Sunset again

A short 10-minute drive took us to the Old Airport Park to watch the sunset tonight and fly Ron’s kite. Very enjoyable, great waves!

We had tried snorkeling again today but my mask leaked, so had to give it up, not happy about that. Sat for a while at Magic Sands Beach and watched the beach boys on their boards.

We will be leaving Kona for Seattle Friday; it will be hard to leave: the extended time has been wonderful. We’re on an Alaska through flight so it will not be too bad. Much better than flying to the East Coast!

So…to the Islands….ALOHA till next time!

Joan here: Many of you have asked how it is possible to live away from a homebase for so long. What I miss most from the house in Ohio was the beautiful garden view from the deck in the summer evenings. Today after I did my laps in the pool (I go here at KHV when it opens at 8 a.m. since otherwise it is too busy), I was sitting a while to dry off and noticed how gorgeously landscaped the pool area was (as is the entire resort, of course), and no one else in the pool, ...it was like having my own pool…and, even though I love gardening, I realized here was a beautiful garden for me to sit and enjoy, but without any maintenance! (Of course, whenever I feel a need to garden, someone is always happy to have me help them!) Last week, at Sea Mountain, down by the black sand beach, when I got out of the pool, I could sit and look at the rocky coastal view! How blessed we are to be able to live at places like these!

Kite-flying in the Old Airport Park!

July 23, 2010
Today we went to the Old Airport Park (after having friends over for brunch) to fly Ron’s new kite, a dual-handled small airfoil. He bought it in St Augustine, a portable one, so he could bring it in the suitcase. This was the first time to fly it.

We found out that
1. a “friend” is required to help. Guess who the “friend” was? (Hint: Joan!)
2. the young man in the shop lied: he said dual line kites were easier! (We guess it’s always easier if you know how!) It was fun, though, since it took more work! The clerk did say to start with a small one, so that was good advice.
3. we would not like to have the flying skills shown today to be responsible for a parasailing person down the beach or the flying car in the jungles for ITEC! (http://www.itecusa.org/)

We had a great time and maybe next time it will be even better.

Afterwards we walked in the Maka'eo Walking/Jogging Path there whic has developed many more new beautifulgardening areas.

The Most Wonderful Potluck That Was!

Tonight we went to the potluck here at the resort which we heard would be led by Aunti Tutu. Advertised as a "Poolside Potluck Picnic Party" = 4 P's!), we didn’t know that Joy is usually there, too, to help present the program and also some interactive activities with Hawai'ian instruments, singing, etc. But this time, Joy couldn’t be there and instead a guest’s 11-year old daughter, from Honolulu who was a hula dancer, danced along with Aunti Tutu singing. What a great and touching show! This little gal also dances competitively at the Queen Lili'uokalani Keiki Hula Competition (which is on TV this Friday night!) There was also a little 3-year old who wanted to dance along, and she was encouraged to join in, too. Aunti Tutu (who is Stephanie Lindsay) encouraged her, saying that is how the young girls learn, they dance along with the older girls, who are careful to dance around them while they also encourage and help them to learn. It was a beautiful program…and good food too.

Our 41st Anniversary July 21

Today was our anniversary, (well, it was really yesterday since we got married in South Korea and it is across the International Dateline– Moonwalk Day – but we celebrate ALL days this week!) (Photo: Seoul Korea, July 21, 1969)

After Joan swam her morning laps, we checked the email and received the good news that SFX had matched a week in Kauai next June! We went snorkeling down at Two-Step Beach near the City of Refuge (Pu’uhonua). There were lots of waves, so even though it was fun, we got roughed up on the lava rocks getting out. We drove up to Kealakekua Bay (Captain Cook’s Bay) and saw lots of spinner dolphins jumping, the we stopped at our favorite coffee tasting place, Royal Kona Coffee Mill. You can sample several coffees and look out on a beautiful ocean and cove view (even though it was covered with VOG today!) We drove up to the Old Airport Park Beach for the sunset, which wasn’t very good since storm clouds made the eastern sky completely black (was it the VOG or rain clouds?) Probably both, since it poured rain later this evening. We just fixed an easy dinner in the condo since we have lots of food to eat by next week!

It was a relaxed Happy Anniversary!

Back to Kona Hawaiian Village

We returned to Wyndham Kona Hawaiian Village for the next and last 2 weeks here, one week with Platinum Interchange and one with Wyndham points. To return to Kona, we drove up the east (Hilo) side of the Island. We visited the Volcano park again and then ate at our favorite restaurant in the town of Volcano, the Ono Café, in the Volcano Garden Arts gallery. We stopped at the Lupahoehoe Train Museum which was great, and then went on to the Waipi’o Valley overlook. We then ate at Jolene’s, which has great tempura, in one of our favorite towns, Honoka’a.
We had our same unit in KHV, 28A, by request, since it has a nice ocean view and sometimes you can hear the waves. (Photo left: view from lanai)

Joan went to the Botanical Walk, led by Joy (activities director) and she shares more than just the flower names: lots of Hawaiian myths and background too. She was so excited when she saw a gecko on a Bird of Paradise flower and said, "Take a picture! Take a picture! and email it to me!"

Tuesday, we went to the Mahalo party led by Aunti Tutu, her brother and Joy and really enjoyed the program. We had seen it last year too, but always enjoy it. We had new friends over for supper that night.

What a wonderful program at the Volcano Art Center in the town of Volcano

Probably the BEST thing we have seen on this visit was the "Niaulani Nature Sing-Along" with the Lava Jam Band with Angie Libadisos and Dina Kageler. Angie plays ukulele and sings with Dina, who plays guitar. It was so inspiring and these two women are real pros as well as so personable.

Here’s the info from the Volcano Art Center’s newsletter: “This 45 minute nature walk designed especially for children and families travels through a lush portion of an old-growth Hawaiian rain forest on an easy, 1/7-mile loop trail. A musical and fun introduction to the native plants and birds of Volcano. VAC's Niaulani Campus, 19-4074 Old Volcano Rd. in Volcano Village. Call (808) 967-8222.”

"ABOUT THE SING-ALONG
Are you wondering what to do with your keiki (youngsters) for the summer? This special 45 minute nature walk is designed especially for children and families, traveling through a lush portion of an old-growth Hawaiian rain forest on an easy, 1/7-mile loop trail. These nature walks are led by musican-educators Dina Kageler and Angie Libadisos of the Lava Jam Band. Their original songs introduce all ages to the native plants and birds of the Kilauea region in a fun and factual way.
LOCATION & DETAILS
The walk starts just one mile from the entrance to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Interested individuals should meet at Volcano Art Center's Niaulani Campus, located on the corner of Kalanikoa at 19-4074 Old Volcano Rd., the main road through Volcano Village, just off Highway 11. No advance reservations are required.
Located at 4,000', the forest at Niaulani can be cool, so participants are encouraged to dress warmly and bring wet weather gear, as walks take place rain or shine along a gravel and dirt trail."

Although the group has been together for years, this is the first summer they have presented this particular show. It was wonderful! They sing their original songs about many aspects of the rain forest as you walk through it together and stop at various sites while they share science and folklore about the sites.

We had previously met Angie at the Volcano Garden Arts gallery and restaurant in Volcano city when we were there for lunch. I think this is our favorite restaurant on the BI. The Ono Café (named after owner and artist Ira Ono) open 11-3 for lunch with original and fresh offerings. We bought the Lava Jam Band CD there and want to work more with them.

Sea Mountain is fantastic! July 10-17, 2010

We exchanged into Sea Mountain for the week of July 10 two-bedroom with Platinum Interchange, actually with a bonus week from them. I was a little leery because of previous reviews and the remote location, very close to the Black Sand Beach. Reviews say: No air conditioning! 20 minutes from the nearest restaurant or grocery store! 2 hours from Costco!
No need to worry. We brought some groceries and again stocked up Sunday when we went back to Kona for church and to meet TUGGERS Cathy and Bruce for lunch and then went to Costco and Safeway. It was about 1 ½ hours back. Oh, BTW, it seems only tourists with rental cars keep the speed limit here!
     Sea Mountain resort is at mile 56 on Highway 11 and a well-marked intersection sign. However, the sign for the resort is on the highway with no signage on the west side, so there is just a sign about checking in at the resort entrance. We got there early but pre-checked in and then walked around and sat at the pool. We already could see that Sea Mountain was gorgeous: beautiful views and landscaping; and the pool overlooks the ocean. We were given a great unit, #72 with a view of the water. In fact, from the 2nd bedroom balcony upstairs we could see TWO beaches, about 90 degrees from each other. This photo is from the 2nd floor balcony.
We were especially concerned about the lack of air conditioning, since it was July. Again, no need to worry. There are ceiling fans in every room, screens on every window with lots of windows and cross-breezes and even a floor fan, just in case (which we did not need.) And it’s also a little cooler down here, than in Kona. And BONUS: Since we have the windows open full time, the bird chorus wakes us in the mornings. It is so wonderful.
     The resort is so close to the water that we could hear the surf from our unit, especially at night. The Black Sand Beach is a short 5 minute walk,  downhill! The first day we were there, we saw 3 turtles! How they can be right where the surf crashes again the rocks and and not get smashed is amazing. Lots of surf there too. There are other short walks to shorelines which have fabulous surf views.

We are mesmerized by the waves and take so many pictures and amazed at the juxtaposition of the waves of the pahoehoe lava and the waves of the water. See photos at
http://www2.snapfish.com/snapfish/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=4458949009/a=22435551_22435551/

6 Weeks in Kona in the Summer of 2010! June 18, 2010

After returning from DC, we spent a few more days in Seattle and then flew to Kona, Hawaii for a 6 – week stay.


Why so long?

The impetus to be there so long was because we were hoping Joan’s brother, who wholly owns a condo in Kona, would stay for a longer period of time than just a few days, like he usually does. He usually works 24/7 and when we saw him a year and a half ago, he was so relaxed here. So, we hatched a plan! We’d plan to stay for a longer time and maybe he would too! It worked: we booked 6 weeks of timesharing a year out for June/July ’10 (of course, as required) and he stayed 2 ½ weeks, which was great. We did lots of things with him: well, fun quiet things, like Shopping at the new Target, Going snorkeling, Watching the 4th of July parade and fireworks together, Having dinners together, Eating breakfast at LavaJava, and Walking miles with SIL! (Photo: Joan and her brother, Dave.)



We also wanted to check out how hot it really was in the summer. What did we find? It was cooler than almost anywhere on the east coast and Florida!
We stayed our first week at Kona Hawaiian Village (now named Wyndham Kona Hawaiian Resort) and the second at Wyndham Mauna Loa, which is a 5 minute walk to Joan's brother’s condo. It was so fun just to be able to walk up to his place and one night, they walked down to ours for dinner. The 2 BD at Mauna Loa is fabulous! With an ocean view too! http://www2.snapfish.com/snapfish/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=4436409009/a=22435551_22435551/
I traded these two units with SFX. Then a week back at Kona Hawaiian Village with Wyndham points, for over the 4th. We love this resort; we’ve been here two other years, in 2007 and 2009.

See photos of Kona Hawaiian Resort at http://www2.snapfish.com/snapfish/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=4484792009/a=22435551_22435551/

South Point is not to be missed! July 10, 2010

We were moving from Kona Hawaiian Village to Sea Mountain in the south (in Punalu’u). We had 6 hours when we were “homeless,” between resorts that are closer than 2 hours apart. So we need something to do, as well as having ice chests to transport the extra food. We borrowed those from friends who live here.

We had wanted to go to the Greenwell Museum but it was closed on weekends so we thought we’d go to the Volcano’s annual Cultural Celebration which ran from 10 a.m. to 3 pm. Of course, check out time at the resort was 10 a.m. and we beat it by a few minutes and were on our way. But as we came to the South Point exit at mile marker 70, we said, how about going there? So Joan drove the 12 miles down to the southernmost point in the USA. It was a nice drive but different. Sights: A beautiful plantation style B&B; a fire truck practice; a very large horse, standing like a statue in the midst of a huge meadow. It was kind of scary driving right past the older windmill farm, three rows of rusty, broken windmills; the newer ones were just over the hill and turning.
As we went down the hill, the nicely paved road grew narrower and narrower and finally was one lane, but with a good shoulder to turn out on if necessary. It got quite rough the last mile or so.
Then, suddenly, we were there and was it windy! There were so many people and vehicles there and tarps and tents. We parked at the first opportunity: good thing, the rest of the vehicles were mostly 4 wheel drives or at least with cars had higher clearances since the driving from then on was over lava. Many people were fishing; thus, the tarps and tents to keep the wind down.
It was amazing. We walked around quite a while taking pictures. But we chose not to walk the 2 ½ miles to the Green Sands Beach (road is 4-wheel drive only) as it was very hot, also. A friend told me later that the walk is very rough, too.
BUT….where was the marker? Maybe I missed it, but I was looking for a marker that said: “The southernmost point in the USA”, but, “No.” By the time we got back to Highway 11, it was late enough for lunch, so we ate in Na’alehu at the Hana Hou Bakery (no not the one with the bread, the other one!) and had GREAT food.