Island Breeze Lu'au

We have adjusted to the time difference now.  Some neat things to know about the island; there are no snakes and the only wild animals are boars and merkats.  Motorcyclists do not wear helmets and hitchhiking is not enforced.  There are no billboards polluting the roads and instead of deer crossing signs there are donkey crossing signs!  They have vog, which is a combo of fog and smog.  The volcano emits sulfur into the air and on some days there is a gray/purple haze around the mountain tops.
We started the clear, 88 degree morning worshipping at Waikoloa Community Church.  It was fun to sing the benediction in Hawaiian.  Afterwards, we headed to the northern part of the island the dead-ends to the Pololu Valley Overlook.

You park on the side of the road and are at the peak of the overlook.  The view is inspiring.  We hiked down the rocky switchback to the bottom.  It took about a half an hour and felt like a scene from the Indian Jones movie; I kept waiting for some huge boulder to come rolling down behind me.  This trail is not for the faint hearted!

We worked up a good sweat, but I find that fun (I know I can be weird like that).  The delights at the bottom are enchanting.  A grove welcomes you with trees and swings and a breeze from the ocean.

It was like being in a dreamy secret, nobody was around, just the two of us.  It actually felt that way the whole time we were on the island, like God had just set aside every moment just for the two of us.

Luckily we did find another person to take our picture on the swing!  After you walk through the grove you come out to this spectacular black beach.  All the stones on the beach were skipping stones, which hubby is a very good skipper!  This is the bottom of the overlook.

 So you see the green hill on the left of this picture, that is the where the hiking trail is hidden.  It is pretty steep!  That stranger in the picture had 3 collies that just sat and watched while he surfed.  We wrote a message in the sand to our kids and took a picture of it since paper, pen and a bottle were not handy!
The hike back up the mountain was vigorous.  We were so glad we had packed a lunch (sushi) and it was waiting in the cooler for us.
We drove through Waimea where there is a huge cattle ranch and sported about 3000 ft. elevation, it was 72 degrees up there.  Of all the different languages on the planet, I really think I could learn the Haiwaiian language.  There are 7 consonants (p/k/h/l/m/n/w) and 5 vowels.  Just right for me!  Plus being on an island,  I geographically knew my whereabouts, and that is VERY exciting for someone who gets lost in her hometown!

We got all gussied up and went to a beachfront Lu'au, along with 300 other people!  The costumes and food and performers were fabulous.  We learned how to open a coconut:

And before we ate they said a prayer (in Hawaiian) and closed the prayer in Jesus name!  Then they sang some hymns in Hawaiian, it was so exciting.

They changed costume at least a dozen times.  Out night-time pictures did not turn out so good so these were the best of the bunch.  The honored married couples and we go to dance (my favorite!).

Can you see the vog in the background?  The Hawaiian locals were all a happy lot, smiling, and relaxed.  "Hang Loose"  is the motto there (thumb and pinky).  They are a people who love tradition and love their land.

Blessings,
E.W.

Ocean Safaris

A beautiful day in the tropics.  Our resort had a bountiful buffet breakfast which we enjoyed.  Not your normal run-of-the-mill buffet.  This had rice and fish and salad, and pastries; all very yummy! I tasted my first strawberry papaya, which is now my most favorite fruit!  Today we planned our kayaking safari adventure.  We drove to Keauhou which is south of Kona.  We met a bunch of people who were going on the tour with us.  A sweet, sweet elderly lady was with her 15 year old grandson (who reminded me of my eldest offspring) and together they were vacationing on the big island.  I wanted her to adopt me right there on the beach!  Can you imagine snorkelin' with your granny??  Oh, my heart be still!  Her name was Rose and she takes each of her grandchildren to vacation around the world!

We paddled to The End of the World and saw the Dragon's Throat which was a cave that you could kayak into but we opted not to go in because the water was particularly rough there.  We saw a bunch of dolphins, about 15 of them, all surfacing at the same time.  I was actually out of the kayak at the time snorkeling around and swam toward them but they quickly dispersed.

The sea turtles are huge and the tropical fish are so colorful.

This is hubby jumping ( yes he is mid-air here in this photo) off a cliff.  We learned the art of getting in and out of the kayak from the open water.  Some of us are more graceful at it then others ;).  Leui got punched in the Adam's apple by the gunnel trying to get back in the kayak.  We were in the middle of the pacific ocean taking in all the cliffs and sites from the water, it was beautiful!

                                                                                 Then we went to lunch at Bubba Gump's Restaurant. Do you see our view from the table?  The blue foamy waves came right up to the wall.  The whole theme was so fun, Forest Gump everything.  The menu was on a ping pong paddle.  There was a sign that was blue that said 'Run Forrest Run' and that meant you were fine and dandy.  IF you flipped the sign over to the red sign that read, 'Stop Forrest Stop', that meant you needed something at your table.  The waitron's did not want the sign to be red!!

After lunch you got quizzed on your knowledge of the movie and if you answered the trivia questions correctly you won something from the gift shop.  Let's just say we need to watch the movie again...

Stupid is as stupid does!  Love that line from the flick!  The food was really delicious.  We had shrimp salsa that I can't wait to try making.  It had fresh tomatoes, cilantro, red onion, garlic, hot peppers, lime and shrimp served with warm tortillas chips.

Then we went to the Farmer's Market.  Exotic fruits and flowers.

                                                                                              
 Hubby tried a Rambutan that looks like a hairy strawberry, it tastes like a grape.  He will try anything!






After the market we drove up and down the zig-zaggy coast to Captain Cook Cove.
















There was the prettiest red-roofed church sitting in the middle of a field that I fell in love with.

There was a monument on the cove with this inscription:

This is a view of the cove 1200 feet up.

  We grabbed a bite to eat and went to see the manta rays feed when it got dark.  You can take a tour boat and scuba with the rays (I am NOT that adventurous).  We only saw one huge black one that did a flip under water.  Our days were very full!  So much to see in only a week!

Blessings,
E.W.

-ALOHA-

Hawai'i is very far away.  Over 11 hours of air time, 6 time zones from the east coast.  When we finally got off the plane, we exited outside into a pagoda where we waited for our luggage.  It was about 85 degrees.  We then got our cheesy little rental car and headed for a bite to eat.  The Kona Brewing Company was our very first stop on the west side of the island.  We had a cool beverage and some chips and salsa and headed to the resort.


Driving to the resort we noticed the highway is lined with lava rocks on both sides.  Everything is rocky and dark brown.  On the surface of the brown lava was what we called 'Hawaiian graffiti'.  Messages in white stones were of  love notes, or names of people who died, or the name of someone's dog with a dog bone outline.  Beware: NO ONE touches the rocks.  There were also these 'prayer rocks' which were stacks of rocks piled on top of each other that represented a prayer.  It reminded me of Old Testament memorials.
Someone shared with us that you are not allowed to take any sand from the island.  There is black sand, green sand, white sand, and salt and pepper sand.  The sand is said to be 'cursed' but people take the sand anyway, get home, and after whatever unfortunate events befall them, send the sand back to Hawai'i!  There is an actual address to send the sand back to Hawai'i!  What belongs on the island stays on the island!



This little bird is called a Java Bird.  Let me tell you, Kona coffee is the best coffee I have ever tasted!



Hawai'i is filled with beautiful, aromatic flowers.  I fell in love with the color orange in the flowers and trees; it is an appropos color for a lava island!

This 40' tree is one of the most conspicuous flowering trees seen in the tropics. Bright fiery red/orange blossoms cover its mimosa type leaves which close up and go to sleep for the night. Very tropical!  This tree is called Royal Poinciana.

We stayed at the Waikoloa Marriot, which embraced us with peace and beauty.  Everything is completely open, the lobby, the restaurants, every room had a view of the Pacific Ocean.  The ocean is various shades of deep blue, which marks where the coral is, or aqua, or turquoise.  You can see straight down to the bottom of the water is soo clear!  You could walk right out to the sandy area and into the water for all kinds of fun water play.  We saw a sea turtle sunbathing on the salt & pepper sanded beach.

We grabbed a sandwich, and watched the beautiful sunset and went to bed!

More to come...
Blessings,
E.W.

Honeymoon

This is where honey proposed to me 17 years ago.  We had the chance to be in Alexandria a few weeks ago and took a picture of this historical spot.  If you have never eaten at a Chart House and have the opportunity, we highly recommend it!

After 17 years we are finally going on our honeymoon.  I'll tell you all about it when we get back!
Blessings,
E.W.

Nieces and Nephew

My sweet little niece is growing quite a quiver full of youngins'.  She has four under four.  They are the cutest kin you ever did want to see.  They are getting ready to move and she asked if I would watch her kids.  OH YES! I replied with much glee.  She said she would keep the baby since she is nursing and I could have the other three.  WHOOPIE!  It was my two kids and her three, so we were one-to-one defense.  The Gabanator had Ezra, and yes he will grow up to be a preacher one day.  Sissy had Lila and I had Keeley.

Didn't I tell you they are the cutest things ever?

Keeley and I read about 100 books and put together some puzzles.  Don't you love her glasses?!

This was hilarious.  Sissy was emptying out the dishwasher and Lila wanted to help.  She put every item into the silverware drawer.  She was so content with her task!  She has cooking in her future!

The boys were rockin on the Wii.

And at the end of the day, it was time to gather up everything, Keeley asked if she could take home these cups I had (they were the only ones with lids in the house).  I told her that the next time she comes over they would be here at my house so she can use them again.  Not exactly the answer she was hoping for and asked again.  So cute!

Job 29:24 NIV

When I smiled at them, they scarcely believed it; the light of my face was precious to them

Blessings,
E.W.