A-LO-HA!
My sister, Patty, and her husband, Hal, are serving a year-long LDS mission
in Kona, Hawaii, in the Kona Temple.
What a good excuse to visit them (I really do miss my wonderful sister!)
and take a vacation in Hawaii!
We arrived on Saturday night, after a layover in Seattle, picked up our rented car
and met them at the grocery store as we were picking up some food for our breakfasts.
They have made friends with the owners of the apartment upstairs from them
who are from Colorado and were not using it,
and they agreed to let us stay for 8 nights for $150!
What a deal! It was with two bedrooms and baths, a large living area, a balcony and a nice kitchen.
Pam in front of the apartment
The facade of their apartment complex
Patty and Hal's patio taken from the walkway to our apartment
The apartments are on a hill, about 1500 feet higher than Kona and there are great views from the balconies.
Roger was able to get some pretty shots on one of the clear mornings.
There is vog (volcano fog) much of the day, but I kind of liked it because it kept the bright sun
from heating up the un-air-conditioned apartment.
Sunday morning we attended church with Patty and Hal in their very friendly and welcoming ward.
They have made lots of friends with the ward members and there are two other senior missionary couples
in the ward with whom they serve. This is cute Sister Zabrowski.
Patty prepared a delicious marinated beef roast dinner we enjoyed after the block meetings.
Monday was their P (Prep) Day and also the temple is closed on Monday.
We headed south to visit sites that our Great-Grandfather, Isaac Fox, talked about in his journals
when he served two LDS missions there in the 1880's.
We also drove to the southern-most point of the USA, further south than the Florida Keys.
It is popular sport to jump off the 35-foot cliffs.
The hardest part would be to climb out, going up a straight-up, rickety ladder!
Much more to our speed was enjoying the delicious Hawaiian sweet bread concoctions and malasadas
at this famous bakery.
Not far from there is this beautiful black sand beach.
The tiny settlement of Papa is mentioned in Isaac's journal and it still is tiny.
We drove to this overlook where Isaac touched shore, then climbed up lava beds on horseback.
It was rough terrain and it made us appreciate how very primitive conditions were
and how committed Isaac was to missionary work to withstand such hardships he talks about in his journal.
Patty read out of the journal as we drove along.
We stopped for a wonderful lunch/dinner at this amazing fish 'n chips place.
They were outstanding!
Patty and Hal showed us the high school track where they did their walking,
so Roger and I began each day there where I walked while he ran.
It actually was a pleasant way to start our days!
Patty and Hal served in the temple each day
and Roger and I struck out on different adventures.
I love farmer's markets, and Kona has a great one down by the beach.
Patty had worn on Sunday a loose and flowing Hawaiian dress that she had gotten here,
and I love to wear those kind of dresses around the house, so I went in search.
We also bought a ripe, locally-grown mango. We already had some delicious papayas,
which we ate every morning while there. I think that is my very favorite part of going to Hawaii,
that, and having fresh fish every day.
Note the purple object hanging around my neck.
My daughter, Missy, and I were chatting while we were in Salt Lake with Blake
about our upcoming trip and I mentioned to her how I was a little nervous about the lack of air conditioning in the house we would be staying in.
She told me about a little battery-powered fan to wear around your neck that had "saved Ellie's life"
on their trip to Disney World.
I guess Ellie gets overheated like her Grandma Pam. Anyway, three days later,
one arrived on Rick's doorstep from Amazon.
Ellie had it right; it saved her Grandma's life in the high humidity and 85 plus temps.
Missy rocks!
We next drove to Costco to fill up the car and in the industrial area around Costco,
found this little one-man sushi shop and had lunch. It was excellent sushi!
Beach day!
Watching the kids on their boogie boards at Magic Sands Beach was a delight!
We splashed around in the waves and enjoyed a great afternoon.
After we returned to the apartment, Patty took Roger and me shopping
to a couple of cute shops down the street from where they lived.
The owner of the shop is an artist and I loved her use of colors in original paintings and even on clothing.
I fell in love with a lovely hand-painted silk shirt and Patty and I found cute tops.
We ate fresh fish at a wonderful restaurant that evening.
The Key lime pie was the best we have ever had!
We love Joe's Stone Crab's Key lime pie and Cheeseburger in Paradise on St. Croix's is delicious,
so our bar is set pretty high.
Can't believe we didn't get a pic!
Off to Hilo on Wednesday!
Their Farmer's Market is only open Wednesdays and Saturdays, and they had amazing produce, local artisan and homemade goodie booths.
This friendly gal's cookies were to die for, especially her almond shortbread cookies.
There was a block of tents with lavish Hawaiian produce on sale.
We were told we had to eat at Ken's House of Pancakes (Mickelsen family tradition),
so we planned to go there for lunch, but I had to have some green papaya salad.
It's so crunchy and yummy.
In her food truck, this gal made the dressing fresh to order,
smashing the ingredients in her large mortar and pestle.
Off to Ken's House of Pancakes!
The portions are huge!
We shared an order of crabby omelet, which came with pancakes and hash browns.
Beautiful Rainbow Falls
Roger got some great shots of the area around the falls and of the Boiling Pots.
That evening we returned back to Sam Choy's for salads.
They were sold out of their Key lime pie.
Next day we shared a quick fish sandwich here and had the best fresh pineapple cole slaw!
Our plan was to head to points north on the island on the Kahala Coast,
then meet a client/friend of Roger's and her husband, Ed, for dinner.
Roger helped Jane lease some space to sell her handmade jewelry.
For years, she has collected beautiful beads from countries all over the world,
including Venice, China and Africa.
When she found out that we were coming to the Big Island, she invited us to meet them for dinner.
They have a condo that they stay in for a month every quarter of each year.
As it turned out, we could drive far enough north to the restaurant we were to meet them,
but a brush fire prevented us from traveling any farther north,
so we shopped and looked around Waikoloa
before the appointed hour to meet them.
They treated us to a delicious dinner of sushi and fresh fish.
We all shared this amazing dessert - tempura-fried macadamia nut ice cream.
They walked us over to see an art gallery that displays amazing enlarged and framed photos
of the recent eruption of the volcano on the island.
They were taken by a long-time friend of Ed's, Don Hurzler.
What a thrill-seeker this photographer must be because he got up very close to get spectacular shots!
It is amazing to me that there is a very active volcano spewing fire and melted rock right now
on the other side of the island,
and there is no end in sight of its activity.
These eruptions have gone on throughout Hawaii's history
and the ancient natives attributed them to their Goddess Pele.
I love this Blue Ginger's artist's depiction of Pele.
Patty and Hal have taken a helicopter ride up the coast and around the island to see the volcano
and they took some beautiful pics.
Friday we met Patty and Hal in the temple and took relative's names through a session.
What a lovely temple it is and it was wonderful to see my dear sister and her husband
performing various roles there.
The temple grounds were immaculate and lush.
A member donates and plants these beautiful orchids.
We enjoyed a native Hawaiian food lunch at a popular restaurant in Kona.
Kona Kay is a friend at church of Patty and Hal, and they talked about
her delicious macadamia nut butter toffee all week,
so we headed for the Farmer's Market to buy some.
After we made our purchases, she loaded us up for free with several other goodies she makes,
including this fresh limeade slush.
Roger had a fit over it!
That night Roger had a delicious burger at this place that Patty and Hal recommended,
and I had an fresh Ahi tuna sandwich.
I had planned to have a burger, too, but I just couldn't order a burger when there was fresh fish on the menu!
So good!
Saturday we took our chances and headed north once again, hoping that the fire was out and the road was open.
We were in luck! Patty and Hal said to be sure and eat lunch at this burger and taco place.
We did and the fish sandwiches were delicious!
We next headed to the Hamakua Macadamia Nut Factory.
We drove to the town of Waimea, where there was wonderful shopping and a craft fair going on.
Heading back along the Kahala Coast,
we drove into several resort properties and Roger admired the beautiful golf courses.
Beach on the Kahala Coast
That evening we went with Patty and Hal to eat at this great fish restaurant
where we could order a three-course meal for a low set price because Patty and Hal
are Ka'mainas, local residents.
Alas, Sunday, our last day, arrived.
Patty and Hal's great ward again made us feel welcome.
Patty prepared yummy tacos and this delicious macadamia nut pie for dessert.
One last shot - even through the vog, Hawaii is beautiful.
Our red eye flight was out of Kona's open-air airport at 9 pm.
While we were waiting, look who we saw, just arriving for their vacation week with Ken and Kay,
Shonna and Blake and Michelle and Brian!
Wisconsin is a long way from St. George, so it was such a treat to see them!
Jared and Kristin
What a fun and relaxing week we had! Patty and Hal were so good to us and we so enjoyed their company!
There is nothing quite like Hawaii!
Aloha!
