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Above is a pond heated by volcanic activity.
Below are photos along the southeast coast of the Big Island. There are lava fields, beaches with lava instead of sand (ouch) and lush tropical venation.
Below are photos along the southeast coast of the Big Island. There are lava fields, beaches with lava instead of sand (ouch) and lush tropical venation.
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Wednesday, June 18, 2014
We left Mangolay and headed for the Kona area. I am confused at what this place is called, we call it Kona but I think it is Kailua Kona and the immediate surrounding area is called Kona. Possibly most call it just plain Kona. Locals probably call it Kailua.
There are three ways to go from Hilo to Kona; one north along the coast, one through the center past the Mauna Kea volcano, and the southern route which is the longest. We chose the northern one which rises to about 3000 feet. The coast road really isn’t very close to the coast but it is still a nice drive. When it leaves the coast and heads west it goes through ranch and farm land. We found a great Starbucks in Waimea where we changed roads to head south through country that at times looked a little otherworldly, whatever that means. It was almost like New Mexico and not a lush rain forrest.
We were headed for the Surfer’s Inn about 5 miles outside of Kailua Kona on a road that climbs into the inland highlands. It took a bit of back and forth driving to find, but we managed. Owned by Ossian Farmer, a native Hawaiian. It is a two story house and he lives on the upper floor with two rental units on the first floor. Nowhere near as fancy as Mangolay, but not as shabby as Rhonda’s. It isn’t new like Shellane’s and it is quite roomy and the bathroom lights are bright.
Ossian is pronounced Ocean, as in a big body of water like the Pacific.
Shortly after we unpacked it started to rain. Every window was open and we hustled to close them. The dampness is pervasive and I noticed that several metal appliances had a fair degree of rust. Our clothes feel damp, not just here but every place we’ve been, because nothing has air conditioning. The 1300 foot altitude makes the night rather cool and we definitely do need a blanket or two. hb
We left Mangolay and headed for the Kona area. I am confused at what this place is called, we call it Kona but I think it is Kailua Kona and the immediate surrounding area is called Kona. Possibly most call it just plain Kona. Locals probably call it Kailua.
There are three ways to go from Hilo to Kona; one north along the coast, one through the center past the Mauna Kea volcano, and the southern route which is the longest. We chose the northern one which rises to about 3000 feet. The coast road really isn’t very close to the coast but it is still a nice drive. When it leaves the coast and heads west it goes through ranch and farm land. We found a great Starbucks in Waimea where we changed roads to head south through country that at times looked a little otherworldly, whatever that means. It was almost like New Mexico and not a lush rain forrest.
We were headed for the Surfer’s Inn about 5 miles outside of Kailua Kona on a road that climbs into the inland highlands. It took a bit of back and forth driving to find, but we managed. Owned by Ossian Farmer, a native Hawaiian. It is a two story house and he lives on the upper floor with two rental units on the first floor. Nowhere near as fancy as Mangolay, but not as shabby as Rhonda’s. It isn’t new like Shellane’s and it is quite roomy and the bathroom lights are bright.
Ossian is pronounced Ocean, as in a big body of water like the Pacific.
Shortly after we unpacked it started to rain. Every window was open and we hustled to close them. The dampness is pervasive and I noticed that several metal appliances had a fair degree of rust. Our clothes feel damp, not just here but every place we’ve been, because nothing has air conditioning. The 1300 foot altitude makes the night rather cool and we definitely do need a blanket or two. hb
Thursday, June 19, 2014
We slept later than usual but finally got up and headed down to Kona. We passed a coffee place but continued on to find something else, which proved futile, so we returned to the coffee place and had bagels. They had a few other menu items which we might try at a later date. I had Kona coffee and Nan Lou had a decaf Kona Americano which tasted better than my dark roast Kona. I am crushed. We had seen a WalMart in the distance and drove around in circles until we found it. Then we drove down Alii drive through the big tourist district as far as the shopping center near where we stayed in 2009. It was just about the same except there was no longer a ukulele band to have a weekly concert. Fearing a lack of food might do us in we stopped at a McDonalds before heading back up the hill. We passed our place and went in search of a coffee shop and a little restaurant about five miles south on our high country road. The restaurant was shut down and the coffee shop wasn’t to be found. There were a lot of galleries and we shall return another day. Back at Surfers Inn we rest and write and soon will go to bed. hb Friday, June 20, 2014 We had no plans as usual and NL suggested we go to the Green Flash for breakfast. We ate there several times in 2009 and liked their little outdoor garden. When we got there the door was open but some guy said they were closed but would be open tomorrow. NL then suggested we go down to the Keahou shopping center and eat at the coffee cafe there, also another familiar place. It was open and we shared a crepe breakfast that was very good. Since we had ventured so far south we decided to go on down to the village of Captain Cook and from there we headed for South Point, the farthest southern place in the USA. It is the place with high cliffs where people fish and dive into the ocean. There is also a couple of big holes in the ground with tunnels through the lava and rock from the ocean. We have seen people going into these holes and swimming through the tunnels into the ocean. Today there were no swimmers or divers, just some fishermen and a few lookers like us. The paved road ends there and there are several unpaved trails which require serious four wheel drive vehicles to negotiate. It was cloudy with on and off showers all the way here and somehow not as nice and clean as five years ago. There was a road going to the green sand beach and we took it a short way until it turned into a four wheel drive only road. There was some kind of abandoned complex of what looked like concrete foundations and some concrete walled buildings nearby. It might have been a military complex torn down or something that was never completed. A mystery to those of us who are curious about such things. We headed back to the highway and north to Captain Cook where we oped to find food and drink. Later we did find out it was military from the fifties, I think. Nan Lou says: A portrait drawing on one of the walls said, “Tell my people I tried.” Perhaps that’s not exactly right but it’s near enough. We could never find any information about this. It was well done and there certainly must be a story involved. As we hit the south end of Cap Cook we stopped at a little restaurant and had their special fish and chips. It was pretty good and the place was kinda cute. Nan Lou spotted a flying woman who looked sort of like a mermaid with wings hanging from the ceiling. It was pretty much like the one where we are staying that NL liked. She inquired and found out it could be had for $35 so now we have our own Balinese flying cutie to hang at home. After the fish and chip dinner some ice cream sounded good so NL called on Siri to find a Baskin Robbins. Siri came up with one and away we went. It was near the heart of Kona and I had a good chocolate cup while poor Nan Lou had what must have been the worst double chocolate malt ever concocted. We had some time before darkness and Costco was sort of on the way home so we stopped there to look at some clothing. They didn’t have it in the right size so away we went. It was a very busy Costco, more so than the one at home. Now we are back at Surfer’s Inn and ready to call it a day. hb Saturday, June 21, 2014 We went to the Green Flash and had breakfast sandwiches and Kona coffee which wasn’t as good as it was five years ago. I guess they have a point when they say, “You are not able to return to something from the past.” They do use fewer words to say it, but my way is hasf better clarity, don’cha think? Then we stopped at our new favorite coffee place the name of which I forget. Nan Lou says: It is the Kona coffee and tea café. Next we went to WalMart or maybe not. Later we went south on Ossian’s road 180 to the tiny town of Holualoa to see the galleries there. About half of them were closed; Nan Lou liked a couple of them. We went all the way south on 180 and then headed back north to our temporary home. After a little rest we went to the docks to eat at a restaurant/bar where the local boating crowd hung out. The eats were passable, so we ate. I don’t think I’ve mentioned all the rain we’ve had. Most of it has been up the hill where we stay but now and then down in Kailua and other lower elevations had the rain too. Leaving the Harbor House it was raining a little but looking inland up the hill we saw that it was raining harder and a nice rainbow had formed. We took some photos and then headed north to what I call the Costco Road to head home. On the way we stopped to watch the sunset. It was OK, but nothing to rave about. hb |
We are at the end of the paved road, almost to South Point which is the southernmost point of the United States.
This is truly the old swimming' hole. No one swimming today. We've seen people diving in, swimming thru the tunnel, and coming out at the base of the cliff. I might have tried it but I didn't have my Speedos with me and I was scared I might get something caught on a rock.
Who is this guy?
Well, the old Green Flash ain't what it used to be, but the ladies sure show off their great gams.
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Sunday, June 22, 2014
A lazy morning and NL had mysterious back pains. They worry me when she isn’t doing anything to strain her back. We went downtown, parked for ten bucks (two hours) walked a short way and ate at a waterside table which was pretty nice. Then we went to the car, had more back pains, drove to the airport, had more back pains, and then went 17 miles south to the Kona Community Hospital. It was a little scary in a third world way, so after a quick in and out of the emergency room NL said, “GO! I will feel better.” She did too. We came home feeling better, had a snack, played with the computer and napped. Soon it was time to eat. That prompted a search of eating apps and we came up with nada. So off we went to downtown thinking if we were lucky and found a place to park we surely could find a place to eat. Surprisingly the free parking lot had several spaces and we headed for the street across from the seawall and immediately saw why there were places. Almost everything was closed. There was one nearby restaurant, The Fish Hopper, and we got a table one row back from the open side facing the water. The prices were a bit on the high side, but look where we are. I had fish and chips and Nan Lou had pasta alfredo. It was an OK meal and the waitress was extremely nice. As we ate it got dark. It was cloudy and we weren’t facing the setting sun so we don’t know it was as good as last night’s mediocre sunset. When we headed home I had a thought that I might have forgotten my credit card. I checked and I didn’t have it. So, back to the restaurant where I retrieved it from Joel the Manager. All in all, it was a pretty nice place. Nan Lou liked a fellow diner. He was an old fart with a Hawaiian shirt with the top three or four buttons undone. He had chest hair that must have been three inches long sticking out in all directions. I need to get some extensions for mine. hb Monday, June 23, 2014 We slept a little later than planned. before heading north in search of new adventures we went into Kailua for coffee at our new fav coffee shop. Then across the street to mail a couple of boxes home. From there it was up the Queen’s highway. Our main destination was the Hapuma state park where the beach is great and easily accessible. On the way I went into the town of Waikoloa. It wasn’t a town but a giant resort complex made up of resort hotels, condos, and several shopping centers. It was actually much bigger than some of the towns we've been through. We decided that isn’t the way to go for us. The accommodations might be better than three out of four places, but the surroundings and atmosphere isn’t. A few more miles and we came to the state park. There were several parking lots and we were lucky to find a place rather close to the beach. The sand was much like that at Lake Michigan and the beach was clean and fairly well populated with swimmers, lookie lous, and sand throwers. We got our feet wet with nice warm ocean water, took a few photos, I lost my sunglasses, and then headed northward to Hawi. Somewhere along the way we stopped at a scenic point and looked for lava for Nan Lou’s volcano planter. We found a nice piece but it was a little too big and traded it for two likely smaller pieces from our hosts lava pile. The ride up there was pretty with lava fields, brown and green grassy areas, and more lava fields. We passed a deep water port with a big container ship being loaded or unloaded and finally hit Hawi. I remembered a few things about it but they proved to be a little screwed up. We had lunch at a little cafe across the street from the big kahuna’s statue, King Kamehameha, and then headed south. I kept telling NL to buy something for herself but she just won’t do it so I bought a new sarong from the same store she got her flowered Hawaiian dress five years ago. They still sold the same dress and others in different colors. NL didn’t want anymore. I think they’re pretty and wanted one for myself but opted for the sarong. The drive back was uneventful and we got home before dark stumbled and fell. We leave tomorrow night at 10:45 and will leave the B&noB a little before 8 PM. There will be one more box to mail after a little more lava hunting. Now we rest, read, and maybe even snack to accompany my dreaded ‘roid intake. hb Tuesday, June 24, 2014 We left for home at 10:45 PM after an exciting day that culminated with a dinner at an Italian restaurant near a big shopping center on the outskirts of Kailua. The food was quite good but I could only eat half of my spaghetti. We couldn’t take the leftovers because we had to be at the aerodrome in an hour or so. I had said goodbye to Mrs. Ossian (Brit) in the middle of the day and we left for the airport just before 8:00. It was very dark by then but we found our way there. I went to drop Nan Lou off with the baggage and a nice young man came up and told us they had curbside checking and he would take care of everything, even getting our boarding passes. He did much faster than we could have. Then we returned the car, took the shuttle to the airport, did the expedited security thing which we somehow qualified for, and sat in the open air terminal and awaited for our flight to be announced. It was, in about an hour, and we all walked out to the stairway up to the plane’s door. Good old Kona aerodrome, just like 1945. We took off a few minutes early. hb Wednesday, June 25, 2014 After a pretty sleepless night flight we reached Phoenix a little early. Naturally we had to walk from one end of that dreadful airport to the other end. It took 15 or 20 minutes which translates into over one half mile. We found a place to sit and I just managed to hear that our departure gate had changed. It was back where we landed. I had even checked the TV boards to make sure we went to the right place. OK, another long walk back where we found a giant crowd of people waiting for many different flights. People were crammed cheek to jowl and it was almost impossible to move anywhere. Luckily Nan Lou saved my ass by telling me where to go and with our blessed first class tickets we scooted right onto the plane. I hate the Phoenix airport, I love the Kona aerodrome. About three and one half hours later we landed in Indy. We collected our luggage, I went for the car, Nan Lou guarded all our treasures, I found her waiting for me, and we headed for home. All in all it was a nice fiftieth anniversary except I was mean, stand-offish, and ruined the whole thing. Next big one we will go to Catmandoo and really have a bad time. hb |
A little village about five miles down the road from Ossian's. It had a lot of impressive art galleries.
Big tree near the Fish Hopper restaurant.
Across the street from the Fish Hopper in beautiful downtown Kilauea in the heart of the Kona district.
Five years ago we heard the common practice of using white coral on the black lava to make a statement was frowned on. Today some areas have erased it completely. We liked it and our version is near here. See below.
Well son of a gun, here it is. Ham and Nan, married fifty years.
A great beach if you are a sun and water person. We got our feet wet.
Waiting at the Kona airport. It is all outdoors and would be
pretty nasty in January with ice and snow. 
I remember going to Midway Airport (Chicago) in the forties and watching people board planes using a long portable stairway. They still do it that way here. I just love this aerodrome!
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