After visiting Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Graham and I drove to Pahoa to check into our rental on Kehena Beach. We encountered the only traffic of the trip on the drive along Highway 130. (It became clear how the entire town could be cut off from the rest of the island if the lava flowed over it.) Our beach rental was the Whale House, which is just across the street from the ocean. It was a ... Read more
A Honeymoon Stay at Waipio Valley Bed and Breakfast, Hawaii
Now that I've had time to think about it, I can safely say Waipio Valley was my favorite part of our Big Island trip. Graham and I stayed at Waipio Rim bed and breakfast, my new favorite place to stay. This place is worth every penny. It all begins when you are greeted by Nancy and Steve, who are kind, laid-back hosts. Nancy brings welcome pupus (menu changes daily) and a bottle of wine is ... Read more
Our First Visit to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
"I want to see the lava!" That's what I would tell anyone who asked about our honeymoon plans. But, sadly, I wasn't able to witness it. Given the fact that the lava is currently covering land and threatening homes in the Pahoa area, it was probably for the best. Reading about the tight-knit community is eye-opening, and I'm trying to be more sensitive to the plight of the residents. We drove to ... Read more
Kayaking and Snorkeling in Kealakekua Bay
My favorite activity on the Big Island was a kayak tour of Kealakekua Bay. We chose Kona Boys as our tour operator, and we're so glad we did. When we arrived at their shop for our Midday Meander, as they call it, we were told we'd be the only two people on the tour that day. A private tour? Yay! We were outfitted with our snorkel gear, bought an underwater film camera and set off for the bay, ... Read more
South Point, Hawaii
The drop from Ka Lae (South Point) in Hawaii is 40 feet, or so I've read. We were driving around the Big Island on our honeymoon when we made a stop at South Point. I daydreamed about cliff-jumping in Hawaii for months, but I didn't take the leap. It all sounded swell until I remembered the time I cliff-jumped in Sedona and injured myself. It felt as though I had broken my sternum and I was ... Read more
Green Sand Beach, Hawaii
We spent our recent stay at Leilani Bed and Breakfast planning our next adventure: getting to Papakōlea Green Sand Beach. The literature provided by our B&B hosts mentioned the locals who offer rides in their trucks and SUVs. Why would you need a ride? Well, the road is rough. And it's not so much one road but a web of dirt trails. The locals know how to get there with the least amount of ... Read more
Leilani Bed & Breakfast in Ocean View, Hawaii
Our 6-day Big Island adventure included a stay at Leilani Bed and Breakfast in Ocean View. Someone later described this area to me as the "middle of nowhere." The sleepy town seemed like an ideal place to set up a bed and breakfast: quiet, serene and with an amazing view. We were mesmerized by the sunset as we drove there. Pictures (on my camera) couldn't quite capture the colors and the beauty. ... Read more