Along for the ride: Kona

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.

Kahalu'u Park

Yellow Tangs are everywhere

Yellowtail Coris

Yellowtail Coris, Bullethead Parrotfish and Surge Wrasse

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.

a rare view of Hualalai Volcano

Traditional Hawaiian home

an upper 1% vacation home

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.

Paul leads the way to snorkel the beach at Hualalai Resort

While the others snorkel, I walk the length of the beach snapping photos.

Large tide pool

with turtle

Turtle napping under blanket of sand

By the time I get there, it's easy to see why the south end's parking lot was full.

Wide beach at south end of Haulalai

Nice grassy picnic area

Safe keiki (children) swimming beach

Easy snorkel access

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.

Snow capped Mauna Loa

Fish ponds at Mauna Lani Resort

Beach Club

Now that's an EASY snorkel access

with large coral heads

and lots of colorful reef fish.

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.

Beach trail with Kohola Volcano

trail through lava

Mr Toyota's beach bungalow?

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.