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Tuesday, April 24th Left house at 5am for a 7am flight. Sat on tarmac for almost 2 hrs due to a 'ground stop' in Houston. This caused us to miss (barely) our connecting flight to Honolulu. We worked with agents at 2 Continental President clubs and customer service and called awards desk twice trying to get reserved instead of standby seats to Honolulu on the next flight. At last minute a check-in agent (Debra) offered us a $450 upgrade per person on first class. We took it. After much food on the plane. Nuts – Salad – Main Course – Fresh baked cookies – Sundaes – then later a Roast Beef Sandwich. We arrived in Honolulu. Caught the 4:15 Aloha flight to Hilo (we were originally on the 2:15, then the 5:15). Our luggage came in 1 hour late, so we took the time to shop at WalMart to pick up grocery items for the house we are staying at in SeaView. We stayed at the Ocean Spirit – the 2nd & 3rd floors of a house with an Ocean View. Got to the house around 7pm. Didn’t officially eat dinner. Went to bed around 8:30 pm. Wednesday, April 25th Got up around 5:30 am. We made breakfast, bagel with cream cheese, coffee and juice. Drove to Lava tree state park, then to a nearby warm springs pool that opens up to the ocean, Isaac Hale Beach Park and back to B&B. Stopped by Safeway to pick up a few things on the way to lunch – “The Vanilla Experience” at the Hawaiian Vanilla Company. It was near Paauilo. (Mark had started to cough a bit and would soon end up with a full fledged respitory infection and sinus infection) Drove to Hapuna beach (very nice) where we spent about an hour on the beach. On the drive back, ate shave ice in Waimea. After a brief traffice jam in Keeau, made it to Paho where we had a beer at a Mexican restaurant then ate dinner at Ning’s Thai Cuisine. Home around 8pm. Showered, watched TV and bedtime around 9pm. Thursday, April 26th Ate breakfast at house. Drove pass Pahoa and drive through - Orchidlands subdivision. Drove on mainly gravel roads. Not interested in this subdivision for a place to retire to!. Drove to Volcano Village and picked up sandwiches,snacks,etc at grocery. Went to Volcanoes National park visitor’s center. Asked about the lava flow. Not good viewing today. Drive past the Kulanaokuaiki camp site. Hiked about 3.8 miles round trip on the Mauna Iki Trail through the Ka’u Desert. Brushy at start, a few small trees, some green. Very dry short way into hike. Cool, windy, but warm sun. Drove 5 miles to end of Hilina Pali Road and had a picnic lunch at the Hilina Pali Overlook. Took short hike down to the overlook at the Pali. Great view of the ocean. Went to the Thurston Lava Tube and then to Volcano Winery where we ordered some wine to ship home – 2 bottles of the Symphony Dry Wine and 1 bottle of the symphony Mele Wine. Before winery went into Volcano Village to get gas since we were on fumes ($3.369 / gal). Temperature in Volcano Village mid-day was in the low 60’s. Drove back to apartment , caught up on internet, cleaned up and drove to Hilo around 5:15 pm to meet Jo (former neighbor of ours). Had dinner and beer at Nichols Public House (Pub). Dropped Jo off then stopped by Wal-mart to pick up sun tan lotions. Went back to apartment and straight to bed. Friday, April 27th Ate breakfast at house. Included Banana Bread and Guava Jelly for the bagels in this mornings breakfast. After breakfast went to end of Red Road and hiked to the new (unnamed black sand beach) (New Kaimu Beach). Many small new coconut palms are growing. Very nice beach and very nice and quick hike. Drove the chain of craters road past the end to the fartherest point we could go. Very bumpy road, then part or real road, then bumpy road, etc. We really enjoyed doing something few tourists do - it was very different. Some people still live out that in small green oasis or on the stark lava fields. Came back to house and got cokes and drove to Leilani Estates and liked the layout and lot sizes of the subdivision. Then came back to house for a few minutes then took small hike near the Kehana Black Sand beach. Then went down the road to Verna’s to eat lunch. Mark had Ono burger and fries. Lyndon had an Ono plate lunch. Ate shave ice after lunch - decent but not great shave ice. Changed into bathing suits and got back pack and went to Kehana Beach for about 45 minutes. People were playing guitar, some naked. Went to Ahalanui warm pool. Very warm (but not hot) thermal pool. Stayed there about 45 minutes. Took slow drive back to house where we chilled out until around 5pm. Ate dinner at Café Pesto. There was another sports bar we almost went to that was down the street. Next time we are in Hilo, we will try out the sports bar instead of coming back to Café Pesto. Saturday, April 28th Ate breakfast at house. Drove to Pahoa for gas ($3.199 / gal) then on to Wal-Mart for Mark for cold medicine. Took Aloha Airlines to Lihue with a change of planes in Honolulu. Our luggage did not make it so we ate lunch at Duke’s Canoe Club. For lunch we had fish tacos and Fire Rock beer. The Atlantis Gay cruise was in port, and docked nearby so the boys were out everywhere. Went back to the airport just in time to pick up luggage (only a 5 minute wait!). Checked into Kiahuna Plantation building 8, unit # 41. Not in our usual 43, but this is the best we could do! Not a corner unit, so no side ventilation. Went to Koloa to stock up on groceries at the Big Save. After settling in, went to Pizzetta and Lyndon had a Ono Caesar salad and Mark had Lasagna which we washed down with Roster Brew! We sat at the bar and Brad served us. Mark found a new friend, Ted, an older man who was involved in the filming of Jurassic Park. Tired, so came home and went to bed around 10pm. Sunday, April 29th Ate breakfast at condo. Drove down to Makaweli Point and did a 5.1 round trip hike to Maha’ulepu Beach. Passed ironwood trees, craggy cliffs and limestone formations. Saw several tide pools. Part of the trail was washed out, so walking briefly alongside the Po’ipu Bay golf course was necessary. Also passed the protected remains of a Hawaiian heiau. There is a lone house on the beach we arrived on, the Gillin Beach House. After resting briefly (Lyndon in the sun and Mark in the shade of the ironwood trees), we started our journey back. A brief rain shower hit which actually felt good. We ate lunch at Tropical Burgers and the went back to the condo for beach time. After the beach, we ‘cleaned up’ and took a nice little nap. Now refreshed we took a stroll along the beach and the grounds of the Kiahuna Plantation. Drove to Waimea and had dinner and brew pub beer (Peter was the bartender) at Waimea Brewing Company. This was probably the worst day for Mark's sinus and respitory infection but he was determined to make a go of it! Monday, April 30th Ate breakfast at condo. Lazy day today. Spent most of the morning at the beach. For lunch we split a Puka Dog in the Poipu Shopping Village. It came with mango relish and yellow Dijon lilikoi mustard. We washed it down with fresh lemonade. Got some ice cream at Lapperts in Koloa. We got some more beach time in, then went to the Farmer’s Market at the Kukui Grove Mall. Bought 2 avocados, lychee and papaya. The Farmer's Markets are fun and the items for sale can be very unusual! Drive home for more beach time. Ate dinner at Pizzeta at a table instead of at the bar. We had pizza and draft beer-Fire Rock Pale and Rooster Brew. (remember, eating choices are limited unless you want to lay out some $$$) Tuesday, May 1st Had bacon and egg breakfast (including our fresh avocado). Walked 6 miles round trip to Spouting Horn and back. Brief rain shower while we at spouting horn. Lots of chickens everywhere. Lots of construction on the north side of the road. We guess this will be lots of houses and condos one day. Got beach time in. Made reservation for Backcountry Zipline Tour for Saturday. Ate a ‘take out’ plate lunch from Koloa town on our lanai. More afternoon beach time. Stopped by the Big Save to pick up supplies. For dinner we ate at Tomkats Grill in Koloa. Came home and walked out over the beach. A nearly full moon was rising over the tops of the palm trees. Spent afternoon in the waves (which are higher today due to a storm last week near New Zealand). Wednesday, May 2nd Morning showers. Ate breakfast at condo. Walked over to Poipu Beach and back. Spent all day at the beach. Surf was still up today. Had fish plate lunch from a local take out(Sueoka snack shop) which was excellent and cheap! Met a lesbian couple on their honeymoon. In the afternoon had a shave ice from the lady who sets up near the Beach House restaurant which is pretty good. Bought some Plumeria sticks that someone from home requested we bring back to them. We purchased these from the National Tropical Botanical Garden Visitor Center. Ate dinner at Toi’s Thai in Eleele and then drove to Waimea Brewing Company for a couple of beers. Brad (the bartender from Pizzeta) was there and we said hi. Came home and did our nightly stroll to the beach. Thursday, May 3rd Had breakfast at condo. Rented snorkel gear from Snorkel Bob’s in Koloa. Drove to north shore and stopped at Lydgate State Park for a few minutes. Saw a place to snorkel, but decided to skip and went instead to Anini Beach Park on the north side near Princeville. The was very long stretch of beach protected by an offshore reef. The waters close in were very calm and shallow. There was not much to see when snorkeling. Drove to Hanalei and at a great Ahi Burger with fries at Polynesian Café. Drove down to Haena Beach Park and layed out for awhile. Very nice beach and very pretty water. Saw caves in the area. Drove down to Kee Beach and started our drive back home. Stopped at Kapaa at the Big Save and had the best ever shave ice from Hawaiian Blizzard. A small white van parked in the parking lot in front of the store. This would be easy to miss. Drove back to the condo (late afternoon) and relaxed on the grass lawn under the palm trees. Went to Pizzeta to attempt to eat dinner, but it was way too crowded. Went to Plantation Gardens to make dinner reservations for tomorrow night and decided to eat pupus – Plantation Sampler, Shrimp Tempura and Sashimi -at the bar. Had 3 very good pupu dishes and some good brews (Keoki Sunset and Keoki Tan). Home to relax with full bellies. Friday, May 4th Saturday, May 5th Took our zipline tour with Kaua’I Backcountry Adventures. www.kauaibackcountry.com. There were 7 ziplines and 10 people. One was even a grandmother! That was SO fun! Lunch was served at the end at swimming was available. We didn’t go swimming, the water was 68 degrees. Got gas in Lihue ($3.359 / gal) Mark spent the afternoon snorkeling at our beach. We went to Poipu beach to get a shave ice at Brennecke’s deli (not a good one) and then went across the street to Poipu beach where 2 monk seals had beached themselves. For dinner we spent our last night on Kauai eating at Pizzetta at the bar and drank Rooster Brew. We took our traditional late night stroll at the beach. Sunday, May 6th Had breakfast at condo. Took an earlier flight to Honolulu. Picked up rental car and ate lunch in Chinatown. Checked into our room at the Park Shore Waikiki. Front corner room on 8th floor but wouldn't highly recommend the hotel. Hotel was nice enough but our room had no place to store clothes except one small wardrobe/TV combo cabinet. Went to Queen’s beach. We walked to the Yard House (at the Waikiki Beach Walk) to have a beer (they had around 110 on tap). After a beer, we walked through the International Market Place. For dinner we ate at Brew Moon – good food and beer. Monday, May 7th Due to a family emergency we changed our flight from leaving Thursday to leaving later today. We picked up the pace to get a few last minute things done. Drove to the east shore and sat at the beach at Makapu’u (Hawaiian for bulging eyes). Drove to Queen’s beach and then stopped briefly at the hotel room before eating lunch at the Yard House. Lyndon tried the Opah which was wonderful and Mark had Lobster Garlic Noodles which was very good too. Did last minute shopping, packed and left for the airport. Got gas in Honolulu ($3.159 gal) Our flight was at 7:20 pm and we arrived in Austin (via Houston) at around 9:30 am. Took a taxi home – that’s all folks! Summary: We had a pretty good trip but this trip had a constant dark cloud over it. The start of the trip with the flight being missed for what we thought was no real plausable reason we were told of, Mark being sick most of the trip and the family emergency that brough us home early and kept us concerned during our trip. Not all trips can be 100% but we did manage to have some good times on this trip. |
