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| Saying goodbye to Makena Beach |
We had time for another stroll around the grounds of the Makena Beach hotel this morning and it was very hard to leave. After the stronger winds yesterday, this morning was a perfectly still morning and the beach look soooo inviting… However, we had another plane to catch so we packed up and checked out and made our way back down to the airport.
We had a little drama at the bag drop counter when we were informed that one of our bags was overweight and we’d be charged $100 extra. It looked like all the savings we’d made on our bargain shopping here were about to be wiped out in one stroke! However, fortunately, they were happy for us to do a bit of re-arranging of the bag contents and then we could check both bags in with no extra charge. I realised afterwards that we were being checked in ( incorrectly!) on a domestic weight allowance when our e-ticket gives us an international allowance on all flights. So we *should* be OK but a travel-agent friend of mine has told me that the final outcome can often depend on the local checkin clerk, no matter what it says on your e-ticket….. time will tell…
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| The Big Island from the air. |
The flight to Kona on the Big Island was another blink-and-you’ll-miss-it effort. We had a great view of the northwestern coast and also of the colossal Mauna Kea mountain. Kona airport is a cute little place, the gates are outside in the open air, as is the baggage claim area – a very tropical welcome. This time we picked up a Dodge Dart which already seems to be better than the Hyundai we had on Maui . We took a short recognisance drive south into the main town here, Kona-Kailua, before turning around and heading back north, 30 minutes up the road to the Waikoloa beach resort area on the Kohala Coast.
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| Heading north through old lava fields |
It was a fascinating drive through a country that really shows it’s volcanic heritage more than anywhere else we’ve seen so far in Hawaii. The black lava fields that lie across the landscape really look like they oozed their way down only a few short years ago and the rest of the landscape is covered in low scrubby grassland.
It’s weird to drive into the towns and resort areas and find green manicured grass beside the roads dotted with palm trees against the backdrop of the black lava.
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| Green resort grounds amidst the lava |
The Waikoloa Marriott is right by the ocean on Anaeho’omalu Bay – one of the premier beaches of the area. Actually there aren’t nearly as many beaches on the Big Island as the other islands – the geography is too young and they haven’t had a chance to form yet. Our room overlooks the pool and looks across large fish ponds to the beach. The fish ponds are VERY well stocked – we walked down to the beach and nearly had fish leaping into our arms as we crossed the little bridges over the pond.
The hotel has three swimming pools overlooking the beach so we made a bee-line for the nearest one and relaxed with a drink to soak up the sunset. I have to remind Neil sometimes that it’s ok to stop sightseeing and spend a little time relaxing on a holiday. He doesn’t really understand the concept of ‘leisure’! However, I’m working on him and I think he’s now getting used to the idea…
Back in the room we captured the post sunset glow and I must say I think this was the best one we’ve seen so far. This photo is untouched, straight from my camera!
It was ‘Paniolo night” in the restaurant this evening. The ‘paniolos’ are the Hawaiian cowboys that work the big cattle ranches in the state and the main course special tonight was BBQ steaks or ribs, served with corn, mashed potatoes and chili – it was absolutely delicious but BOY did I eat too much. At the rate we’re going the checking clerk for the next flight is going to reject us as being too heavy for the flight, not just our bags!