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After my boasting of seeing whales in Oahu, my mom and sister were convinced, so we booked a tour the day before we left. The whales were not as active in Kailua-Kona as they were in Honolulu, but they were still fun to watch. Read more
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Nothing outstanding took place the next couple of days, just enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere of the island. The sunsets were always first rate. As I carried my camera to the beach to capture another sunset, someone in the condominium mentioned to me the “green flash,” which left me with a questioning look. They explained that as the sun sets, just before it completely disappears below the horizon, the sun’s rays bend in such a way that the sun’s light turns green for just a moment. I gave it a half-heart attempted, but no luck.
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Life took a more leisurely pace after Karel left. My mom, sister and I spent a lot of time relaxing and exploring the Kailua-Kona area. Our condo couldn’t get much closer to the beach. Being so close, the surf could be heard in stereo, although I wish the volume could have been turned down just a little bit. Kailua-Kona is a very tranquil region and our condominium was particularly quiet. Read more
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This was Karel’s last day on holiday. So we asked ourselves, if it’s the last day in paradise, how do you spend the time constantly queasy and nearly vomiting? In Karel’s case, you go snorkeling at night for manta ray. So off we went! Read more
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After eleven miles of hiking, I didn’t relish another half-mile walk from the parking area to where the lava cut off the Chain of Craters Road, then another half-mile back. But, when in Rome. We took in another impressive sunset and then sat upon the black pahoehoe.
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This was a deserted isle accessible by foot. I really want to get back to this location and spend 2-3 days and just soak up the atmosphere of this beach. We bumped into two small groups of people, other than that, completely secluded. Incredibly remote and gorgeous. Read more
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The Big Island differs greatly from Kauai. The Kalalau Trail in Kauai was vastly different than our march to Halape Beach. Starting at Hilina Pali overlook, we descended about 1400 feet through rocky terrain. Read more
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My mom and sister decided to join our voyage of follies. The day’s escapades would be spent at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, with the first stop at the Nahuku Thurston Lava Tube. Lava can reform in such a way that creates a tunnel, this one about 50 yards long. This particular tube is estimated to be 500 years old. Read more
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The first night in Kona on the Big Island threw us some curves. We reserved a cabin at Hapuna Beach campground, but didn’t realize that we needed a code in order to unlock the cabin. Damn details…they get ya every time! After business hours and in the dark of night, we set up camp outside of our locked cabin. Read more
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A big thank you to Kathryn at the Tax Trailer for pointing out the fact that Humpback whales were not to be missed while in Hawaii. I may have missed some spectacular views otherwise. So, with cameras ready, Read more