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Published: January 16th 2010
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The Big Island of Hawaii - Kona
3 years after the first visit to the Big Island, we were back again. Our landing and first evening was very much like that in 2009. The evening was warm, the air smelt of flowers and dinner was a plate of coconut shrimps and an ice cold beer.
We stayed once again at Kona Magic sands, this time we stayed in the corner apartment which came with a wrap around balcony. We stayed in Kona for 4 nights and spent our days visiting the stunning beaches and countryside. Our highlights in the south west were:
KONA SIGHTS Place of Refuge - An area by the sea where old kings and queens used to spend their holiday time together. The sea in this area is full of turtles.
Ka’u - Black sands beach, simply BEAUTIFUL. The black sand is powder soft and makes a dramatic contrast against the palm trees that fringe part of this beach. We were lucky enough to see 4 large turtles taking a little nap on the shore front.
Mauna Kea - We went stargazing on Mauna Kea, this was our second time but it was as brilliant as the
first.
KONA EATS Lava Java - Go there for breakfast and lunch
Coffee Shack - The best breakfast on the Island and lunch is pretty awesome too.
On our fifth day we drove up to Hawi in the north of the Island, the landscape changed from the rugged volcanic rock to a softer and land with green rolling hills.
Hawi is a bit of a hippy town where you can wonder into a shop and get your fortune told, I did exactly this and my reader told me something very special and it actually came true about a week later.
We stayed at the serene Hawaii Island Retreat, a place of relaxation nestled amongst passion fruit bushes and papaya trees. The amazing Genie is the owner and runs a true retreat with her husband and family. Genie spent many years working as a masseuse at top hotels in Hawaii... Do not miss out on her experience and book yourselves in for a full body massage and facial...It is one of the best that I’ve had.
Genie and her team of family member are making the retreat completely self sufficient with solar panels, outside kitchens, chickens and goats. I was invited
to go and milk the cute goats with Genie early one morning. It was a wonderful experience.
HAWI SIGHTS Horse-riding upcountry
HAWI EATS Bamboo - DELICIOUS for dinner, this is the oldest building in town.
Luke’s - Cheap dinner
Our two night stay soon came to an end which meant it was time for us to move on again. We took to the road and continued our journey round the Island. Passing through Waimea we found ourselves in thick fog and fine rain until we started our descent to lower land.
We stopped at the Botanical garden which is on the road to Hilo. It is full of beautiful tropical and exotic gardens, well worth a pit-stop. Also in the surrounding area is a great little place called, What’s Shakin, this place does GREAT fruit smoothies and you can pick up some lovely flower seeds.
Hilo welcomed us with rain and more rain, it is afterall one of the rainiest places on earth. Rain aside Hilo is a strangely interesting place... quirky shops, good restaurants, great farmer’s markets and full of interesting history.
We stayed at Kale Kai B&B, it was perfectly located facing the ocean, one of
our fellow guests say a pod of 20 dolphins swim by from the breakfast veranda. Sadly we were not lucky enough to see such an awesome sight on our stay, but we did see a spectacular sunrise. With a view like that you could forgive and forget the daily rainfall.
Hilo beaches are a great place to watch surfers enjoy the big waves, you can easily spend hours watching young and old twisting and turning on the ocean’s surf.
Hilo is a wonderful base to explore the Volcano National Park and we did just that. We drove up to the national park one morning spent the day trekking around the safe ground, went had a horrible lunch in Pahoa and then had a better time in the Ironwood Tree park. We made our way to the coast just before sunset to see the lava pouring into the sea. After lots of oowwws and aaahhhs at the lava we headed back to Pahoa and had a wonderful dinner at Ning’s.
The following morning we flew to Maui.
HILO SIGHTS Botanical Garden
Farmer’s Market - Pick up some Lilikoi cake - yummy
Japanese Garden
Coconut Island
Volcano National Park
Ironwood
tree park
HILO EATS Sombats for dinner - cheap but very tasty and massive portions, Hilo
Ning’s, Pahoa - Great food
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