Blogs from Kailua-Kona, Big Island, Hawaii, United States, North America - page 2

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North America » United States » Hawaii » Big Island » Kailua-Kona January 11th 2019

Lekeleke burial grounds At the end of our road there is a huge lava field that is a sacred Hawaiian historical sight. It marks the location of a huge battle in 1819. In the 1819 Battle of Kuamo‘o, Hawaiian forces clashed over the traditional kapu religious system. The dispute pitted the forces of Kekuaokalani, nephew of Kamehameha I, who sought to preserve the traditional system, against his cousin, Liholiho (Kamehameha II), who had abandoned the kapu system. Liholiho was victorious, but many warriors from both sides perished in battle and were buried on the property, including Kekuaokalani and his wife, Chiefess Manono. With her dying breath, Chiefess Manono is said to have uttered “Mālama kō aloha”‐ “keep your love”‐ a plea to both sides that no matter what obstacles come to Hawai‘i, keep your love ... read more
Waipo VALLEY
Malasada stop at Tex Drive In

North America » United States » Hawaii » Big Island » Kailua-Kona January 4th 2019

Has anyone ever been to a Vanilla Bean Farm? I certainly had never thought to go before but today we were looking for something different to do on a hot day and The Vanillerie south of Kona beckoned so off we went. I have to say I was not particularly looking forward to the experience but I went along for the ride.....actually I had to go as I was driving! The tour took about 2 hours and was most fascinating. I learned a lot and was really glad I had gone. The farm itself occupies 6.5 acres and is owned by a chap from South Africa. He initially came to the island as a forester but it wasn’t making him a sustainable living. During that time he met a fellow from the Philippines who had grown ... read more
Clump of green vanilla beans
beans starting to yellow
Beans going into humidor

North America » United States » Hawaii » Big Island » Kailua-Kona January 2nd 2019

Well, we are into the new year and are settling into a nice routine. I am getting up around 6:30 each morning and taking a walk up the hill to the Keauhou Shopping Cente where I have found a lovely coffee shop. I sit outside, enjoy a good cup of coffe, perhaps a banana scone and listen to the birds chirp as they wake up. Going up the hill each morning I encounter a few runners training for the Ironman competition. They run full speed straight uphill for 2 light poles (about 200 yards), then walk back down. They do this several times.....it makes me tired just watching them. I think I’d rather be a “clay man”.....you are much softer but the training is not nearly so tiring! I walk back home in time for the ... read more
Christmas in Hawaii
Day at the beach
Kona sunset

North America » United States » Hawaii » Big Island » Kailua-Kona December 31st 2018

After several challenges previously documented, everyone settled into our new home. We have stayed in Kona before at the Ali’i Villas but as there wasn’t a unit big enough for all of us, we tried a huge 2 bedroom unit at the Keauhou Surf and Racket Club, at the other end of Ali’i Drive. When booking a new place you try to make good decisions based on pictures and reviews. As we learned in Italy both pictures and reviews can be misleading at times. This was not the case in this instance! Our unit is on the ground floor. It is very spacious with two large bedrooms, each with their own bathroom, a large living room, fully equipped kitchen and a huge lanai that wraps around the condo with openings from both living room and master ... read more
Master bedroom
second bedroom
lanai

North America » United States » Hawaii » Big Island » Kailua-Kona September 18th 2018

Well after two flights we are now in our Hotel in Kailua-Kona. Tim is in Waikiki with the school. It was a beautiful day in Honolulu when we were there. The airport was busy with several US Hornets taking off before us as we left Honolulu. The views back over Waikiki beach were really nice. Unfortunately a bit cloudy with patches of rain here in Kailua-Kona. Have an ocean front view but hoping the weather will be a bit better tomorrow. Walked along the ocean front and found a fish café for late lunch/early tea. It was really nice - especially the Peach Sangria!!... read more
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North America » United States » Hawaii » Big Island » Kailua-Kona February 4th 2018

February 13, 2017 After a long trip my mother, brother & I finally arrived at the Kona airport and picked up our rental car. The drive to the house was not far and we had good directions. However, once off the main roads, the streetlights were few and far between. We found the correct road and the dark driveway to the house. The outside lights were not one so I used my cellphone's flashlight to find the stairs to the doorway. The house was a good size with a wraparound lanai. There were 3 good sized bedrooms with double beds allowing us to have our own room. The house appeared a little faded based on the VRBO photos but was clean. I used the Around Me app to find a grocery store nearby and once settled, ... read more
Polohu Valley viewpoint
Kona Coffee Living History Farm
Pu'uhonoa O Honaunau Park

North America » United States » Hawaii » Big Island » Kailua-Kona November 7th 2017

This is a new travel site as the other one went belly up. Seems it only took us a few years to kill it. So we'd like to test drive this one while we are in Hawaii. We've fingered a few unfortunates to serve as Guinea Pigs, and you are among them. Lu, we lost Gary's email when the previous travel site died. Would please supply it? Mary Jane, we hope it is okay with you to serve as a Guinea Pig. As our first post we'll briefly review a trip to the northwest of this very large island.... read more
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North America » United States » Hawaii » Big Island » Kailua-Kona October 4th 2017

Day 5 Kym wanted fried ham and pineapple for brekky so cooking on our Lanai we enjoyed another Hawaiian themed breakfast. Our little green friends joined us again. We booked a Manta Ray Night Snorkel and decided to do a late big lunch as we were leaving for the snorkel at 5pm. I also wanted a pair of orthopaedic sneakers for some planned hiking later in the trip. A quick trip beach into the township of Kona and we were asked if we wanted any drugs, well they asked Kym hahaha. Same thing happened when we were in New York.. the dude here was carrying a clear glass jar full of green buds. We often smelled the aroma in all different places over Hawai'i. After looking up if it was legal or not it seemed it ... read more
Startof our Sunset Cruise Manta Ray Night Snorkel
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Looking a bit too serious

North America » United States » Hawaii » Big Island » Kailua-Kona October 2nd 2017

Day 4 When on holiday it is important to sleep in and that's exactly what we have been doing. Its so nice to be lazy and do things on your own time, no real agenda, make it up as you go along.. Pineapple and coconut pancake mix with maple bacon and syrup for brekky... needed to be tropical when in Hawaii. A few little critters joined us for breakfast. Gold dust geckos, a bright green gecko with red markings on its back covered in small gold flakes (hence the name) an introduced species from Madagascar who feed on ants and other bugs but also have a sweet tooth. We gave them a bit of syrup soaked pancake and watched (photographed and videod) them licking the tasty morsel. Both of us get excited when we see native ... read more
Our little companion at brekky on the lanai

North America » United States » Hawaii » Big Island » Kailua-Kona June 27th 2017

Well, my last big weekend on Hawaii is over. I fly out of here tomorrow in the am, hitting SeaTac around 10pm Pacific time. Going to spend Wednesday with Ralph and Milly and then have an early flight to BWI Thursday. The condo was marvelous all weekend. Just for everyone's info, Jeanne finished the full marathon, her friend Susan finished the half marathon, and me... I completed my first ever 5K. Jeanne had been telling me all along I could do it, and after we spent one morning swimming twice in the ocean (I did deep water running with a belt), climbing a steep hill for coffee and tea and then walking a really long way on A'lii street to have lunch and then all the way back to the parking lot near the pier where ... read more




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