dANDaUSA's Blog

Today we tried to sleep in as late as possible… so we were up by 8. 😉

We went over to Mauna Lani for breakfast and spent a few hours wandering around enjoying the scenery, looking at the fish, sharks, & the stingray in their ponds. (I knew I couldn’t take everyone there any sooner because we would’ve all been sad to go back to the hilton!)

Afterwards, we decided to drive to the top of Mauna Kea so we could get a view of the island from that 9,000+ feet altitude. Unfortunately dad does not adjust well to be out too so we came back pretty much as soon as we get up there (which was fine with us all anyway since it was cloudy and cold up there).

Finally, we ended our trip where we always go before the airport… Tommy Bahamas Café. No one looks tired yet, do they??

Soon it’ll be off to the airport and home sweet home….

This morning David and I attended the timeshare presentation that gave us the half-price stay. They were very nice and low pressure (good job, Hilton), but it wasn’t for us.

We got out of there in time for breakfast & met up with my parents. We’d decided to go over to our Hawaiian home (Mauna Lani resort) to swim & snorkel in their beautiful beach. Dad didn’t want to be out all day in the sun, so he stayed at our resort to relax and enjoy the grounds here, and I dropped David and Mom off at the beach. (I had to run an errand in Waimea.). I finally met up with Mom & David around 3pm, and as you can see (below), they were enjoying the peaceful, shady grass just above the sandy white beach.

David & I snorkeled and swam while Mom relaxed and read her book. It was a lovely afternoon that ended with us walking leisurely back to our car through the ancient fishponds lovingly cared for on the Mauna Lani land. We saw a bunch of fish leaping out of the water – some nearly a foot above the surface! – but as soon as Mom’s camera was out they all hid back under water! (Or jumped out of the water in the pond behind wherever she was looking!!)

When we finally got back to the car (around 5:30), we realized we were all quite hungry, so we picked up Dad and went off to Kohala Burger and Taco for grass-fed burgers, fish tacos, and dole whip. On the way there we drove up into North Kohala with a gorgeous view of the ocean, whales, & sunset.

Overall, it was a nice relaxing day – which was perfect since tomorrow will involve a long car ride, a “doors-off” helicopter ride over the volcano Mauna Loa, waterfalls, & the Hamakua Coast! Woohoo!!