Monday, February 27, 2012

Hawaii - February 26-28

Sunday morning Michele drove us to her favorite breakfast spot, The Coffee Shack, high above Kealakekua Bay and the Captain Cook Monument. Two ways to the monument and good snorkeling: hike 1300 feet down a grueling trail along the cliffs above or kyak 1 mile across the bay.  On our trip, whenever that may be, we plan to kyak to the momument.  Photos Feb26

After Claire & Joanne left, Bryan & I drove down to Ultimate Burgers for a good burger before I tried to ride a few more waves at White Beach just down the hill from Michele & Bryan's house.  Bryan used his incredible camera to snap some action pictures of me:  Boogie Boarding.

Hawaii - Lana'i February 23-25

To give Michele & Bryan a break, Joanne arranged a short trip to the desert island of Lana'i.  Bryan drove us the airport to fly Mokulele to Maui to take a taxi across the island to the Lahaina ferry dock to catch the ferry to Lana'i  to take the shuttle to the Four Seasons Resort called the Lodge. Joanne got a special deal for a room in this beautiful place but as the shuttle bus driver said some places take an arm and a leg, the Four Seasons take both arms and both legs!

Each evening after dinner, we listened to a beautiful lady play the piano and sing old jazz standards.  Very nice. 

About the Cook Island Pines - Lana'i, receiving only ten inches of rain per year, is very dry, something like West Texas meets the sea.  But the highlands are often shrouded in fog. Fog plus tall pines equals "fog drip" that adds much needed water to Lana'i.

About the Black Plastic - Dole covered the pinapple growing ground with black plastic to retard evaporation of moisture and to prevent weed growth. When Dole pulled out, the black plastic was left behind. Little pieces of black plastic are embedded in the soil. 

Four Season's has a second resort on the island, this one on the water.  After breakfast in quiet Lana'i City we hung out on the beach and the resort's pool.

Photos

More photos of Lodge

Hawaii - February 19 - February 20

We borrowed Michele's car and drove around to the other side of the Big Island to Hilo.  We wanted to see how it looked because we had visited Hilo about 18 years ago!  Well, it hadn't changed much!  It's the rainy side of the island and has very lush tropical foliage.  We decided to try zip lining since Hilo has the longest zip line in the state that goes over valleys and waterfalls.  We donned our helmets and gear.  Our guide gave us instructions - you just step off into oblivion and sit on some straps attached to the wire lines and whoosh -  off you go.  At first I held on for "dear life"  - then I let go - and miraculously, the momentum keeps you flying like a bird over valleys and even water falls.  There were 9 zip lines in all - and wisely, they work you up to the "big ones"!Wow - what thrills!  We'd recommend zip lining!!!

Some photos:

Feb 19,  Drive Michele's car to Hilo via Saddle Road
Hilo 

Feb 20,  We zip above Umauma Falls & drive back to Kona along Hamakua Coast through Honoka'a town

Umauma Zip Line    Umauma Website

My sister, Claire, recently lost her husband, Howard, after a year long battle with melanoma that started on his scalp. She flew out to join us so that she could "be" by the water and begin the first steps of trying to heal. Oh, GRIEF, is so scary, but I guess it serves its purpose. You have to go through the darkness and pain to get to the other side. New beginnings are so very hard and bitter-sweet until one day, you are filled with wonder that you have survived!

Here are pictures of us at a gorgeous beach. Richard rediscovered his boyhood by boogie boarding the waves. He had such fun - the smiles just lit up his face!
 Kekaha State Park

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Hawaii - February 16-18

Our daughter, Michele, took a new job in Kona, Hawaii last July and we decided to visit her and her "SO"  (Significant Other), Bryan.  We arrived to a gorgeous 80 degree sunny day and have been having such a great time snorkeling and whale watching.  Check out our pictures below by double-clicking on each date.  Today we saw some great hump-back whales breaching (jumping) out of the water.   They are HUGE - the size of a bus.  Tomorrow we were driving about 2-hours over to Hilo on the other side of the island.  More later...

Photos February 16   February 17  February 18


Michele & Bryan  live 450 feet above the ocean in Kailua-Kona.
Whale watching with  Captain Dan McSweeney
 
Hualalai Lava Flow 

Parker Ranch