The Big Island Part 1: Here Fishy, Fishy

Let me begin by saying our recent trip to Hawaii was amazing and will require MANY blog posts to document our adventures.  Sorry folks.  Also, it may take me a while to get it all posted so stick with me.  I have a LOT of pictures and videos to sort through and edit.

Without further ado... let's dive right in!

Let's begin with our flight fiasco.  Not the way you want to start a vacation but nevertheless, that's where our story begins.  We booked an ideal flight... originally.  We had an hour layover in LAX which is a relatively quick layover in a very big airport.  But, since that was too good to be true, Delta changed our flight time and gave us a 25 minute layover.  Yeah, that's not going to work for us.  So, a few weeks before the trip I call Delta and change our first flight (giving us a 5 hour layover in LAX).  Please note that I was NOT stoked about a 5 hour layover but it was better than potentially missing our flight to Hawaii due to a 25 minute layover.

So anyway, we wake up at the crack of dawn to get to the airport.  We get on our first flight, pull away from the gate, and sit.  And sit.  And sit some more.  The Captain informs us there's a "check engine" light that won't turn off.  He's 90% sure that we can just pull up to the gate, turn off the plane and turn it back on and all will be fine.  Seriously?  That's what I do with my laptop when it's not working... but that's what we're going to try with the plane????  Last time I checked, turning it off and back on does not make the check engine light turn off in a car so.... I'm gonna take a stab in the dark here, but I don't think that strategy is going to work for this plane.

We get to the gate and they ask us all to deplane.  Hmmm.  Ok.  I thought this was a quick fix???  We go back inside the terminal and wait for HOURS!
To make a very long story short... I get a little snippy with the Delta gate attendant and they put us on a United Airlines flight that is nonstop to Kona, Hawaii... arriving only 35 minutes later than our original itinerary.  Crisis averted.

[Quick note to Delta here: As frustrating as a cancelled flight is, thank you wholeheartedly for not flying that plane with mechanical issues... a plane crash would've totally ruined my vacation.]

Now let's move on to the good stuff, shall we?

My awesome sister-in-law and her boyfriend live in this beautiful paradise.  We didn't have to stay in a hotel, we got first class service at the most hospitable place on the island... her house!!!  We were greeted with a fresh flower lei, delicious food, a hot shower, and a comfy bed.  What more could you possibly want???

The next morning I drank my first cup of delicious Kona coffee (followed by a second and a third cup) and Mike and I walked around the property (still in my pajamas and wearing my beautiful lei... I'm on vacation... I can do what I want).

THE VIEW FROM ONE LANAI! 

LOOKING UP AT THEIR LANAI
AND THAT'S OUR LITTLE RENTAL CAR

MY FIRST EVER REAL FLOWER LEI!

THE DRIVEWAY THROUGH THE JUNGLE

BANANA TREE...

CAN YOU SEE THE BABY BANANAS UNDER THE
PURPLE FLOWER??? 

LOVE THE TEAL GATES!
THEY HAVE LOTS OF CHICKENS.
THE WHITE STRUCTURE IN THE BACKGROUND
IS A SHELTER FOR DRYING OUT COFFEE BEANS
FROM THE FARM

A SURFBOARD GIVES YOU DIRECTIONS IN THE DRIVEWAY

 Did I mention that they live on a farm?  

THEIR GREENHOUSE!

COFFEE PLANTS!!! 

WE PLANTED A PINEAPPLE. 

TANGERINES ON THE PROPERTY

LEMONS ON THE PROPERTY

A COFFEE PLANT...
THE RED BERRIES EACH HAVE TWO LITTLE
COFFEE BEANS INSIDE

AVOCADO TREES EVERYWHERE!!! 

DRYING COFFEE

THIS COOL LITTLE CONTRAPTION SEPARATES THE COFFEE
BEANS FROM THE RED HUSK

After a delicious homemade breakfast, complete with the freshest and sweetest fruit, we head out to begin our adventures.

First stop on the island: Honaunau Bay (also known as "two step").
It's called two step because of the easy natural rock step that allows for super easy access to the ocean for snorkeling.

A VIEW OF HONAUNAU BAY

IT'S HARD TO SEE BUT IT SAYS "ALOHA" 

PAM DIVING TO SHOW US WHERE TO SWIM THROUGH THE SEA ARCH

(IT'S HARD TO SEE THE ARCH IN THIS PICTURE... BUT IT'S THERE). 

MIKE'S TURN!  

JUST ME AND SOME YELLOW TANGS

THE "STEPS" ARE OBVIOUSLY WHERE ALL THE PEOPLE ARE IN THE PICTURE

 After snorkeling, we sat on the beach, drank a beer and ate some poke (raw tuna chunks with spices/sauces for flavor).  

Then, we headed over to Pu'uhonua o Honaunau, also called "Place of Refuge."  

Hawaiians who committed crimes almost always faced the death penalty (regardless of how severe the crime)... unless they made it to the "Place of Refuge" before being captured.  If they made it here, all was forgiven and they could return home as if nothing had happened.  

TIKI MAN AND THE PLACE OF REFUGE
IN THE BACKGROUND

HONAUNAU BAY

NOTICE THE TURTLE BEHIND US?

HERE'S A BETTER LOOK AT HIM. 

Folks, that was JUST THE MORNING! 

Then we headed to lunch for a yummy fish sandwich at a little cafe.  

After replenishing ourselves, we were ready for more adventures!

So, we headed off to Kiholo Bay. 

OUR LOVELY TOUR GUIDE ON THE WAY TO KIHOLO BAY...

...THERE WERE LOVELY LITTLE FISH PONDS ALONG THE WAY.

LOOK AT THAT WATER!

YEAH, I THINK I CAN HANDLE SOME MORE SNORKELING HERE

I'M SITTING UNDER A LAVA ROCK ARCH

SUNBATHING TURTLES!
PAM AND MIKE SNORKELING IN THE BACKGROUND.

ON THE HIKE OUT, WE STOPPED BY THIS LITTLE
LAVA TUBE FULL OF FRESH (ICY COLD) WATER.

IT FELT SO GOOD TO RINSE THE SALT WATER OFF.
PLUS WE GOT TO SWIM AROUND IN A FRESH WATER
CAVE!  HOW COOL IS THAT? 

Y'all... that was a long post with a lot of pictures and that was only DAY 1!!!!  Whew.  

After a busy, awesome, adventurous day, we headed back to their jungle abode and indulged in a juicy steak dinner.  

Needless to say, the trip was off to a FANTASTIC start.  

Think that was amazing???  Stay tuned for more!