Category Archives: Travel

When it Rains It Pours

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Suddenly the rain started

There was no sign of rain as I left Akaka State Park. By the time I entered Hilo the sky was getting really dark and clouds were rolling in. I was stopped at the light in front of Ken’s Pancake House when BANG! A thunder clap so loud it seemed to shake the car opened up the downpours. I do mean Downpours! This was rain of biblical proportions. It was a deluge. I know Hilo is on the rainy side of the island but this was crazy! I decided to scratch Rainbow Falls and head back to Kona…the dry side. Of course I never do anything easy. I missed a turn somewhere  and found myself down by the harbor. It was breathtaking even in the weather, or maybe because of the storm. The waves were breaking high on a rocky shore. No quiet black sand beach here. 

Hilo swell

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Ken's pancake house

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Ken’s Deserves a Mention

Although I didn’t stop for lunch at Ken’s it was a familiar landmark. When we were on the Big Island in 2007 we ate many meals there. I was good to see it was still operating. From the looks of the parking lot, which was full, they were still doing a brisk business. Ken’s House of Pancakes opened its doors in 1971. It became the first, and only 24-hour business on the East-side of the Big Island. It’s got a huge menu with a wide variety. Just because it says Pancake house doesn’t mean you can’t get a good burger.

The Deluge Continues

Flash Flood

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Back on the right track I decided to head over toward Volcano National park. The rain was showing so sign of letting up but I was hoping it would follow the normal pattern of a brief rain shower and then sun. It wasn’t looking promising.  If anything the rain was coming down even harder. Windshield wipers on high just couldn’t keep up. Cars were pulling over to wait for a break in the storm.  I continued on, slowly. When I reached Volcano National Park and there was no sign of the rain letting up I decided to head back to Kona. I didn’t know that with the new road it was quicker to retrace my steps than to go over the southern mountain. Besides I wanted to see if the road was as scary as I remembered it. After all, I survived the Road to Hana on Maui so this road should be a piece of cake.

I don’t mind the rain

I don’t mind it raining on my vacation. Without the rain there’s be now rainbows. The water falls would dry up and the lush jungle flowers would disappear. Bring on the rain!

Rainbow

After the rain,, the rainbow

 

Around the Big Island

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Big Island Scenic Drive

photo credit Waimea-Parker Ranch Bed Site

Driving around the Big Island has changed since my last visit. There’s now a “Short Cut” as the locals call it that cuts from the Kona Side to the Hilo on the east. It saves quite a bit of time as you don’t have to go to North Kohala or Waimea. Both beautiful areas Waimea is home to the Parker Ranch , a large cattle ranching operation that also offers hunting and ATVing.  

Waimea, just a beauty
(Ke Anu O Waimea, Kuana Torres)

High above sun-drenched beaches and vast black lava fields, between the mountain shoulders of Kohala and Mauna Kea lies a green, rolling country where the cold misty rains blow on swirling winds.  Here, where water is plentiful and forests grow tall in the hills, is the heart of Parker Ranch.”

When you leave Hilo or even Volcano National Park it is still shorter to return this way than to take the winding road over the mountain.

Kona Coast

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Feral Goats Still Roam

As I headed across the island toward Hilo I thought I saw a goat! A bit further along I spotted another one. I thought they were probably some farmer’s or maybe a child’s pet but as I continued along I saw more and more. I began to wonder if they were wild. After a bit of research I learned that prior to 1778, there were no goats on any of the Hawaiian Islands. It was upon the arrival of Captain Cook and Captain Vancouver that goats were introduced to the islands. It is believed that the first goats were brought on shore in the Kealakekua Bay area of Kona. I made a note to come back another day to get some pictures. They seemed to be very plentiful. So no donkeys but they do have goats!

 

Hilo and Akaka Falls

Big Island Waterfall

Akaka Falls 2007

Just north of Hilo  I started watching for the turn off to Akaka Falls. I took pictures when I was here in 2007 but I wanted to see if I could get some fresh photos with my new camera. The Falls were farther off the main road than I remembered. As I began to approach the state park the road was clogged with cars. They were parked all along the sides of the road. A lemonade stand was doing a brisk business. The parking area was filled ($5.00). Since walking any long distance was an iffy proposition I really wanted to get into the parking lot. $5.00 was a small price to pay but no one seemed to be leaving. I decided to go see if I could fine Rainbow Falls. After that I could come back. Maybe everyone would have gone to lunch by then.

Hawaiian’s Love their Spam

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Crispy Spam is a breakfast Meat

I admit I like Spam. When I let that out to my friends and co workers I get disgusted looks and groans. (The same one I use for Liver and Onions.) Massachusetts folks can be such food snobs! In Hawaii my love of Spam is welcomed. I’m surrounded by other Spam lovers. MacDonald’s even has a “Delicious  Breakfast”. It’s rice, scrambled eggs and Spam! I doubt you’ll see that on a menu in Massachusetts anytime soon. They also have a Spam Wrap you can find in the deli section of your food market. It’s a Spam & Rice roll. Looks like sushi. I skipped the Spam on my breakfast plate. I settled for a boring old Big Breakfast. I’m heading out to drive around the Island and I wasn’t sure if I’d find anyplace for lunch or how long it would take so I wanted to fill up before I left.

Heading North along the Kona Coast

After a satisfying breakfast at MacDonald’s I headed north on the main road along the Kona Coast. All along this road it looks like they are preparing to do construction. The ground appears to be all churned up. There is a lot of construction but don’t be fooled by appearances. Almost all of the churned up appearing land is natural. These fields are all covered in Aa (pronounced ah ah) lava. Aa lava is thick and it  breaks into chunks as it moved down slope form the volcano. When it cools and hardens it looks like churned up dirt. Much of this is from an eruption in 1984. There’s a lava tube on the right side of the road as you travel north.

Lava flow to the sea

 

donkey crossing signDonkey Crossing

Along the way you’ll see Donkey Crossing signs. Donkey Crossings? What’s that about. I had to check it out. Apparently the Big Island had a feral donkey problem. I didn’t remember that but it was bad enough that they installed signs hoping drivers would slow down. The donkeys liked to come out on the roads at night because the pavement was warmer than the fields. It retained the heat from the daytime. Along came an unsuspecting motorist and splat. A Donkey pancake and a busted car. When the signs didn’t help they rounded up the donkeys and shipped them to auction on the mainland. But the signs remain.

lava tube

Touristy Kona

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Kona Hawaii

Royal Kona from the ocean

Royal Kona from the ocean

Kona Hawaii is often referred to as the dry side of the Big Island. Then you hear that the tourists like it because it’s sunny. What I noticed first was that there are resorts, shops and restaurants everywhere along Alii Dr. Parking, if present at all, is at a premium.  Walking or taking a trolley is the preferred method of getting around here. (With my bad back the walking was a problem) It reminded me of South Beach. Florida. If you recall I didn’t care much for South Beach and I was feeling the same way about Kona. My first day in Kona and I was already missing Sea Mountain. The loyal locals told me it was School Break which was why there were so many kids, families and young adults. I hadn’t even noticed that!

The Royal Kona Resort

When I booked this trip I was told I would be in a hotel room, not a condo. I agreed. I was also told that there were two restaurants. They made it sound like I wouldn’t miss a kitchen at all. Maybe if my name were Trump or Rockefeller. I wasn’t about to spend $22.00 for a breakfast buffet. It wasn’t even that special, just the usual eggs, meat (bacon & sausage,) maybe pancakes or waffles depending on the day. I had spotted a MacDonald’s on my drive in from the airport. Their breakfast was just fine with me and a lot less expensive. On the map above my room  was overlooking the Lagoon Terrace.

Lagoon Terrace

 

The Smoky Aroma of the Imu

As I headed out to retrieve my car I recognized the unmistakable smell of a charcoal fire. The Imu for the luau is right near my room. The staff gets the fire stoked up bright and early so the fire can burn down to coals and the Imu pig be readied for roasting for the luau that night. Good thing I like the smell of charcoal!

Firing up the Imu

 

Back to the Big Island

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The Big Island of Hawaii

After 11 years I’m returning to the Big Island of Hawaii. In many ways the Big Island is Hawaii to me. It’s more rural and it has active volcanoes. It was the first Island of the chain that I ever visited. It was time to see what had changed. And if I tell the truth I wanted to see the lava from Kilauea pouring into the sea. When we made the visit 11 years ago we stayed at Sea Mountain Resort on the wet side of the Island. This time I was staying at the Royal Kona resort in Kona, the dry side of the Island. We had a beautiful condo with a lanai at Sea Mountain. At the Royal Kona Resort I was in a standard hotel room. It had a big bed and the slider to the lanai were covered with sliding wooden panels rather than tacky drapes. 

 

my basic hotel room

Basic Hotel Room

View from the Lanai

I didn’t get to see the view the first night since it was pretty dark by the time I located the resort. They also didn’t quite meet Diamond Resorts standards for service either. But after some pushing and prodding I managed to get a bell hop to assist with my bags. Parking was tough. Although they had a huge lot it was all up hill. The best I could do was to park on the grass next to the tennis courts. I had plenty of company parking there. My room was an ocean view  on the second floor. I could hear the waves crashing on the shore. First thing the next morning I threw open the sliders to the lanai to a gorgeous water view. This was one room that was truly an ocean view.  It was going to be hard to leave the deck to go exploring!

Lagoon surf