Big Fun on the Big Island

Just a bit more about our Big Island trip:








Grandma T., Son1, and I went for a swim at Ahalanui Beach Park. The pool is surrounded in part by the man made lava rock wall behind us, palm trees all around, and also an inlet to the Pacific Ocean. The pool is made from a spring, and the earth volcanically heats the pond between 91 and 95 degrees. The small inlet in the rock wall allows ocean water to mix with the fresh spring water and also allows fish into the pond. The water was warm and clear. I didn't quite get the huge ocean spray that happened behind the rock wall. The surf was super high behind the rock wall and the ocean sprayed about 10 feet in the air after it would slap the lava rock wall. The ocean seemed pretty dangerous which was a stark contrast to the calm pond where we floated.

Son1 was taken by the lifeguard playing the ukulele. He was ready to save us at any time, of course. :)

Afterward we headed north east. We drove through the lush foliage just outside of Lava Trees State park. These trees grow over what was once a devestating lava flow. The cool thing about the Big Island is that it looks so different from the Hilo side (where we were) to the Kona side (where we were going), and all of the totally different scenery. I didn't take more pictures of our drive along the Hamakua Coast, which is dramatic and totally breathtaking. Sigh. The kids were sleeping and we didn't dare stop. They were way overtired. We did see Akaka Falls from the Road and also Umauma Falls. Travelling with the kids is so different than when Hubby and I travelled by ourselves. We don't stop and see everything. That's ok, though. This is our third trip to the Big Island and we do different stuff each time. Eventually we will see it all. The Big Island is about 4,000 square miles. All of the other 7 Hawaiian islands could fit inside of it. On the up side of going so many times is that it also allows us the flexibility to see things off the beaten track!

Hubby found the Hawaiian Vanilla Company for me in a tourist attraction magazine. Now YOU KNOW I love tea. This is a family owned and operated vanilla mill. They also serve afternoon tea. Unfortunately, they were not serving tea at the time when we went, but at least the gift shop was open. I purchased Hot Vanilla Cinammon Tea. The tea is made with pure vanilla that only grows for 4 hours each year, and then is hand pollinated. Pure vanilla costs $175/lb...totally different than imitation vanilla that we all have in our pantries.

inside the tea room at the Hawaiian Vanilla Company

Well, we rounded the rest of the Hamakua Coast, down through the paniolo country (cowboy country) in Waimea, down the Kona Coast, until we got to our hotel, the Waikoloa. Along the drive, the landscape of the island changed again. And no, I didn't take any pictures of the Kona Coast on this trip. But basically, on the Kona coast it looks like you have landed on the moon. The land as far as you can see is black everywhere....black lava rock, set against the crisp, mouthwatering, azure Pacific Ocean. It looks like an oasis in the midst of a tropical desert, of sorts. The coast is decorated with lush vegetation along the water's edge. We got to our room around sunset, and here is the view we had from our room:

The next morning Son1 and Hubby swam and swam and swam at the main pool. Now this pool is gargantuan. It's really about the size of about 5 different pools interconnected with a monkey bridge overhead. There are hot tubs in different spots around. At the extreme far end on one side is a keiki (kiddie) beach with a sand bottom that flows into the wrap around pool. At the far other end are waterfalls and a water slide. Son1 was too short by about 2 inches to go down the main waterslide, so we changed to other pools later in the day. We had lunch first, though. This is what happened at lunch:

From the lunch table, we spotted a shady spot on the keiki beach (kid's beach) and we put Son1 down for a nap, under a palm tree.

Son2 had been fed, and was somewhat rested. So while brother napped, he got a chance to play.

Now with Son2 doing all of his strokes...you know, back stroke, butterfly, and crawl, he was just plain tired. So he took a little snooze in daddy's arms. Son1 was up and we walked to a different pool with smaller water slides.

Son1 coming down the slide into Grandma T.'s arms

It was finally time to get everyone out of the pools and start thinking about dinner. After dinner, all Son1 thought about was riding the boats. He had ridden them the last 2 days with grandma. Along the entire center of the hotel, you can take these little boats to different shops and towers. When Hubby tried to join Son1 and Grandma T. on boat ride Son1 did not allow that! He wanted the ride to be for just HIM and GRANDMA.

He did allow Hubby to take him on the tram. It runs through the center of the hotel, too.




It was finally time to leave the Waikoloa yestereday. Son1 was not happy. He cried and cried. MY BOATS! MY TRAIN! It was a great vacation, and we were all a little sad to see it come to an end.




Aloha, Big Island. Until we meet again...........