A Month in Kona - getting settled

Like many who have ever visited Hawaii, we've long fantasized about moving there some day. To get a better idea of what it would be like, we've rented a friend's house in Puako on the Kona side of the Big Island for the month of March 2018.  Leaving home around 4am we arrive at the San Jose Airport well before dawn.  We've used some of our Alaska Air credits to upgrade our seats to Premium Economy, which means we get extra leg room, early boarding, and as many drinks as we care for.

Dawn coming up as we board our flight

OK - let's get this show on the road

Being so early in the morning, we really aren't interested in the free booze, so we simply make ourselves comfortable until take off.  However, the two women seated across from Peter order their drinks right away and even more frequently through the flight.  Apparently, they are on a long awaited vacation and are busy celebrating.

Peter with drinking ladies sitting across the aisle

We're off into the light of early dawn flying over San Jose

About five hours later we're coming in for a landing at Kona International Airport.

Reefs off shore from the airport

First sighting of land

The lava around KOA looks like an overcooked brownie

After picking up the rental car followed by "Marti's ritual lunch" (as Peter calls it) at the Harbor House, we head up the hill to Costco.  The Costco in Kona is stocked with lots of items you won't see too much on the mainland, like aloha shirts, surfboards, and LOTS of spam - in fact whole pallets' full of different flavors of spam. Hawaiians love spam. Munchies online magazine says Hawaiians consume 7 million cans of spam a year, which averages out to approximately 5 cans of spam for each man, woman and child on the islands. They even have an annual Spam Jam street festival in Waikiki. Only in Hawaii!

Not being true islanders, we skip the spam and move onto the staples we'll be needing for our month's stay. Then we go the Farmers Markets around Waimea,where we pick up veggies. Locals tell us to try out the garden stand in Kawaihae for fruits and flowers.  It's operated by a sweet Filipino family, who are wonderful to do business with.

Costco spam for sale

Waimea Farmers Market

Garden Stand in Kawaihae

Before leaving Waimea, we stop for lunch at the Noodle Club in the Parker Ranch Center.

Parker Ranch dogs patiently waiting

Spam can reincarnated as a sugar holder at Noodle Club

By late afternoon, we make it to Julie & Al's place - our home for the next month.

Home Sweet Home in Puako

Julie's comment on politics

The lava reefs just across the street

Ken and Karen from the Vancouver area of Canada have been staying in the house for the month of February. They have graciously invited us to share it with them for one night before their plane takes off tomorrow. We get such a kick out of these Canadians - their wry views of US politics are hilarious. After getting everything put away, Ken gives us Mai Tais and a run down on how the house works.  I then kick back for awhile for a breather after our early morning flight (adjusting for the time zone change, we got up at 2am HST).

We're stocked for fruits, snacks and rum drinks

Love the local flowers

Ahh - some time for a break

After resting, Peter and I explore the neighborhood with some coaching from Ken.  It's clear the local residents very much value their neighborhood.

From what? Tourists? Developers?

Puako needs more speed bumps

Turtles abound on the reef and on mailboxes

When our friends Al & Julie first moved here in the early 2000's, Puako was a much quieter neighborhood. Like many other areas in Hawaii, over the years developers moved in and the property values sky rocketed. Today Puako's a mix of old surfer/fishing shacks, with family homes, and fancy new mansions.

Nice family home

Former surfer shack?

Pricey mansion

At the far end of the street is a popular dive site. In 2014, Kona experienced an especially long heat wave that caused bleaching of many of the cauliflower type corals. Fortunately, the corals are on the mend, but it takes a long time for them to come back. Below a coral researcher (she's carrying the white matrices) is emerging from the keyhole entrance after working with a group of university students from the mainland.

Coral researcher with students after checking the health of the coral reef

In the evening we join John and Karen for our first sunset. The Puako reef is home for many green sea turtles who thrive in the shallow tide pools.

This turtle is snoozing with its head in the water

a path to the reef

Turtle checking out its surroundings

Clouds blanket Kohala mountain at sunset

The next morning we all wake up rested and looking forward to a nice day together.

Morning light on palm trees

Sunrise/strawberry papayas for breakfast

Good morning gecko

Later John and Karen show us one of their favorite nearby spots - Mau'umae Beach. It's a great uncrowded beach for swimming and snorkeling.

Mau'umae Beach That evening Peter takes John and Karen to the airport where their plane will take them back to chilly Vancouver BC. We've had a great time together and look forward to catching up with them again next spring.