The last two days are spent on snorkeling. After all, we did lug our gear all the way from California. It mustn't go to waste sitting around in suitcases, besides the weather is clear and sunny - Da Kind (the best) way to see the colorful reef fishies.
Kahalu'u Beach Park is the closest and our first stop. Its easy entry, clear waters with many fish and turtles (can you find the green sea turtle in the pano below?) make it popular with tourists and locals alike.
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| Kahalu'u Park |
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Our next stop is
Hualalai Resort, home to
Four Seasons (the most posh of all the resorts). The large resorts are all built by the best beaches and snorkel locations. Fortunately for the public, the state of Hawaii insists that each resort provide coastal access to all as part of their building permits. That said some resorts provide easier public access than others. Hualalai is one of the better ones with well marked directions and nice parking lots.
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| Traditional Hawaiian home |
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| an upper 1% vacation home |
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Even though the first parking lot at the south end of the beach is full,
the gate guard directs us to the second parking lot at the north end. Although Paul is more familiar to the southern part of beach for a snorkel put ins, he finds us a new entry at the north end.
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| Paul leads the way to snorkel the beach at Hualalai Resort |
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While the others snorkel, I walk the length of the beach snapping photos.
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| Large tide pool |
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| with turtle |
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| Turtle napping under blanket of sand |
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By the time I get there, it's easy to see why the south end's parking lot was full.
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| Wide beach at south end of Haulalai |
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| Nice grassy picnic area |
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| Safe keiki (children) swimming beach |
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| Easy snorkel access |
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Our next snorkeling stop is at the
Mauna Lani Resort. While there's no guard at the entrance of the resort, there are precious few signs directing the public to coastal access. The one sign we do see leads to a dead end at a locked gate... grumble. So we end up parking at the Golf Course Clubhouse and walk towards the ocean, then hang a left through the fish ponds to the Beach Club.
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| Snow capped Mauna Loa |
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| Fish ponds at Mauna Lani Resort |
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| Beach Club |
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| Now that's an EASY snorkel access |
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| with large coral heads |
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| and lots of colorful reef fish. |
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After snorkeling, we take a short hike up a trail along Black Sand Beach, one of the most exclusive neighborhoods (read expensive) on the Big Island. It's rumored that Mr. Toyota owns one of the beach houses as his personal family vacation home.
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| trail through lava |
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| Mr Toyota's beach bungalow? |
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On the way back, we take a closer look at the large fish ponds. A slotted gate lets the tides and small fish in and out of the ponds while keeping the larger fish in the ponds. These fish ponds were originally used by Hawaii royalty as their own fish pantries. Jamie asks a local beach boy what keeps the fish populations in the pond from getting too big. He points to a large barracuda mounted on the wall above him and says there's one in the pond, but we won't see it as it only hunts at night.
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| Ocean gate to fish ponds |
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Our last night comes all too soon and it's time to start getting ready to go home.
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| Paul waits for the perfect time for a sunset photo |
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| Peter in the golden hour |
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| Marti silhouetted by our last sunset |
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| Sorry - no green flash this time |
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The next morning we return the rental car and wind through a 45 minute security line {sigh}.
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| Our last group photo in Kona - Jamie, Suzy, Peter, and me |
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| Peter boarding the flight home |
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| Suzy boarding |
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| Good-bye Kona! We had a great time. |
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