Ocean rainbow
R&R continues in Hawaii! This has really been a fabulous break – I am not checking my Blackberry at all, so it’s especially relaxing.
Last Tuesday the four of us (Mary, Lynna, John, and I) drove to the southeast side of the island and visited a mom and pop coffee farm (John found it through his coffee connections). Phil and Merle have a lovely ranch (Angus cows) and coffee plantation (their brand name is Aikane). It’s not a commercial set-up for tours, but if you call ahead, they will take you on a tour. We spent over three hours touring the farm, tasting their coffee, and hearing about their family’s history in Hawaii – really fascinating. They sent us off with bags of oranges, limes, and macadamia nuts that John picked and cracked at their kitchen table. The view from their house is amazing – and they are such nice people. We really enjoyed the morning – it was really a glimpse into daily life on the island.
Mary and Lynna picking Tahitian limes with Merle
John in his element – coffee fields
Touring with Phil
View from Phil and Merle’s house
We left Phil and Merle’s and headed to Volcano National Park – what a great place. The drive alone to get there is incredible – miles and miles of lava flows. We saw several craters, then walked along the lava flows next to the ocean. Just beautiful – you feel like you’re on the moon! We stayed until it got dark so we could see the firy crater at night – incredible!
Volcanoes National Park at night
Volcanoes National Park
Tree among the lava
Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park at night
Wednesday we all went to downtown Hilo for their market day and some shopping and sightseeing around town. Thursday we all drove over the beautiful Saddle Road to Kona on the west side of the island to try some Kona coffee. We had coffee and a delicious breakfast next to the ocean – very lovely. We drove home along the northern side of the island where is was rainy and foggy (it’s amazing how the climate and landscape can quickly change here).
Friday John and I hung out in Hilo and did some shopping and walking. We had dinner with Mary and Lynna at Hilo Bay Cafe, a very nice place overlooking the bay.
Sculpture in downtown Hilo
The old iron works building
Saturday morning, Mary and I hit the market again and did some shopping before meeting John and Lynna and Mary’s cousins for lunch at a tiny little cafe with great food. Afterwards, John and I packed up and drove to the house we rented in the Upcountry, near Waimea – it’s a lovely place on a mountain, set on 10 acres. It’s so quiet and peaceful with pastures all around us. On the drive up here, we saw four different gaggles of wild turkeys, pheasants, two owls, and some other birds that look like grouse (Erckels’s Francolin). I can’t wait to get out and explore!