Thursday, April 6
We enjoy coffee on the lanai and Greg feeds the little birds some granola.
It is overcast and drizzly this morning, but we've been told that weather is quite changeable here and when it rains, it usually only lasts a little while. We hope that's the case as we have reserved a snorkeling trip this morning!
We arrive at Sea Quest quite early, so check in and then walk to the Outrigger Kona Resort and have a light breakfast at their coffee shop. Delicious warm banana bread. We notice some interesting birds along the way - a spotted dove and this red-headed cousin to the cardinal.
Our boat is a rigid hull raft which holds 14 people, including the pilot Dusty and captain Steve. We sit on the sides of the raft, which is fairly comfortable. 8 of the folks are a family group from Michigan, 2 others from San Francisco. It is still kind of overcast, but no rain and temp in the 70's. We travel 8 miles to the snorkeling site, with a few stops. We are headed to Kealakekua Bay, near a monument to Captain Cook. The monument is maintained by Britain and a bit controversial with native Hawaiians. Cook was one of the first Europeans to visit the islands in 1778. He was warmly welcomed and traded nails and other goods. Apparently he overstayed, however, and ended up being killed there in a skirmish with the natives. His crew killed quite a few natives as well.
This bay is noted for snorkeling and we soon discover why. Lots of coral, sea urchins and dozens of types of colorful fish! I overhear someone comment that it is like swimming in an aquarium, and heartily agree! Greg and I have disposable underwater cameras and click away. We are told not to stand to avoid harming the coral, and are given a noodle to help with flotation. I'll add some photos here if any turn out well - had to send them for processing. We spend an hour in the water and then enjoy a snack of delicious fresh fruit and cookies
Addendum: The underwater pictures turned out so-so, at best. Here are a few:
On the return trip, we hug the coast and stop at several sea caves and coves. The water is so amazingly clear and blue! Most of the caves are carved out of lava, some of which has a definite red cast due to high iron content. We spot a few crabs and a young sea turtle.
We head back to the hotel to shower and remove all of that sunscreen! Then we drive to nearby Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park, site of another early temple and the Aimakapa Fishpond. Fishponds are natural ponds (or constructed ones) located behind a beach or sandbar and connected to the ocean by a channel. They were often used to provide fish to local chiefs or kahunas. Today they also act as nursery habitats for native species and there are hundreds.
On the nearby beach we see quite a few sea turtles! (They remain in the water so we couldn't really get a good photo.) This metal sculpture was near the visitor's center.
Yes, there is a turtle in this picture below....really!
We touch base back at the hotel and decide to explore a bit of town. Greg liked this statue at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church. Pretty unusual, I think.
We walk to local farmer's market, where we purchase a Christmas ornament for our "travel tree". Lots of mangoes and bananas - they have a lot of types of bananas, some of which are purple and some of which are very small - and vegetables and flowers.
Several of the fruits, like this rambutan below, are familiar from Thailand.
Like most of the Hawaiian coast, the town is in a Tsunami Evacuation Area.
Around 4:00 we stop at Foster's Kitchen, an upstairs restaurant along the main road. We have a seafood pesto puff pastry for an appetizer, then split a burger and fries.
We go back to the hotel for sunset, which is much quieter tonight. There are quite a few chairs and benches and we snag a comfortable couch. We have seen rowers practicing every night.
Tonight there are two local guys with guitars providing the entertainment, so we enjoy the music and relax.
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