Our next destination was Waikoloa, on the west coast of Hawaii, about 30 minutes north of Kona.
The accommodations were much more to everyone's liking - we were in a gated condo community called Hali'i Kai, and our rental was a top floor corner unit next to a golf course, with this view from the lanai. I could walk along the water over to my conference at the Hilton, the kitchen was very new, there was a TV in every room, and very best of all, the clubhouse had an AWESOME pool.
The water was saline and perfect temperature, the pool squiggled this was way and that, there were plenty of chairs (including giant leaf-shaped ones IN THE WATER), a waterfall, turtles spouting jets from their mouths, and a sand-bottomed hot tub. Those buildings in the background house the bar & restaurant, and the ocean-view gym. Oh, and they have Taco Tuesdays.
In fact, I may have miscalculated by booking here, because no one ever wanted to leave.
I did manage to pry them out from time to time. We had dinner by the beach one night, at Lava Lava Beach Club on Aneaho'omula Bay. It was a total zoo, but we could let the kids run all around the area - which they did, returning with little shells, reports of watching someone free a turtle from fishing line (or something), and finally taking over this hammock at a near-by guest cottage.
Our biggest adventure was a morning cruise to Kealakekua Bay. There was light rain, and we had to get to the marina for a 7 am departure, but just as My Kona Adventures promised, we pretty much had the bay to ourselves. There were a couple of kayaks, and a few intrepid hikers tackling the mile down-mile back up trail along the cliff - but otherwise it was just us and the fish. It really was the best snorkeling I've ever done in the Pacific.
It also was the last stop for Captain James Cook on his 3rd Pacific Voyage. All the 3rd graders were assigned an explorer to research and give a class presentation about, and as it happens, Brennan was assigned Captain Cook. (Which I took as a sign that the universe wanted us to go to Hawaii. I guess we're lucky he wasn't assigned Ernest Shackleton.) Behind him is the James Cook Monument, marking the site where interactions with the native Hawaiians went completely awry.
had a lot of interesting and funny stories, and even helped Brennan give fishing a try.
It was a pretty big day - and it wasn't even noon! Since the kids were stuffed with fruit, crackers, nilla wafers, and weren't going to eat anyway, the adults made an executive decision to have lunch at Da Poke Shack. Which, hands down, was one of the best meals we had the whole trip. And their outdoor seating is just perfect for wiped out 6 year olds.
The other main excuse for a trip to Hawaii was a continuing education conference for Mommy, held at the expansive and slightly ridiculous Hilton Waikoloa. The rest of the family came to meet me for lunch one day, so they could watch the dolphin "encounters", splash in the lagoon, and photo bomb the statuary around the resort.
I also forced an evening hike along the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, where we navigated lava rocks, spotted ancient settlement remains, and trespassed on a golf course.
The condo had a closet full of beach gear - and I decided it was crazy to go all the way to Hawaii without at least one beach day - so we had a morning at Mauna Kea beach. I did a little more snorkeling, and there was swimming and snacks, but it wasn't great for boogie boarding, and it was broiling by 11 am.
I'm a little disappointed I couldn't get the team on board for a drive up to Mauna Kea's summit, and that Lucie didn't think she was ready to do a night snorkel to see the giant mantas, even though she really wants to go out on Nick's boat again. But Daddy did helpfully point out it gives me an excuse to plan a return visit.
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