Saturday: Chris, Charlie and Chuck awoke early. After quickly showering and porting the bags to it's trunk, we returned rental car #1 to the airport. After getting our tickets and then passing security, we said hi to John, Kavita, Puja and Shalin (the other family with whom we were traveling) before boarding the plane. The flight was fairly smooth, and we arrived in Honolulu in the afternoon where we got to meet up with Chuck's cousin, Captain Steve Richter, for an hour. We caught our plane to Kona, but our luggage missed the plane. Picked up rental car #2 (a Pontiac Bonneville) and after battling the car seat installation, we drove 20 miles north (without our luggage) to the Waikaloa Resort, where the first item of business was food. The wait/line at the restaurant was long, but fortunately the bar permitted us after Charlie swore on a stack of bibles that he would be the designated driver. When we were finished dining we drove the last few blocks and checked into the condo, joining John, Kavita, Puja and Shalin once again. The bedroom walls were actually sliding doors, prompting the question: "Will anyone be able to sleep while Charlie is up crying at night?"
Sunday: Not knowing if or when the airport would find the luggage, Chris announced to the condo that she was seeking volunteers (preferrably female) to part with their (preferrably clean) unmentionables. In return she would provide the volunteer with a voucher for a free pair of women's victoria secret briefs. After she donned a brand new pair of skivies, the airport called to announce that the luggage would arrive around 10am. Everyone would have access to clean clothes. Both families then drove the 20 miles to Costco discount warehouse with a beautiful parking lot view of the light blue sky meeting the dark blue ocean, where we picked up groceries and other vacation must-haves. In the aftternoon we visited the beach near our hotel before the three Optometrists among us were called to duty. After a long day (two hours) of optometry classes, the hosted bar sounded like a good idea. It sounded pretty good to the non-optometrists too.
Monday: John, Kavita and Chris had classes in the morning. Puja and Chuck assumed their roles as baby-sitters, which independently took them on strolls pushing baby carriages. After a turn around the impressive Hilton Waikaloa with it's monorail, dolphins, rolling hills and numerous swimming pools, Charlie and Chuck walked closer to the beach. The wind was impressively strong. When Chuck let go of the stroller, the wind would carry it along. Other than some brave surfers catching some huge waves, there were not very many people enjoying the beach. Approaching a rental shack that advertised scuba excursions, Chuck was disappointed to hear that no boats were going out, but that perhaps by Thursday the wind would die down.
Tuesday: Chris, John and Kavita had classes in the morning. Again, Chuck and Puja took the little ones on walks around the resort neighborhood. When parting for classes, the plan had been to go to morning classes, and then cut out for some fun in the afternoon. After walking Charlie, Chuck began to make sandwiches that could be brought along to whatever destination was chosen. When the Optometrists returned, it was decided to travel south about an hour or so where we would see the site dedicated to British explorer and supposed (by the Hawaiians) god. The guidebooks and roadsigns were sketchy on the exact point from which we should begin the 2 or three mile hike to the coast. An alternate route by sea was quickly discarded when considering two one-year-olds and the high surf brought about by the high winds. Encouraged by the guidebooks and John and Kavita who had been there before, we ported our fins, masks, snorkels, booties and gloves for some good snorkeling. Carrying babies and snorkel gear, the hike seemed long, and was sometimes rocky, surrounded by tall savannah grass, over loose lava rock, etc. We made it eventually and found the cove to be very protected from the winds which made the snorkeling very nice. As the parents took their turn jumping into the water, the children made it known through their screams that moma's and dada's presence on dry-land was appreciated. The hike up was longer than the hike down and the beer waiting at the top tasted good.
Wednesday: The Richters decided it was time to upgrade to a car much less comfortable. We swapped the sedan for a Jeep Wrangler. Drove to place of Refuge/Fertility. Snorkelled with the dolphins. Drove to the green and black sand beaches. Drove to Volcano; saw lava dumping into ocean. Spent the night in Hilo.
Thurs: Ate pancakes at Kens in Hilo. Drove to volcanically heated ocean tide pools. Returned to Hilo. Zoo was closed. Played in a park. Ate dinner at Pescatori's italian restaurant. Returned to Waikala beach resort area.
Fri: Chris had classes in the morning. Drove to Hawi where we ate Hawaiian lunch at Bamboo Restaurant. Drove to the coast where we hiked 20-minutes down to the beach with black sand and huge waves. The water was so nice, Chris swam in her underwear. Drove to the birthplace of King Kamahamaha I. Got the Jeep all muddy. Returned to the condo and made triple green soft fish tacos.
Sat: Drove 44-miles on the dirt road through cattle ranches ascending to Mauna Kea. Chris had to open and close several cattle gates. Fog. Rain. Mud.
Sun: Swimming pool. Mass. Kona. Swimming Pool. We ended up going out on that scheduled flight Sunday in the evening. Plane stayed aloft all the way to Seattle.
Lots to see on the big island. There's a meeting every year there for Chris. Next year it is going to be on Oahu.
High surf kept us from scuba diving, but we did get to snorkel in the ocean one day and the dolphins came right up to us (about 5-10 feet away). I haven't gotten around yet to writing up the details, but I mean to.
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