Earlier this year, a friend offered his home in Hawaii to our family for a vacation get-away, and on his third offer, hubby finally accepted. The home is on the big island in Kona.
Hubby started working on an itinerary before Bible Quizzing State Finals in June, not knowing if our sweet girl would qualify for BQ Nationals at the end of July. She did. We spent Thursday-Tuesday in St. Charles, MO, for BQ, and then left the house at 4 a.m. the next Thursday for Hawaii. I had one day to wash clothes and pack between trips!
Hawaii really had never been on our bucket list because it’s such a long day of travel from Mississippi, but hubby was certain that if he ever went, he’d make a point to go to Pearl Harbor. We landed in Honolulu and spent a few days staring down at Waikiki Beach from the Beach Towers. Lovely!
We took a city tour with a native Hawaiian and were given the opportunity to visit the USS Arizona. I’m so glad we were able to do that as a family.
Our next big day happened to be our 28th wedding anniversary. We meandered through Oahu, stopping for a Dole Whip at the Dole Plantation, and then eating lunch outside Ted’s Bakery, an award-winning place. YUM!
We had reserved a 1 p.m. appointment at the Polynesian Cultural Center. We really had no idea what to expect, but we’d signed up with an “ambassador,” and she did an outstanding job of leading us through all the islands represented with physical structures, games, and entertainment. Then we were treated to a luau! It was such a memorable way to celebrate our anniversary!
Then we flew to Kona. That was an adventure all by itself! We came to the conclusion that they are unstaffed—and that may be an understatement.
Hubby had purchased a pdf from a family that mapped out five days of exploring the big island like a local. It was so helpful, offering overviews, tips for making reservations, notes on what to pack, and the options for food in the area.
Our first day on the big island, we visited Waimea and the Pololu Lookout, which was really too besieged by rain to get a good view from above. We ate paninis in Kohala, then hiked a little Koai’a Tree Sanctuary, and called it a day.
The next day, we chose to visit a beach. Spencer Beach provided picnic tables, shade trees, and a little snorkeling. We saw Poseidon! (I really wanted to get a picture of old, white-headed man who was sporting a flowing white beard in the ocean, but my family warned me away.) There were only a few people there, so it was very restful. Then hubby started feeling puny. We headed back to home base, eating seafood in Kona.
On the 10th, we traveled south toward Volcanoes National Park, stopping at Punalu’u Bake Shop to sample the local donut, the malasadas. The Bake Shop was packed, but the bathrooms were decent–fyi! Before we got to Volcanoes, we stopped to eat our picnic lunches and donuts at Punalu’u Black Sand Beach, spying a huge sea turtle on the sand in its flag-designated resting spot (how do they know?).
VNP was nice. We took a “hike” with a ranger and 50 other people to the crater and looked at some steam vents. Hubby and I were both feeling puny at this point.
We continued following the road, which was now winding its way north to Hilo. There, we commandeered two rooms at the Four Seasons. The hotel gets mixed reviews, but it was perfect for us!
Hubby took an at-home COVID test and found that he was positive, so we reserved a second night at the Four Seasons.
The next day, we visited ‘Akaka Falls, Rainbow Falls, and then the Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve and Garden. My naturalist son was in hog heaven! The place has rare plants as well as spectacular ocean views.
On the 12th, we visited Laupahoehoe Point Beach Park and crawled around the huge volcanic rocks that had tumbled out into the water. My middle child liked this best and decided he might take Rock Climbing in college this year.
Next, we drove to the Waipi’o Valley lookout, childhood home of King Kamehameha I.
We headed back to Kona and a dinner on the patio by Chef Abiathar Cameron, a McComb, MS, native living in the home where we stayed.
On our last full day in Kona, we took a trip to Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Park and learned about one of the most sacred places in the islands. It was like a biblical refuge city for individuals running from trouble, needing an escape and a chance to have a change of heart and direction. The tropical fish in the surrounding volcanic rock beach were so much fun to watch!
Our plane left Kona at 11 p.m. that night. 14 hours later, we were back in Mississippi, almost missing our last flight from Dallas. A few hours later, my sweet girl started Holmes Community College and my oldest left for his last undergraduate year at Mississippi State.
It was busy week, getting over COVID and jet lag and sending my college kids off to school. I’m so glad to have spent the time with my family on a late summer vacation!
So glad you all had a great time.