Familiar Faces

My folks have been here since Wednesday.

I am growing familiar with sleeping on the couch.



This weekend we took a trip to The Big Island (aka Hawai'i). There's a reason why they call it the Big Island.....I drove probably 300 miles. This sounds odd, but it felt good to drive a long distance for a change.

What'd we do? We stayed near Waikoloa Bay. The main thing we went to see was Volcanoes National Park. Pretty cool, didn't hike in to see the red-hot lava, but gotta see steam coming from the Ocean. Also, coming from the Pacific Northwest, strange looking into a caldera full of cooled and "recent" lava flows. Actually now that I think about it, there's lava fields all over the island, reminds me of Eastern Oregon.....took some photos, you'd never believe its Hawai'i.

Other sites: Kealakekua Bay (where Captain Cook "discovered" Owhyhee, and was killled....big monument and great bay to go kayaking/snorkeling in). Saint Benedict's Painted Church (a classic wooden stick frame church from the outside, but painted inside in a "Sistine Chapel turned Hawaiian" styel.....interesting). Didn't stop for coffee (or beer) in Kona....:( too much to do.

A trip to the Big Island involves a trip to Hilo (with an "actual" downtown). Must stop at Low International Foods (best bread I've ever had). We went to the visitors center on Mauna Kea (and saw what I think is snow on Mauna Loa). 10,000 foot......the summit is 13,some thousand.....didn't make it to the summit. Saw Rainbow Falls (no rainbow with the sun covered), Akaka Falls and Onomea Bay.

Final stop was the Waipio Valley overlook.....the birthplace of Kamehameha and stunning valley. Would like to go back and hike down into the valley and walk the beach there someday.

In general, The Big Island is more laid back than hectic Honolulu and I think in general suits me a little better (can go camping).

Final thing, I think I found the perfect place on the Big Island for a McMenamin's style brew/movie theater......if anyone out there wants to put up funds for a crazy idea, and move to the Big Island let me know.......