A Sunset Cruise

One night we headed out on a historical dinner cruise of the Kona coast.  As always (or at least usually) the weather and waves were beautiful (though there was still some residual excess wave action remaining from the previous storm).  During the cruise, back to the Captain Cook monument, we learned the history of the places where we'd been several times snorkeling, before enjoying a wonderful dinner aboard the ship.




On the return trip we were treated to front row seats to a gorgeous sunset:

 

 

later, tw

Hello Hilo!

We were joined on our Hawaiian vacation this year by our sister-in-law, Marne.  She's the best traveling companion - always up for an adventure!  One Wednesday during our stay, we headed out for the other side of the island to visit Hilo.  On our way out of Kailua-Kona, we saw a visiting cruise ship (NCL's Pride of America - the only cruise ship that just sails around the islands year-round):

It was a gorgeous day and the brand new road to Hilo gave us a beautiful opportunity to see both Mauna Loa AND Mauna Kea:
























Upon our arrival in Kilo (after a brief roadside stop - travels with Marne are always interesting!), we headed for Mauna Loa candy factory - those chocolate-covered mac nuts that are synonymous with "Hawaii".  We learned a couple of years ago that the company had actually been acquired by Hershey's.  The factory sees rather limited use these days.



 

So on we went to visit Big Island Candies.  Now THIS is a happening place and Wednesdays are the BEST day to hit them!!  Every station in the place had worker bees hustling about making cookies, dipping things (cookies, nuts, squid - okay that last one must be an acquired taste) in chocolateS (white chocolate, dark chocolate, milk chocolate). 


One station was making candy bars that are sold for fundraising purposes...with the largest box of Rice Krispies I'd ever seen!













After sating ourselves with every sample imaginable (yes, Marne did try the squid, brave girl that she is!), we headed to a nearby restaurant we'd been directed to before:  Hawaiian Style Café (the place where the locals go to eat).  This place is in a strip mall...an industrial strip mall at that...but if you ever get to Hilo you must, Must, MUST try this place! 


They have the largest fluffiest pancakes you'll ever come across (which are actually served as a mere "accompaniment" to your meal!)











After lunch we did some more sight-seeing in Hilo itself (looking for the famed Farmers' Market - worth the stop).

























Then it was off to do a short hike to Akala Waterfall...


















...and to see the Botanical World Adventures and its gorgeous flowers and painted trees before heading home.  The roads are much improved but none of them are anything you want to be on too long after dark - the fog is really incredible and can be VERY dangerous.

later, tw

Snorkeling at Kealakekua Bay

[I know...two days in a row!]

The waters were a bit rough our first time out snorkeling.  Here's some photos of the waves the first day:

But the weather was MUCH nicer our second time out as we were led from the harbor by a couple of dolphins:


















There weren't nearly as many waves allowing us to see the shoreline and the lava tubes:












on our way to Kealakekua Bay and the Captain Cook monument (which can really only be seen from the Bay itself):























On such a beautiful day we were treated to the antics of the abundant and playful dolphins,

See I told you it was there!

 (rather camera-shy) whales,

It's there - all the way to the right...

 and even saw a couple of hammerhead sharks (which is said to be a good omen - it was hard to keep Marne from jumping in to swim with them!).










This is the view of the Sheraton Hotel, near the harbor at Kealakekua Bay.  The first time out the waves were over the third story of the hotel!








later, tw

Snorkeling off Kona

[Things have been VERY crazy around here but I'll try to get caught up.]

 

 

In March, Gerry & I spent two weeks in Kona.  I discovered that I LOVE to snorkel!  On our first trip out, we used some not-completely-used-up underwater cameras that we had purchased for various other trips.  Since these cameras were at least a decade old we decided to make a quick trip to Wal-Mart before our second outing so we would be sure of getting at least some decent photos:

 



 



 

 

 

I cannot recommend this activity highly enough and am already looking forward to our next trip to warm waters!  We went out twice with FairWind Big Island Ocean Guides and had a marvelous time (even the first time when the seas were pretty rough on the way to/from the cove we would be snorkeling in).  The captain and crew made even novices like me feel very capable in short order.  They also provided a wonderful BBQ lunch during our stay at Kealakekua Bay.  Once you've been on their Morning Snorkel and BBQ, you'll really want to go another time and try their deluxe snorkel cruise on the Hula Kai (catamaran) - which we thoroughly enjoyed (since the weather was much better our second time out).  Next up we will have to try their Manta Night Snorkel.

 

later (swimmingly), tw