Monday, December 28, 2015
Oahu, Honolulu, and Kuilima at Turtle Bay
December 28, 2015 - Kuilima Bay East, Turtle Bay Resort, Kahuku, HI
We've been enjoying this Christmas week with both boys, exploring parts of Honolulu and the North Shore. Simple Christmas at "home" on the couch and with tropical leaves for a "Tree".
Got out yesterday with Ben and Tom and after Dim Sum in Chinatown downtown, walked around Queen Iolani Palace and the statue of King Kamehmeha:
But have been spending most of our time at the nearby beaches, with big North Shore Surf:
Even a beach clearing visit from an endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal.
We've been enjoying this Christmas week with both boys, exploring parts of Honolulu and the North Shore. Simple Christmas at "home" on the couch and with tropical leaves for a "Tree".
Got out yesterday with Ben and Tom and after Dim Sum in Chinatown downtown, walked around Queen Iolani Palace and the statue of King Kamehmeha:
But have been spending most of our time at the nearby beaches, with big North Shore Surf:
Even a beach clearing visit from an endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal.
Friday, December 18, 2015
Continuing to enjoy the Big Island
December 18, 2015 - Waimea/Kamuela, Hawaii
The town we're staying in is almost 3,000 ft above sea level and the temps are typically 15-20 deg cooler than on the beaches at Kona. Frequently we come home to misty showers with the afternoon tradewinds causing clouds to form and rain to condense at these higher altitudes, even though it is full sun down on the West coast. This is also rich grazing land and home to the Parker Ranch. Parker Ranch is one of the nations oldest (founded in 1847) and largest cattle ranches (250,000 acres). Hawaii has a long cowboy history to support this and other ranches and this town is the center of it!
This statue features local cowboy (aka paniolo in Hawaiian) Ikua Purdy who stunned the nation in 1908 by winning the National Rodeo Roping championship in Cheyenne, WY.
Connie and I have visited a number of different beaches along the South Kohala coast and the Waikoloa Bay beach is situated near a famous collection of Petroglyphs from early native Hawaiians.
These can be accessed via a 1/2 mile hike from a parking area, and has a nice loop trail through this vast collection.
Today, the trade winds are WAY UP, and we chose to take in a Whale watch "talk" at a local National Park Service Venue known as Puu Kohala Heiau, which features a monument erected by King Kamehameha.
We had a nice presentation on the natural history of the Humpback Whale Migration between the Hawaiian Islands (where they mate and calve December to March) and Alaska (where they feed primarily). The pic above features a life size depiction of a humpback whales tale (15 ft across). We even saw 3 or 4 blowing and showing their tales quite a ways offshore! Best part of all was celebrating the arrival of the whales with a whale cake!
Then we carefully chose a nearby beach (Mau Umae (a little hard to get to but a favorite secret beach of the locals)
and were visited by our friends the Francolin (something like a quail or partridge (in the same family))
The town we're staying in is almost 3,000 ft above sea level and the temps are typically 15-20 deg cooler than on the beaches at Kona. Frequently we come home to misty showers with the afternoon tradewinds causing clouds to form and rain to condense at these higher altitudes, even though it is full sun down on the West coast. This is also rich grazing land and home to the Parker Ranch. Parker Ranch is one of the nations oldest (founded in 1847) and largest cattle ranches (250,000 acres). Hawaii has a long cowboy history to support this and other ranches and this town is the center of it!
This statue features local cowboy (aka paniolo in Hawaiian) Ikua Purdy who stunned the nation in 1908 by winning the National Rodeo Roping championship in Cheyenne, WY.
Connie and I have visited a number of different beaches along the South Kohala coast and the Waikoloa Bay beach is situated near a famous collection of Petroglyphs from early native Hawaiians.
These can be accessed via a 1/2 mile hike from a parking area, and has a nice loop trail through this vast collection.
Today, the trade winds are WAY UP, and we chose to take in a Whale watch "talk" at a local National Park Service Venue known as Puu Kohala Heiau, which features a monument erected by King Kamehameha.
We had a nice presentation on the natural history of the Humpback Whale Migration between the Hawaiian Islands (where they mate and calve December to March) and Alaska (where they feed primarily). The pic above features a life size depiction of a humpback whales tale (15 ft across). We even saw 3 or 4 blowing and showing their tales quite a ways offshore! Best part of all was celebrating the arrival of the whales with a whale cake!
Then we carefully chose a nearby beach (Mau Umae (a little hard to get to but a favorite secret beach of the locals)
and were visited by our friends the Francolin (something like a quail or partridge (in the same family))
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Big Island Drive and Lava Trail Hike along Anaeho'omalu Bay
December 10, 2015 - Kamuela, Big Island, Hawaii
Took a long ride up and down and around the Big Island yesterday. Senator Daniel K. Inouye was influential in getting a cross Island road upgraded, now known as the Inouye Highway, or more commonly the Saddle Road that traverses 50 miles east from close to Waikoloa Village, all the way into Hilo. In the meantime, it gains 6,000 feet of altitude, and the road to the Observatories (Keck, etc. ) on the top of 13,796 ft Mauna Kea). Here's the saddle road, and one of the many lava flows that have passed this way:
After a picnic lunch at the Volcano National Park, we continued south from Hilo to make the loop, (eventually back to Waimea(Kamuela) where we are staying.) stopping at Punalu'u Beach with gorgeous black sand:
Passed the Southernmost bar in the United States, and just about 10 miles North of the Southernmost land in the United States.
Today, we followed up with a "beach day" that included a grueling 6 mile hike along a rough lava rock path south of Anaeho'omalu Bay (one of our favorite beaches this trip.
This last one here shows our return path along the ramrod straight "King's Trail". A road built by King Kamehameha.
Oh and here are some pics of the hill behind our cottage:
This last look is from the top of "our hill" looking down on the Town of Waimea.
Took a long ride up and down and around the Big Island yesterday. Senator Daniel K. Inouye was influential in getting a cross Island road upgraded, now known as the Inouye Highway, or more commonly the Saddle Road that traverses 50 miles east from close to Waikoloa Village, all the way into Hilo. In the meantime, it gains 6,000 feet of altitude, and the road to the Observatories (Keck, etc. ) on the top of 13,796 ft Mauna Kea). Here's the saddle road, and one of the many lava flows that have passed this way:
After a picnic lunch at the Volcano National Park, we continued south from Hilo to make the loop, (eventually back to Waimea(Kamuela) where we are staying.) stopping at Punalu'u Beach with gorgeous black sand:
Passed the Southernmost bar in the United States, and just about 10 miles North of the Southernmost land in the United States.
Today, we followed up with a "beach day" that included a grueling 6 mile hike along a rough lava rock path south of Anaeho'omalu Bay (one of our favorite beaches this trip.
This last one here shows our return path along the ramrod straight "King's Trail". A road built by King Kamehameha.
Oh and here are some pics of the hill behind our cottage:
This last look is from the top of "our hill" looking down on the Town of Waimea.
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Life in Kamuela, Big Island, HI
December 8, 2015 - Cottage - Kamuela (Waimea), Big Island, HI
We're here a week now. Enjoying warm weather, waves, community.
Just down the coast from us is Kona-Kailua. Kona coffee wins International awards. Last week we finally took in a Kona coffee "tour" and visited the Mountain Thunder Coffee Co. Had a sample coffee cup (personally wasn't too impressed, though Connie liked it). Nice little tour, 3000 ft up the mountain to see plants:
Also saw samples of the beans, and one of their roasters.
There are plenty of great beaches in South Kohala and North Kona. One of them is the Mauna Kea Beach:
Yes, even Turkeys!
Had a great hike in North Kohala, down into the Polulu valley and beyond:
Took in the 55th Annual Twilight Christmas Parade at Waimea:
Pretty cool, when you are taking it all in chowing down on a Gravy Cheeseburger!
On the "green side" they've got some impressive waterfalls, including Akaka Falls, twice as high as Niagara Falls!
And one of the best fruits around are bananas:
And of course there are more cool beaches (watch out for the lava!)
We're here a week now. Enjoying warm weather, waves, community.
Just down the coast from us is Kona-Kailua. Kona coffee wins International awards. Last week we finally took in a Kona coffee "tour" and visited the Mountain Thunder Coffee Co. Had a sample coffee cup (personally wasn't too impressed, though Connie liked it). Nice little tour, 3000 ft up the mountain to see plants:
Also saw samples of the beans, and one of their roasters.
There are plenty of great beaches in South Kohala and North Kona. One of them is the Mauna Kea Beach:
Yes, even Turkeys!
Had a great hike in North Kohala, down into the Polulu valley and beyond:
Took in the 55th Annual Twilight Christmas Parade at Waimea:
Pretty cool, when you are taking it all in chowing down on a Gravy Cheeseburger!
On the "green side" they've got some impressive waterfalls, including Akaka Falls, twice as high as Niagara Falls!
And one of the best fruits around are bananas:
And of course there are more cool beaches (watch out for the lava!)
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