Today is actually our second day on the “big island”, but we are on the other side of the island. We are in Kona today. This is much more of a tourist location than Hilo, despite what our guide said yesterday. We had to use the lifeboats to get to shore since the water is to shallow for the ship to dock (they anchor and then ferry people back and forth to shore). Conversely Hilo has a deep port and everything that is shipped to this island is first offloaded in Hilo and then driven across the island. That is why [View Full Entry]

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Kona, Day 4 (6/22/09): We had a casual day and rested most of the morning, having to catch up on laundry and do some swimming at the resort pool. We decided early on that we should go on a dinner cruise, having enjoyed them in the past with historical perspectives being offered as part of the trip. Now, when I called and booked this dinner, I was met with the following, "Its Gay Pride night, but no other cruises are on schedule until next Tuesday." Sheila and I decided to go and what an interesting trip this was. Most of the [View Full Entry]

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Day 2 (Kona): We spend the day traveling to the east side of the island. Waterfalls and rain forests filled the morning with a visit to Akaka Falls State Park. The waterfall is over 400 feet! After the stroll through the waterfall trails (paved with stair rails), we ventured to the World Botannical Gardens. This used to be a sugar cane field, but is now complete with a water fall with three drops, a mile section of rain forest, and a garden of exotic plants from the world over. We had a great lunch at Huli Sue's Barbeque--a nice eatery in [View Full Entry]

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Day Three on the Big Island (6/20/09): Day three was awesome! We spent most of the morning driving down state highway 11, stopping several times on our way to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. We found South Point, the southern most location in the United States. South point is referred to as Ka Lae, and a barren land, covered by dried grass lands, cattle, and an old wind farm that is not really in operation any more. The ocean crashes into high cliff walls with a fair amount of wind (felt like walking out of the front door!). South Point has a [View Full Entry]

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Day 1 (6/18/09): We arrived in Kona at about 1:30 PM (which is about 5:30 PM in Wyoming). We are staying at the Royal Kona Resort, right on the ocean. The room is on the 6th floor with a room facing the ocean! After a nice late lunch, we strolled around the local area, finding a Banyan Tree. Banyan trees have roots that grow from the top down into the ground. [View Full Entry]

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My fiancee Mathieu and I were due to get married on May 8th in Mexico. We took just over a year to plan this blessed event and had everything from the flowers to the photographers picked out. Thirty four of us were due to leave in a matter of days for an exciting two weeks of sun, surf and sand; we couldnt wait! But then... SWINE flu happened. We hoped that it was just the media blowing everything way out of proportion and planned to go ahead with our plans. That is, until the Canadian government advised against Canadians travelling into [View Full Entry]

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I am blessed to say that this was my THIRD trip to the Big Island of Hawaii. My parents are big lovers of Hawaii and have been there even more times than I have. I use to say they were just obsessed, but I think I may be too! Now that one of the most important and romantic days of my life happened there, it will always hold a very special place in my heart. We stayed at the Kona Coast Resorts just off of Alii drive. It was a great location because it wasnt too far from all the happening [View Full Entry]

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The next day we decided to rent Mopeds and attempt to make it to the hard to spot Black Sand beaches of Kiholo Bay. Being that I had never driven a moped before I was a bit skeptical about being able to successfully opperate it on the Highway, but I figured my training of riding 4 wheelers might help a little. We started out with baby steps, riding around in the parking lots, around Kona and then finally braved the highway (with no helmet I might add). Hawaii doesn't require them so the rental place doesn't provide them either. Before reaching [View Full Entry]

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The next day I had a 6 am wake up and headed on foot from the hostel to Jacks Diving Locker in Kailua Kona for my first day of scuba diving. Scuba in California was freezing so I decided to give it another shot in Hawaii. Even before we left the marina I saw a guy pulling out a huge swordfish from his boat to load into the back of his truck, it was crazy. On the way to the dive sites (High Rock and Freeze Face) we saw a bunch of dolphins playing in the water too. There were various [View Full Entry]

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Mokulele Airlines....the name alone says it all! Honolulu is only a short flight from Kona...but once we land, we are in a different place. The lava fields are all over...not the red one for those who don't know, but the lunar landscape is already all over us. Another cool car...this time a little Mustang...we love the sound they do...and ready for our first stop, the Four Seasons Hualalai. Let's say this is pure spoiling. An amazing place...if you take out the guests who arrive there by private jets. Not us, but didn't stop us to enjoy the place. First stop, one [View Full Entry]

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