Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Aloha 2012

So here we are again, after another absence. Let's get this Hawaii report done and move on to other things!



Day Ten
Wednesday
We actually did drive to Hawi today. It is about as north as you can get on the Big Island. It’s a small town that was in decline after the sugar cane plantation left the area. It still looks economically depressed, but there are pockets of wealthy homes and the shops along the highway now cater to tourists- galleries, snack shops and cafés, excursion shops.
We went through Hawi and drove out to the overlook at the end of the Akoni Pule highway. It is a beautiful view of cliffs and valleys and coastline. From there you can look down into the Pololu Valley. Maybe someday we’ll hike part way down into the valley.
We took a few side roads on our way back to Hawi and looked at little towns and parks. The Keokea Beach Park is on one of those little side roads and we drove down to take a look. It was mostly blocked off because of extensive renovation work in the park. We’ll have to go back and see how it turns out.
And here is a picture of a mailbox that we drive past every day. I LOVE this mailbox!

Day Eleven
Thursday
This is our last full day on the island. It was a pretty casual day. Extra long walks along the main drag. Watching turtles and birds and waves on the beach. Getting started on the packing.
We had a funny little episode at dinner. A delicious dinner, by the way, at a nice restaurant. A little visitor showed up in O’s salad. And lucky for O, it wasn’t just half of a little visitor.
The server was appalled and horrified and tried to explain that it was because the greens were organic. Seriously?  The real problem wasn’t the greens, it was the kitchen staffer who washed the greens.
No, we won’t tell you where we ate. And yes, we’ll eat there again.

Day Twelve
Friday
This is the day we head home.
Today we spent the morning in the condo, doing laundry, cleaning out the fridge for breakfast. Mostly just passing the time until we had to check out of the condo.
When checkout time came, we loaded our stuff into the trunk of the car and walked up the road to the Huli He’e Palace for a tour. It’s a beautiful building with lots of artifacts and furniture with really amazing craftsmanship. Photography isn’t allowed in the palace, so we can’t give you anything to look at.
After the tour we drove up to Waikoloa to kill time and look for a new Hawaiian shirt for O. Then we had a quick lunch at Merriman’s Market Café before we headed to the airport.

One last parting shot of aloha.




3 comments:

LL said...

Bug in the salad...sick. I know it happens, but ugh. And the server's attempt to excuse it is pretty funny. Did they at least comp you a dessert or something?

somebody's mother said...

They comped us his meal. So no complaints.

More Bacon said...

So lovely!!

Glad they comped you the meal. And glad it was a whole grub and not half a grub.

I'm pretty confident I know exactly where it happened. But I'll eat there, too, if I ever go back. :)