Hawaii Trip 2014 - Big Island Day 9

September 6, 2014 (Saturday)

Pu’uhonua O Honaunau NHP

The last day of our trip was spent at Pu’uhonua O Honaunau NHP. Back in the day if you had broken a law the penalty was death. This site served as a place or refuge, or as it is known in Hawaii a puuhonua.  If law breakers could get to a Pu’uhonua and receive absolution for the kahuna pule (priest) they were given a second chance at life. Pu’uhonua O Honaunau serves as royal grounds and a sactuary. Ki’I (carved wooden images) surround the Hale o Keawe, which house the bones of chiefs that infuse the area with their power or mana. The site is still considered a sacred site and many restrictions are in place.

There was a park ranger talk that we listened to that was interesting. More interesting were some of the films that were shown. 

After leaving the park, we headed out for lunch. We opted to try the Mahina Café in Captain Hook. It was a small place but the food was good. I had the kalua pork and cabbage and Mike had Wahoo fish.

Back in Kona, we wondered around a little and got some Scandinavian Shave Ice. There were so many flavors to pick from. I think I picked Pineapple, Kiwi and Pina Colada. The small size is quite large. They have some recommended flavor combinations listed on the wall if you have trouble deciding.

Sunset

We revisited the Kona Brewing Company – this time to take the brewery tour. The tour was $5/person and you get 4 samples and a glass to take home. The tour lasted about an hour. Since we were there we also had dinner. We had the KBC’illa Po’okela (kalua Park quesadilla) and Naalehu Nachos. Both were excellent – better than the pizza we had at our previous visit.

The sun was about to set so we went in search of a place to see the sunset one last time during our vacation. We decided to try Kaloko-Honokahau NHS – the marina location. Jackpot - great sunset and two green sea turtles resting on the beach! There were also a ton more turtle lurking in the water (I think waiting for us to vacate the beach so they could come ashore). It was a super great way to end the trip.

Sea Turtle at Kaloko-Honokahau NHS Marina

Gas prices on both islands that we visited were about $4.25-$4.50/gallon, which were not all that much higher than they were in Michigan before we left. We were speaking to someone about the gas prices and they said that they had been to Hawaii about 15 years prior and prices were $4/gallon (compared to $1/gallon here in Michigan). Thank goodness prices did not increase as much in Hawaii as they did in the mainland.

Our flight out of Hawaii was not until 10:45pm. We got to the airport kind of early since there really was not a lot to do once the sunset. The airport was not busy but we had to wait quite a while for the airline workers to allow us to check-in.  We had hoped to get luck like we had on the way to Hawaii, but that did not happen – the plane was pretty much full. About an hour or two into the flight a young lady started screaming and acting out. She got restrained and we were able to continue to Phoenix (we really hoped we would not have to turn around and go back to Kona). 

September 7, 2014 (Sunday)

After the smooth flight from Phoenix to Detroit we made it home late afternoon – exhausted. Until next time happy travels.

Hawaii Trip 2014 - Big Island Day 8

September 5, 2014 (Friday)

Heading to Hilo, we passed all sorts of different terrain – lave fields, desert (with cactus), tall trees and tropical areas. It was interesting to see trees having a permeant bend in them from the wind. There was a bit of maintenance along the drive – the area was hit a little harder by the hurricane, which hit a couple of weeks earlier, than other parts of the island.

Akaka Falls State Park

Akaka Falls State Park was our first stop. There was a $1/person fee to enter the trail if parking outside of the gate, or $5/car if parking at the park. There were two falls at the park, one of which was largely blocked by trees (Kahuna Falls). The Akaka Falls has a 442 foot drop and was lovely.

Back on the main road, we pulled off to the 4-mile scenic drive, which takes you past the tropical gardens. We did not visit the gardens, but there were a couple of nice overlooks that we visited.

While in the area we also visited Rainbow Falls, which had a nice viewing platform. It was not worth taking the trail, as the view was not as good. Just down the road from Rainbow Falls are were some boiling pots, which are basically a series of pools and Pe’epe’e Falls. About a mile up the road was another waterfall called Wai’ale Falls. Nice views are available at the roadside bridge, but there is a trail you can take to get closer to the falls.

Laupahoehoe Point Beach Park

Pineapples was our lunch destination. It was located in downtown Hilo. I had the pork sandwich, which was too saucy for me (and to think – I like things saucy!). Mike had fish and chips again – this time the fish was Ahi. I had the Onion soup – it was awesome (a bit spicier than most I’ve had).

Heading back to Kona, we visited Laupahoehoe Point Beach Park. The park has a monument which is dedicated to those who lost their lives during the “April Fool’s Day Tsunami” back in 1946. The park was very nice and definitely worth the stop if in the area.

Waipio Valley

Waipio Valley is also not far off the path. There was not a lot of parking available at the overlook, but we were able to nab a space. To get to the valley you MUST take a tour. The grade to get to the valley is super steep (25% average grade), possibly the steepest road in the world. Hawaii Islands tallest waterfall, Hiilawe Falls (1,300 ft) is located in the valley. The valley itself is about a mile across and over five-miles deep with cliffs exceeding 2000-feet in height. Some interesting facts include the valley was the final scene of the movie Waterworld (where the main characters find dry land) and Waipio Valley was the boyhood home of King Kamehameha I.

As we headed back to the road to get to Kona we stopped in a town called Honokaa to get some ice cream at Simply Natural. I had a scoop of coconut flavor and a scoop of passion fruit sorbet (it was yellow and tart).

Back in Kona, we wondered down the pier and snapped some sun set photos and had dinner at Splashers. Mike had Wahoo fish yet again and I had a burger.

Hawaii Trip 2014 - Big Island Day 7

September 4, 2014 (Thursday)

We were on the road early again for the long drive (about 2 hours) to Volcano National Park. The drive was quite lush for a portion of the trip – banana trees, coconut trees, and coffee trees (I think since there were a ton of coffee farm tours along the way). There were not nearly as many flowers on the Big Island. Approaching the park, we spotted a Nene bird (Hawaiian goose), which happens to be Hawaii’s state bird. The Nene is the rarest goose in the world – there were tons of signs to alert drivers to watch for them.

Volcano National Park - Kilauea

Once arriving at the park, we visited the Kilauea Visitor Center where we watched the twenty minute video giving a park overview. We joined the “How it all Started” talk (approximately 20 minutes), which was interesting. During our visit, some of the park road was closed, as were some hiking trials, due to the active volcano action.  The Jagger Museum provides the best view of the Volcano.  There was a decent amount of steam coming from the volcano, but we were unable to see any lava.  The Jagger Museum had a ton of scientific instruments and data, all of which was neat to see.

Volcano National Park - Cave

There was a guided hike called Craters and Caves (1.5 hours) that we decided to join. The hike was enjoyable and we learned a lot about the plants and volcanos. The hike started with walking through the rain forest and ended with walking through the lava tube. It was a nice hike and the guide was pleasant.

A little bit of time before the next guided hike, we checked out Pu’u Pua’i and the Devastation Trail. Back at the visitor center, we joined the Explore the Summit Hike (45 minutes). A lot of what the guide spoke about was covered by the guide from the other hike – but that just made us seem really smart since we knew all the answers!

Volcano National Park - Lava

Before heading down the Chain of Craters Road, we checked out the steam vents and sulfur banks. The steam vents were neat and the sulfur banks smelled horrid as expected. The Chain of Craters Road lived up to the name with a lot of craters and lots of lava. We stopped at a few of the pull-offs, some were better than others. The sea arch at the end of the road was neat. The water sounded like thunder as it crashed in the 60’ tall sea wall. The 2003 lava flow can also be reached from the end of the road.

Volcano National Park - Sea Arch

Initially, we had intended to check out the Petroglyphs, but it had been a lot day and we had a 2+ hour drive to get back to the hotel. Overall, it was an awesome day. The rain forest lived up to its name by sprinkling most of the afternoon. The temps at the park were mid 60’s – low 70’s – a huge relief to the 90’s we experience most of the other days.

Food for the day consisted of leftover pizza for lunch (not a lot of food options at the NP) and Quinn’s Almost by the Sea for dinner. Mike tried the fish and chips – which he absolutely loved. The fish was Wahoo (or Ono as it is known in Hawaii), it is a close relative of the King Mackerel. Me, the non-fish eater tried it. The fish was very dense and did not smell or taste like fish. 

Hawaii Trip 2014 - Maui/Big Island Day 6

September 3, 2014 (Wednesday)

View from the plane

It was time to pack up our luggage and get ready to head to the Island of Hawaii, aka the Big Island. We headed down to the beach to snap a few last photos and then headed to the airport. When shopping for airfare, I came across Mokulele Air. It was a lot cheaper than many other airlines. Our flight time got changed by an hour, which was not a big deal, since they gave us a couple of day notice. The plane held twelve people, including the pilots.  It was super great to fly with this island hopping plane – no security check-ins, no lines, window seating… 

Fishtrap at Kaloko-Honokahau National Historic Site

Landing in Kona, we were welcomed by a non-existing wait for the rental car – hooray!  First things first we visited the visitor center, known as Hale Ho’okipa (House of Welcome), at Kaloko-Honokahau National Historic Site, which was just south of the airport and is located on the Honokohau Bay. There was a short walking trail and that was about it. There are two other units for this park. First the Kaloko Fishpond, where we were able to see some Hawaiian green sea turtles (Honu). There was some shade at the park and other than some park construction workers the place was deserted. The road to get to the parking lot was very rough, but provided nice views of the lava fields. Lastly, we visited the ‘Ai’opio Fishtrap, which you can either hike to or park at the harbor. We parked at the harbor since who really loves to hike in 90 degree heat over a lava field? The beach was very popular at the area by the ‘Ai’opio Fishtrap.

Lava field at
 Kaloko-Honokahau National Historic Site

For lunch we went to Ultimate Burger, which has local grown beef. The cheeseburger was $8 and fries were $4. The fries were yummy – I believe they are fresh cut daily. After lunch, we headed to the hotel we were going to be staying at – Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel. Our room was not ready thus we just ventured on to our next destination.

Sample of the bracelet

We visited Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site next, and we arrived at a perfect time! We were able to participate in bracelet making (checkerboard pattern). It was a lot of fun and we got a great souvenir. The bracelets retailed for $20 in the gift shop. There are also other activities at the park – canoe rides in the bay occur a couple of times a week, we missed out on that.

Canoe ride at
Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site 

The purpose of the park is to protect the temple of Kamehameha the Great. Kamehameha was the most renowned king of Hawai’i. There was also a temple turned fort at the site, it is called Mailekini Heiau. There is a hiking trail that wraps around the temples and along the ocean. There were some videos available for viewing at the visitor center.

Returning to the hotel, we were able to check-in. Our room had a minor issue that was resolved within a few minutes of calling the front desk. Dinner was a short walk away at the Kona Brewery. There was a coupon in a visitor guide book for free garlic twists with a beer sampler, which of course Mike was interested in trying. People raved about the pizza so we tried that, half Hawaiian Lu’au and half Pepperoni Ali’i. There were many other interesting varieties to choice from. The pizza was okay.

Hawaii Trip 2014 - Maui Day 5

September 2, 2014 (Tuesday)

Venturing north of the area, we were staying we caught a glimpse of some sea turtles at a beach in Napoli. We also purchased a little carved turtle from an artisan set up by the parking area. His prices were a bit lower than the prices we saw earlier in the trip.

Nakalele Blowhole

Continuing north, we came across the Nakalele Blowhole. Blowholes are created when the ocean wears away the shore below the lava shelf. Waves force water though the hole in the lava shelf resulting in the eruption of water. The degree was eruption varies vastly depending on the tide levels and wave action.

Next stop was the Olivine Pools. The pools were named after a semi-precious gem that is found encrusted in the surrounding lava and sandstone. The pools are a popular area for swimming, wading and sunbathing.

After the pools, the road way became rather interesting – meaning lots of single lane road that lasted for very long stretches. We had planned to go back the way we came, but decided against it. Luckily, we only had to back up to let a truck pass once.

In Kahakuloa, we stopped at Julia’s for banana bread and coconut candy – both were very yummy! While at Julia’s we enquired about the Lower Makamaka’ole Falls. We were told that we would be able to see it from the road, but we could not find it despite knowing what mile marker it was at.

At the Luau

Our evening plans included going to the Old Lahaina Luau. Research repeated said that the Old Lahaina Luau was the most authentic one on the island. The price was a bit steep (over $100/person), but everything about the evening was fabulous! We arrived about 20 minutes before the start time and the place was already quite busy. The check-in process was super smooth and efficient. Once arriving they give you a choice of water, juice or mai tai and lead you personally to your table. Once at your table there is a long list of available drinks. While waiting for the luau to begin, there are many different stations set up that you can visit – hog roast pit, fabric printing, coconut breaking, Hawaiian games, and instrument playing.

Old Lahaina Luau - hog rost pit

We were one of the last tables to get our food so we were given appetizers, or pupus as they are known in Hawaii. The pupus was banana bread and pineapple. I must say the pineapple in Hawaii is amazing! The food buffet was huge – tons of choices. I was brave and tried pretty much everything. The only thing that was absolutely horrid was Poi - it was purple, pasty and did not have good flavor. The desserts were not that great in my opinion. There were four bite size dessert choices – brownies with chili powder and lavender iced shortbread cookies were two of the choices.

The entertainment show was very nice – lots of action and colors. When leaving you received a mini loaf of banana bread to take home. All in all going to the luau was one of the highlights of the trip.

Hawaii Trip 2014 - Maui Day 3 & 4

August 31, 2014 (Sunday)

Banyan Tree in Old Lahaina

Rise and shine, up and at them bright and early yet again.  Per research, the best time to get photos of the Banyan tree in Old Lahaina was early to help insure that the tree would be people free. Also, parking would be easier to find. We walked around and watched the surfers. We also did our shopping - since we had a list of requested things – mostly Hawaiian shirts. J We spent the rest of the day hanging out by the resort.

We had Maui Pizza for lunch – it was yummy! For dinner we checked out Duke’s Beach House, which was good. We had the “Hula Pie” for desert – it was huge! Hula Pie, at least their version, was Oreo crust, macadamia ice cream, hot chocolate and whipped cream. 

Along the Road to Hana

September 1, 2014 (Monday)

We were on the road by around 5 A.M. to head to the infamous “Road to Hana”. Prior to leaving for our trip to Hawaii, I used the “Maui Revealed” and “Big Island Revealed” books as reference on what to see, do and eat. The “Road to Hana” portion was very useful – notifying us of places that we probably would not have seen had we just been driving down the road. There were some places that we just were not able to find, but in general was a good reference.

Along the Road to Hana

Along the drive, we stopped at many waterfalls and were also rewarded with many great coastal views. The flowers were amazing.

Along the Road to Hana

Once reaching Hana, we continued ten miles further to the Haleakala National Park. We hiked two trails at the National Park, both were quite nice and had fulfilling waterfall views (Pools of Oheo and Waimoku Falls).

Luckily, we had stopped by the places mentioned in “Maui Revealed” on the drive to Hana and not on the way back. The return trip was much more harrowing due to increase traffic volume. The “Road to Hana” (HI-360) features 620 curves, 54 one-lane bridges, and covers over 52 miles.

At were a bunch of food stands at one place along the route. We went to the Mexican place and it was good. We also got some coconut pineapple bread from the café.

Sunset

For dinner we went to Ka’anapali Beach Club. There was live entertainment, which was really good, apparently, the guy use to do back up for Michael Jackson. We also got to enjoy a lovely sunset.