This post covers the second half of our weeklong trip to the Big Island with our friends the Webers.
Day 5
The day started with Cindy and I doing our usual mile and a half walk and Todd doing his 9+ mile walk. Then we were off to taste some Kona Coffee and settle the best coffee on the Big Island debate. Our first stop was at Hula Daddy Kona Coffee.
As you can see from the picture, Cindy and Edie loved the coffee as did Todd, so the best coffee debate continued. Hula Daddy had a lot of interesting displays like dozens of devices used to make coffee.
They also had a clock on the roof that was powered by a complicated machine in the shop.
They gave farm tours, but they were a bit pricey for us, so we passed. That being said, we still recommend a stop here so there is a link at the end of this post. We continued on to the Heavenly Hawaiian Coffee Farm for more Kona coffee and a farm tour that we felt was a better price. Once again, the coffee drinking trio loved the coffee so it was deemed a tie between Kona coffee and Kau coffee. Here are some pictures from our farm tour.
This is another must stop and see place so use the link at the end of this post.
Lunch was at the Kona Grill House. The food was basic down home Hawaiian food where you eat outside with the lizards and birds. It is worth a stop and there’s a link in the usual place.
Our next stop was at Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park. It is located at Honaunau Bay, just south of Kona. It was once the home of the royal grounds and a place of refuge for ancient Hawaiian lawbreakers. If one were to break Hawaiian Law, their only chance for survival was to evade his pursuers and make it to a puʻuhonua, or a sacred place of refuge. Once there, a ceremony of absolution would take place and the one who broke the law would be able to return to society. It was fascinating and worth the visit. Check out the link at the end of this post. Here are some pictures from our visit.
It was now time to do some shopping, so we stopped at the Kona Farmer’s Market and the surrounding area shops. There was a cruise ship parked off of the coast that was loading up to leave so we didn’t have to deal with the throng of tourists.
We returned to our timeshare and freshened up for dinner. On our way to dinner, we stopped at a local beach and watched another sunset.
We had dinner at the Kuleana Rum Shack, the same place we had drinks a few days before. The food was outstanding and again, I pushed my culinary choice. I had a seared tuna steak with asparagus and steamed rice. Seared tuna is basically raw in the middle and I was always afraid to try it. It was delicious and I will definitely eat it again. The Kuleana Rum Shack is so good, even though it got a link in the last post, it also gets one at the end of this post too.
Day 6
We powered down a bit and everyone skipped their morning walks. Instead, we spent the morning hanging out at a local beach. Cindy, Todd, and Edie went in the water while I hid in the shade. Here are a few beach pictures including Edie on her swim.
We had lunch on the patio at the Lava Lava Beach Club. The patio has an amazing beach view. The food was average to slightly above average, but the views earned it a link.
We relaxed for a bit then got ready for our luau at the Fairmont Orchard Hotel. Cindy and I had been to two previous luaus, one that was average with average food, and one that took place outdoors in a rainstorm. We had no desire to specifically see another luau, however, the Webers had never been to one and really wanted to see one. They picked the top-rated luau on the Big Island and we were more than happy to go with them.
Our seats were really nice, up front next to the stage. Before the show, we were able to get henna turtle tattoos.
And even though the food was buffet style, it was all outstanding. They had ahi tuna poke as one of the buffet choices. Ahi tuna poke is a traditional Hawaiian salad of raw tuna marinated in soy sauce, sesame oil, and onions, usually served over sushi rice. Yes, it’s basically raw fish. And I took a scoop of it and put it on my plate. As I walked back to our table, I was really questioning my choice to eat raw fish from a buffet. I had nothing to worry about. It was delicious, as was all of the food. It was so good, I went back and had seconds. Then it was show time, and it was a great show. So good, I would see it again. And so good, it got a link at the end of this post. Here are some pictures from that show.
Day 7
This was our last full day on the island. We took our morning walks, and headed off to find some malasadas, a formally Portuguese baked donut that was now a Hawaiian specialty. We headed to the area where we had bought them last year, which was a food trailer parked in a vacant lot on the main road by our place. Success, the trailer was there and we all ate hot malasadas.
From there, we went to several public beaches that are hidden and usually pretty empty. This visit was no exception. Here are some pictures of those beaches.
We went back to the timeshare and spent some more time by the pool. For dinner, we drove to FORC in Waimea, a quick 30 minute drive. FORC stands for Farmer, Ocean, Rancher, Cook and is a true farm to table restaurant.
Once again, I pushed the food envelope for me.
Going from left to right, ahi tuna sashimi (raw tuna), broiled oyster, baked local fish in a cream sauce, blackened white fish, and poached local fish. With the exception of the oyster, all of the fish items were outstanding. The oyster wasn’t bad, I just struggled with the texture. I didn’t hate it, but I will not necessarily seek it out either.
Todd also pushed his food envelope.
He ordered laulau steamed with a few types of clams and oysters. He loved his meal as well. For desert, Cindy and I split a delicious creme brulee.
FORC is a definite must eat at when on the Big Island, so use the link at the end of this post.
Day 8
We were all a little slow in the morning, but did our usual walks anyway, since we were going to be sitting on a plane for several hours. Once back at our place, we watched the goats from our patio for the last time.
It was a smooth process returning the rental car, getting through security, and getting on the plane. This is where it got fun. Because we had booked our tickets so late (because of the airline that will not be named), none of us sat together. Todd and Edie were near the back of the plane on the same row, with an aisle and window seat. Yes, someone booked the middle seat, leaving the aisle and window seats open. That had to be an error and we were all pretty sure the middle seat person would want the aisle or window seat and Todd and Edie could sit next to each other. We were all wrong. The person booked and wanted the middle seat. Oh well, not the end of the world. My seat was on the aisle several rows ahead of Todd and Edie, and Cindy had a window seat a few rows ahead of me and on the opposite side of the plane. While not ideal, it was not the end of the world. Because of my bad knees, I like an aisle seat so I can move around without bothering anyone, and I had my aisle seat. And then it happened. The lady next to me, who was clearly older than I was, asked me in from of the cabin steward if I would switch seats with her husband so they could sit together. She added it was their honeymoon. Now with several people around us watching to see what I would do, the cabin steward butted in and also asked me to switch seats. I asked where his seat was because if it was not an aisle seat, I was going to say no. The husband piped up and said he had a window seat and added what a great seat that is. Before I could protest, the cabin steward also pointed out that was a very fair seat trade. So now if I say no, I’m the jerk. And while I have been the jerk many times in the past (probably more times than I care to remember), I decided to be nicer this time and begrudgingly switched seats. Cindy had watched this from her seat, far from where I was sitting by the way, and started to lose it. As the cabin steward walked by her, she asked what had happened and when told, layed into the cabin steward pointing out my knee issues and why I purposely booked the aisle, and that if we were married and sitting apart, and they could do the same. The cabin steward just looked at her and walked away. Yes, Cindy was not a happy camper. It turned out okay for me as the woman in the middle seat next to me was pregnant and had to get up every hour to move around, so I did the same without bothering anyone. We landed, got our luggage, got Todd’s truck, and made it home safely.
The next post will cover Garrett’s and my trip to Las Vegas to see Carlos Santana. This was Garrett’s birthday present from last year. Safe travels until then.
LINKS