I’m a few days out from real-time blogging but the sun and movement around the island is EXHAUSTING! We’re staying in the Kona area, about 20 mins from the airport and 2 hours from the other side of the island (Hilo) or the non-active volcanoes.
On Wednesday, we decided to drive the 2 hours to check out some waterfalls and a lava tube. Don’t worry, it’s cooled-down lava that has formed a tunnel and you can walk through them. It must be off-season or there’s no one else on this island because we’ve gotten easy parking everywhere we’ve gone. The lack of public restrooms (even for paying customers) is still an issue – I have used too many port-a-potties on this trip, well, more than I’ve had to use in some other countries!
Our first waterfall stop was Rainbow Falls. David loved the forest of massive trees growing alongside the river.
Driving some more, we stopped at the Kaumana Caves, which is where the lava tubes are. There are two different caves, the right-side and left-side. The right-side is easier to navigate but not by much. In fact, both caves are very dark and slippery. I went about two steps in and David went much further. He’s definitely the more adventurous explorer than I am.
Continuing our driving tour around the Big Island, we headed back to Kona to catch the farmers market but we arrived just as the vendors were taking their stalls down. We relaxed at “home” before trying to get oysters in town but they are “off-season”. I suppose everything is off-season in Hawaii, even public restrooms.
Mini-rant time! I don’t quite like Hawaii. Yes, I know, very controversial. What I like the most is the warm water, the different terrains and flowers. But I think I can find that in more hospitable vacation places. And it isn’t just this island – I’ve been to 3 of them now and each time I’m reminded why they are beautiful, but not for me. David, meanwhile, is ready to buy land and develop something from scratch here! But we got a wedding to pay for, so a boy can dream.
Thursday was the day I wanted to do absolutely nothing. No early morning plans to get up and out exploring. Reading and drinks by the pool is how we spent the day. It seems like everything is made just a little more complicated than it should be. Maybe that’s what I don’t like about it. We walked to the post office to buy stamps & mail postcards for the grandkids, only to find it closed for mailing services and a sign directing us 5 miles away to the next post office. The grocery store didn’t sell stamps but the Longs Drugs did (yes, they still exist, only in Hawaii). See, everything is more complicated than it should be.
As for the afternoon, we souvenir shopped and then stopped for some food at Da Shark Shack, also known as a hangout spot for the local gecko population. I hate bugs, insects, creatures and to sit at a bar while people attracted them with maraschino cherries made me uncomfortable. Can you say, “disgusting”?! And yes, that gecko hasn’t got much of a tail. I guess he needs love too. Yuck!
There She Goes... 