Kona Coffee, chocolates and snorkeling

Today we had a 10am coffee tasting scheduled. To say it was a difficult place to find is an understatement! We missed the turnoff, road said no trespassing and the single lane up the mountain was really for 4x4’s. 

But for coffee drinkers it was worth it. Here is where we parked.

Ed, from Rooster Coffee, is the coffee grower. The Rooster farm has been growing coffee for more than 150 years on the hillside. The cost is high for the beans because they are hand picked and they wait till the beans are almost fermented before picking, giving Kona Coffee no bitterness. 

Sue, Ken and Norm got to taste medium and dark roast. They are said even without cream or sugar, the coffee was really mellow and a really nice taste. It was worth the drive up the mountain side.

Not ready for picking. 

Once we all bought lots of coffee we headed back down the hill to find a place for snorkeling. 

I haven’t snorkeled for sometime so slowly enter the water but quickly left the kiddie area and headed with all the big kids.

It was great. Saw yellow, gold, striped and multicolour fish. 

If you look carefully you can see people way out there snorkeling. 

Next we are ready for thrift store shopping. Not quite the same as back home….lots of Hawaiian clothing.

But we did find a wonderful chocolate store. 

It is important that we eat chocolate daily. It must be dark and at least 70%.

We are following those rules!! 

Lunch time..

Beet, avocado and feta. 

Chicken sandwich and minestrone soup for Norm

Once back home it was time to have a pool stop.

Pretty nice.

Now a walk to see the sunset. It happens very quickly so you have to be ready. And I was.

Norm is looking good! 

Me too 😊
Now the sunset…

Every night we are lucky to watch this.

And for dinner - leftovers 

Tomorrow maybe more snorkeling?? Stay tuned.

Pu’uhonua o Honaunau

Porridge with fresh papaya, pineapple and bananas to start our day and we are ready for the National Historical Park of Pu’uhonau o Honaunau. This was an amazing beautiful site. Since 1100 AD, the islands have been inhabited by those arriving from Polynesia. 

This is a sacred place. Generations of chiefs (ali’i) were protected here but their bones have now been moved to the Bishop Museum in Oahu.

The Kiki gods protected the temple. 

Walking around you feel a sense of calmness and peace.

After walking about we sat to listen to a presentation by a park ranger and descendant of those earliest Hawaiians about  this sacred place and how important it is to the Hawaiian people. He was passionate about how his culture and traditions that we should try to understand and respect. It was very moving.

Next the Sunday market

It is getting hot! But the rooster  didn’t seem to mind.

We sat and ate some yummy mango salad rolls.

Back to our place and time for a swim…ahhhhhh

 

My lifeguard…

Very refreshing. Now it’s time for dinner. We went to the fish market and a restaurant called Umekes. Excellent!

I had seafood pasta.

Norm fish tacos 

Sue salad and rice and pork

Ken - ahi fish dish with seaweed salad 

Tomorrow coffee tasting. Snorkeling and maybe a thrift store!!

Kīlauea Caldera and Mauna Loa

Today was a day to learn about volcanoes. We drove for 2 hours both ways to see Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. These volcanoes are called shield volcanoes. They look more flat than the volcanoes of Mt Baker or Mt Saint Helen. 

Mauna Loa, meaning long mountain is the earth’s largest active volcano by both mass and volume. 

Her most recent eruption was in November 27, 2022 and ended on December 13, 2022. 

The one we many looked at was Kīlauea Caldera. She was active in 2018 and caused many homes to be destroyed. 

When you look into the massive crater you can see how large she is. 

The plumes you can see are sulphur, not good to be near. 

We had a park volunteer explain about the volcanoes. If you look carefully you can see that there used to be a road to drive around them. This is no longer possible. The last time that Kīlauea blew up the road was partially destroyed.

The crater looks like hard lava.

Norm thought maybe time for some dune buggy rentals in the crater…..?? 

Walking along there were many steam vents coming up from the ground. They were really hot! 

Kīlauea has a large, fairly recently formed caldera at its summit and two active rift zones, one extending 78 miles east and the other 22 miles west. 

We were now ready for lunch before we started a trip home. 

Pizza and pork sliders. No Yellow Bunny today. Too windy and poured rain at times. Norm’s hat blew off his head but caught in time before it went into the volcano! 

Maybe next time there will be lava. The park is open 24 hours a day. Very busy at night when the lava is flowing! 

What a difference a day makes

Today we are heading to the beach… after our porridge with pineapple, papaya and bananas for some.

We found a perfect spot, nice sand, shade, good swimming and not too crowded. Our friends Sue and Ken carry folding chairs for our shady spot under the palms.

The water was just the right temperature.

That’s Ken and me in sun protection clothing ready to swim.

Sue and Norm enjoying the shade.

So nice

It was windy and Norm’s hat kept blowing off. 

Yellow Bunny had fun too. 

Time for lunch at the Lava Lava Beach Club. There is old lava everywhere! 

Good food and great view 

Sue.                Ken.                 Norm.          Mary 

Once the tables are emptied, the birds attack!

We headed back home before it gets too hot.

You can see cars parked beside the lava flow. 

Rested up for dinner. We went to El Maguey Mexican Restaurant. The Hawaii guide book described it as in an industrial area and not so nice. Times have changed! The food was excellent and the area not rundown. 

Tomorrow- volcanoes!