Luau:
After the luau, the dancers came out to take pictures... Brent was in the bathroom and I thought he would miss the photo op or at least not humor me... he walked out and I told him "Hurry! Get in a picture with them before they leave!" He jumped up there so fast it cracked me up... I thought I would have to coerce him, but apparently not :)
Volcano National Park... it didn't dawn on me that we we standing on an active volcano until I saw these all around us:
Farmers Market in Kona:
Eating Malisadas at Tex Bakery:
Akaka Falls near Hilo:
Local beach:
Preparing the pig in the Imu for the Luau earlier that morning:
Volcano National Park... it didn't dawn on me that we we standing on an active volcano until I saw these all around us:
Our largest disappointment of the trip was the lava flows at dusk... we drove 2 hours out of the way then walked 2 more miles through this:
We wanted to see lava flowing into the ocean up close and personal... I mean, I wanted a facial off of the smoke is how close I wanted to get... 2 weeks ago, the lava covered the lookout point, so we could not walk down to the beach. This was the lava in the distance:
At the resort:
At the resort:
Self portrait of our tans on our last day:
Contrasted with my day one non-tan! Hawaii smelled incredible... this is a Plumeria flower. I didn't learn until later that "taken" women wear them on the left ear- oopsie!
Contrasted with my day one non-tan! Hawaii smelled incredible... this is a Plumeria flower. I didn't learn until later that "taken" women wear them on the left ear- oopsie!
Sea turtles swam in and out of the resort's lagoon from the ocean-- we counted 10 in one day. Brent touched one when we were snorkeling... he later learned that is illegal :)
We played mini golf- this is real grass, not turf! Super soft.
Farmers Market in Kona:
Eating Malisadas at Tex Bakery:
Akaka Falls near Hilo:
Roots of the trees in the forest:
Natives cliff jumping at the "Boiling Pots" above Akaka Falls. Each pool has a waterfall feeding it from above:
Local beach:
Petroglyphs:
Next to the dolphins, our favorite thing was hiking Waipio Valley-- the tallest waterfall in Hawaii is located there along with a black sand beach. It had that authentic Hawaiian feeling, like we were discovering new land for the first time! This is the lookout point where most people come to look out then go home...
I would pick out a land mark and try to get to it... most times, I would get half way and stop... I only snapped at Brent's nudging once, so I consider it successful!
Our favorite dinner on the patio at Merimans-I had a basil mojito that was delicious!:
Palm trees from a hammock:
Hammock feet shot:
Our favorite thing we did was swim with dolphins in the wild... we opted not to do the 20 minute resort play time and go out on a chartered boat with a marine biologist-- she said we could "Draw them in with our love"... kind of nutty, but we saw hundreds!
Dolphins are most active at night while they hunt- during the day they sleep in "pods"- half of their brain stays active, so they are still swimming and jumping, etc.
Next to the dolphins, our favorite thing was hiking Waipio Valley-- the tallest waterfall in Hawaii is located there along with a black sand beach. It had that authentic Hawaiian feeling, like we were discovering new land for the first time! This is the lookout point where most people come to look out then go home...
Not us... we wanted to stand on the black sand beach! The "road" down was at a 25% incline-- it dropped 800 ft in one mile. We couldn't go in our rental car as it would void our contract, so we walked it.
This is about half way down-- there is a guy in a red kayak in the river if you look carefully and Taro (sort of like purple potatoes) fields in the top left corner.
This was the road at the half way point-- also about the time I looked at Brent with a look like You-Know-We-Have-To-Go-Out-The-Way-We-Came-In-Right? I can give him this look now because after 5 years, I can't fake my "passion" for sports-- I did in the beginning, I will admit... I joined a flag football team to make Brent think I was sporty when we were dating... he even bought me cleats-- I acted like I would wear them out... I knew better :)
We almost turned around because Brent knows my limits :) But, I dug down deep and knew we may never have this opportunity again!
I am glad we kept going because around the bend, we saw this!
Then this:
We walked on the beach, just us-- no one else on the whole beach! It is black from lava breaking down over time and washing ashore.
At the mouth of the river that empties into the ocean, is this is a burial ground of Hawaiian kings from the 1300's. It had a very eerie feeling- it was very, very quiet-- we were in awe of the beauty, for sure.
After soaking in all of the sights, we headed back out... it was brutal! I even thought about picking this wild berry for sustenance! Ha!
I would pick out a land mark and try to get to it... most times, I would get half way and stop... I only snapped at Brent's nudging once, so I consider it successful!
Our favorite dinner on the patio at Merimans-I had a basil mojito that was delicious!:
Palm trees from a hammock:
Hammock feet shot:
How did this get in there :)
The last day, our flight left at 9:30 at night, so we spent most of the day waiting at the Queens Marketplace... as luck would have it, there was entertainment that kept us in the Hawaiian spirit until the last minute!
The last day, our flight left at 9:30 at night, so we spent most of the day waiting at the Queens Marketplace... as luck would have it, there was entertainment that kept us in the Hawaiian spirit until the last minute!
We returned home refreshed and ready to be the best parents we can be! It was a fun get away to be around my best friend non stop for 7 days with no distractions! Granna kept super busy... all of the laundry was done, the house was clean, the YARD WAS MOWED... she even filled up the kitchen with food so I wouldn't have to go to the store for a week! I was spoiled rotten and loved every minute!
