Hawaii Day 7 Two Step and Kua Bay

What a day it has been!  We are so sad to be heading home tomorrow night, but are on a high from the amazing day we had! 

We were up early as usual and we followed our same routine of an early breakfast and then heading out by 8:00.  Today we headed south to Honanunau Bay, also known as Two Step.  Honanunau Bay is about 30 minutes south of Kona, it is next to the Place of Refuge that we visited earlier in the trip.  Two Step is not a sandy beach, it has a rocky lava shoreline. It is nicknamed Two Step because there are two steps notched in the shoreline allowing snorkelers to enter and exit without getting beat up on the rocks.  We saved Two Step for the end of the trip because we were worried about the kids being able to get in and out of the water without a beach. 

When we arrived at Two Step there were 20 or so other people there, it wasn't overly crowded.  We left our towels on the rocky shore and headed for the steps, it is easy to see where to get in you just look for the line of people.  I admit I was a little bit apprehensive, it is kind of scary getting in the water from the rocks.  Finally we were all in the water and we knew it was worth the effort.  The water is very clear and there are tons of beautiful fish and huge coral formations. 

The shore at Two Step, where you see the people gathered on the left is where you enter the water

Connor exploring the rocks

The underwater view

A black sea urchin, thank goodness it was deep

We snorkeled together for about 30 minutes and then the kids were getting chilly and wanted to head back to shore.  We all swam back together and managed to get out again on the steps in the lava rock.  Dan went right back in for more snorkeling while the kids and I sat up on the shore.  The kids had fun walking around exploring, they saw a few crabs up on the rocks.

Dan came back to shore and we were all sitting together when all of a sudden I saw something amazing!  I saw a pod of dolphins breaching.  I tried to point it out to the rest of my family but they didn't see it and they thought I was crazy.  After a few minutes the dolphins surfaced again and this time everyone saw them.  Ali was so thrilled, she loves dolphins.  We noticed that there were snorkelers out near the dolphins so Dan decided to swim out and see what was out there. 

I have strong feelings about people swimming with captive dolphins.  It isn't a choice that my family would make.  Obviously everyone needs to make choices for themselves but I would ask that before you pay hundreds of dollars to swim with dolphins in captivity that you do some research.   Please don't assume that just because the company brags that they only use dolphins born in captivity or that their dolphins are allowed to swim free for a few hours a day that it is the right thing to do.  Like I said though, it is a decision that everyone must make for themselves. 

Dan swam out and he saw the dolphins in the water, he came back to shore and told us that it was absolutely amazing!  He said there were between 50 and 100 dolphins in the water.  We decided to all swim out and see them. 

The kids were a little nervous but they really wanted to see them.  The dolphins were about 150 or 200 yards offshore so it was a long swim.  It was a bit scary because the water was very deep.  After a long swim we were able to see the dolphins, the dolphins were resting down far down under the water.  They'd come up to breath every few minutes.  It was an amazing site, honestly it was something I never expected to see in my life.  I kept having to remind myself that this was really happening! 

We did keep our distance from the dolphins and we didn't try to engage them or touch them (we weren't close enough to touch them).  We didn't pursue them or chase them when they moved.  Spinner Dolphins come into sandy bays to rest during the day and then they head out to hunt at night.  We did our best to give them their space and not interfere with their normal habits. 

Pretty amazing!

Such beautiful animals!

On the island there are companies you can book with who promise to take snorkelers out and find the pods of dolphins so that they can swim with them.  We saw some of those boats today.  Again, before booking something like this I would ask you to really do your research.  There is a definite concern that too much interaction is not good for the dolphins. 

I have to say that it was amazing seeing dolphins in their natural habitat, it is something that I won't ever forget and I don't thing my children will either. 

After our amazing morning we headed back to the condo for lunch.  We'd orginally planned to go out for lunch but we decided it was just easier to eat at the condo.  We had lunch and rested for an hour or so.

Around 2:00 we headed decided to head north to Kua Bay. 

We saw this guy as we were driving on the road to the beach

When we arrived at Kua Bay the surf was definitely pounding.  The kids had fun playing in the waves with Dan.  Connor did some boogie boarding but he didn't like how big the waves were, he really doesn't like getting tossed around out there.  The kids ended up playing on the beach while Dan enjoyed boogie boarding on the big waves. 

Kua Bay is such a beautiful place to spend an afternoon

Connor heading out to catch a few waves

Success!

Today was our last full day of vacation and it sure was an amazing day!  We have had such an incredible trip!  Luckily the trip isn't over quite yet, tomorrow our flight doesn't leave until 9:00 pm so we will be able to enjoy one more day at the beach.

Hawaii Day 6 Makaiwa Bay

Today we got a later start than I'd planned.  We actually didn't get up until 7:15 which is a lot later than usual for this trip.  We quickly had breakfast and got packed up for the day. 

We decided to start out our day by revisiting Makaiwa Bay.  We arrived a bit after 9:00 and had no problem finding a spot in the public parking lot.  We started the long walk to the beach.  Like I said the other day, it really is a pretty walk!

Heading to the beach

Hard to complain too much when you get views like this!

Fish Ponds

We saw this guy near the fish ponds

After a 10 or 15 minute walk we arrived at the beach, it was a bit busier than a few days ago but we had no problem finding a perfect spot.

The kids were eager to start snorkeling right away.  We quickly laid out our towels and headed to the water with our snorkel gear.  We snorkeled together for about 30 minutes, the weather was perfect and the water was like glass.  We headed out quite a bit further than we'd gone the other day.  We saw tons of colorful fish and beatiful coral.  When we were out in the deeper water I saw another snorkeler diving down to look at something, I figured it was good so I swam over.  He told me that there was a sea turtle. As much as I wanted to see the turtle I wasn't brave enough to dive under the water and I couldn't see him from the surface, apparently he was under a piece of coral.  I showed Dan where the man said the turtle was and he dove down and checked it out.  Ali decided she was done so she and I headed back to the shore.  Dan and Connor stayed out for at least 20 minutes longer.  Apparently Connor decided to be brave and he started diving under with his snorkel too. 

There was a fish traffic jam, this is just one of many schools of fish we saw

Look at him go!

Connor was having so much fun!

When Dan and Connor came back to shore, Connor wanted to go back out right away.  Connor also thought I should really try diving down under the water.  I told him I was really scared that I'd get saltwater in my mouth, Dan and Connor assured me that I'd be fine.  Connor and I headed out, I think we saw more fish the second time out than we had the first.  We saw tons of Yellow Tang, Parrotfish, and Butterflyfish.  We headed back out where we had seen the Sea Turtle, this time the turtle was visible from the surface he'd climbed out some from his hiding spot.  I also got brave enough to dive down and get a closer look.  I did give the turtle plenty of space though, it really is important to remember that we are guests in their home.  I couldn't help wondering if this turtle was happier than the turtles who visit Kahaluu Beach, at Kahaluu we've seen people basically right on top of the poor turtles.  Today there were snorkelers checking out the turtle but everyone that I saw was being respectful and not invading his space.

Can you see the turtle hanging out?



Ali kept herself busy building in the sand

After nearly an hour and a half snorkeling Connor took a break and tried to figure out what he'd seen out on the reef

We stayed at Makaiwa Bay until around noon, it was a great morning.  I was so proud of how well the kids snorkeled!  Today they both really improved by leaps and bounds.  Connor just couldn't get enough of it today!  I highly recommend Makaiwa Bay, the snorkeling is just amazing. 

We ended up having a picnic lunch near the parking lot, there were two picnic tables in a nice shady area.  We were greeted by some stray cats.  When one of the cats got near us, Ali literally jumped onto the table!  Oh I wish I'd had my camera.  The cat proceeded to run away, apparently he was as scared of Ali as she was of him!  We also saw a Mongoose hanging around.

We headed north to Wai'alea Bay.  Wai'alea is lovely but was very crowded, both kids said they'd rather head back to the condo than stay.  We decided to follow their lead and we headed back. 

After relaxing in the condo we decided to go out for an early dinner.  We went to the Kona Brewing Company.  The food was good and the kids had a great time, the portions were large.  Both of the kids were happy with the choices on the Keiki menu. 

Happy Kids at Dinner

After dinner we did a few errands before we headed back to the condo.  We filled up the car at Costco, gas was 30 cents cheaper per gallon than the other stations.  If you are a Costco member it really pays to bring your card!  We also picked up some souvenirs for the kids and gifts for their teachers. 

Today was laid back day but it was perfect!

Hawaii Day 5 Kua Bay and Snorkeling at Kealakekua Bay

This trip is just flying by, I can't believe that today was our fifth full day!  I'm trying not to think about the fact that we'll be heading home Sunday night. 

Our morning started off just like all of the others, we were all up pretty early and we had breakfast in the condo.

Our first stop today was Kua Bay.  Last year when we visited, Kua Bay was one of our favorite beaches.  It is relatively close to Kona and it has great waves for playing and boogie boarding.  We arrived at Kua Bay a bit after 9:00 and got parked.  It is a short walk down to the beach but you have to climb down some rocks to get to the beach.  Last year we saw an older woman fall and hit her head.  If you visit Kua Bay be sure to climb down carefully!

Ready for the waves!

When we arrived there was a line of boogie boarders already lined up in the water catching waves.  The waves were great, big enough to be fun but not big enough for me to keep the kids out of the water.  Dan and the kids headed out on their boards right away.  I got myself settled on the beach and read a few chapters in my book.  Ali didn't boogie board for very long but she did have fun jumping in the waves. 

We love this beach!

My family enjoying the beautiful water

We left Kua Bay by 11:00 because we had big plans for the afternoon!  We headed back to the condo for a quick lunch.  We changed suits and repacked our bag for the afternoon.  

I'd spent weeks debating whether or not to book a snorkel boat trip to Kealakekua Bay.  Kealakekua Bay is a marine sanctuary with some of best snorkeling in Hawaii.  The only way to reach Kealakekua Bay is by boat (or a really long swim).  Some guide books will encourage you to rent a kayak to reach the bay but I read a lot of advice online which discouraged that practice.  We finally decided to book a trip with Fair Wind, we booked the afternoon snorkel and snack trip.  

We arrived at the check in office a bit early and had about 45 minutes to wait before our trip.  We sat by the boat launch and chatted before the trip.  I was a bit concerned about the weather because it was very overcast with a lot of dark clouds.  I thought that I felt a few rain drops but Dan seemed to think I was imagining it.

Ali and I waiting patiently

The boat

Right on schedule we boarded the boat and were on our way south to Kealakekua Bay.  Today was very overcast but on a sunny day you'd have beautiful views of the coastline.  We kept our eyes out for whales and dolphins but we didn't have any luck seeing them today.  

Snorkel gear is provided with the cruise.  I decided to leave the gear we'd rented in the car and just use what was provided.  When we got the gear on the boat I was very disappointed in my choice.  The masks were OK but the snorkels were junky, they were just the super basic snorkels.  I really prefer a dry snorkel, I'm a total baby about getting any saltwater in my mouth.  It was my fault for not bringing our own stuff.  I was really nervous about snorkeling with the basic snorkel but it ended up working fine.

When we arrived at the bay we saw the Captain Cook monument.  Captain Cook and his crew were the first Europeans to visit Hawaii.  Captain Cook and his men arrived in Kealakekua Bay in January of 1779 and the Hawaiians thought they were returning gods.  Less than a month later Cook was killed in the same place.  The monument was built in 1878.

Captain Cook Monument

Crystal Clear Water

After telling us about the history of Captain Cook, the crew of the boat gave a safety briefing and also talked to us about the importance of protecting the reef.  After the safety talk we were free to get in and start snorkeling.  The boat has steps that lower down into the water, it made getting in and out so easy!  As soon as I started swimming I could immediately see what makes this place so special.  The view is amazing, the water is crystal clear and there is coral everywhere.  There were beatiful fish everywhere you looked!  The four of us snorkeled together for about 20 minutes before both kids wanted to head back to the boat because they were cold.  Dan went back with them and I snorkeled a bit more.  I saw an eel hiding in the coral, I wouldn't have spotted it on my own but another snorkeler pointed it out. 

I headed back to the boat and sent Dan out to snorkel.  The Fair Wind II is a perfect boat for families.  They have two water slides and a high dive platform.  The kids were a little nervous at first to do the slides but they both went down them and had a lot of fun.  Dan returned to the boat just as Connor was trying to work up the nerve to jump off the high dive.  Dan said he'd do it first and that convinced Connor to finally jump.  Ali wanted to do it too but she was having a hard time being brave, she'd get up to the platform and then she'd chicken out.  By this time a lot of people had gotten back on the boat so there were a lot of witnesses to her attempts.  Dan climbed back on board and jumped off again.  This time when Ali got up to the platform everyone started chanting for her to do it, I think the peer pressure got to her because she jumped!  After she jumped the whole boat started clapping for her!  It was so cute!

Water Slides

Connor was finally brave enough to jump!

Ali's first jump after a little peer pressure

Happy girl with her happy dad!

I headed back out for a final snorkel, by this time most people were back on the boat.  There were only 10 people or so in the water.  It was so peaceful swimming around, I was just in awe of the beauty!  I ended up being one of the last people to get back on the boat.  I highly recommend the Fair Wind Snorkel trip to families and anyone timid about snorkeling.  The crew was great getting everyone set up with whatever they needed to feel comfortable in the water.  We will definitely book with them again when we return to the Big Island.  I think next time we'll do the morning snorkel trip.

Our trip back was chilly, we were wet and it was cloudy.  We bundled up in our towels and chatted about all the fun we'd had!  What an amazing day!

Hawaii Day 4 Pu'uhonua O Honauna

Today we slept in a whole extra hour!  We didn't wake up until 6:30!  When we got up we looked out our window and saw a cruise ship.

The kids were excited to see the ship, I wasn't quite as happy.  I knew that having the ship in port would make things busier around town.  Today I had planned to start our day at the Pu'uhonua O Honauna National Historical Park south of Kona.  I was worried with the excursions from the cruise that the park might be busy.  I thought about changing our plans for the day but decided to stick with the orginal plan and hoped for the best.

As we drove south the the national park we saw this in front of us.



Dan joked that they were probably heading to the same place we were, I wasn't amused with his humor.  I really wasn't amused when they took the same turn we did to get the park.  Lucky for us we were saved when the tour bus turned off at a coffee farm. 

We arrived at Pu'uhonua (Place of Refuge) and there were no buses in sight!  There is a $5 entry fee at the park, it is $5 per car.  We parked and there were only a few other cars in the lot.  The park is relatively small and upon entering you are given a guide map. The walking trail is well marked. 

The Pu'uhonua O Honauna has a fascinating history.  In ancient Hawaii the penalty for breaking the law was death, the only way to avoid death was to make it to the Pu'uhonua or Place of Refuge.  This was not an easy task, the only access was by swimming across a bay that was said to be shark infested.

The historic site is also home to Royal Grounds with a fish pond and several reconstructed buildings.  The paths you walk on now were at one time reserved for royalty.  It was against the law to even cast your shadow on the sacred Royal Grounds.

Keoua Stone, Keoaua the high chief of Kona sat on this stone

Hale o Keawe is a rebuilt temple that once held the bones of 23 noble chiefs.

In the very last building we found a great surprise!  We found a master weaver Uncle Taro doing a demonstration with coconut fronds.  He seemed happy to see us approach and asked the kids if they'd like to make something.  The kids were a bit shy but said that they would like to.  He was delightful, very friendly and talkative.  He kept telling us that most people look in and then keep walking, too busy to stop and see what he is doing.  He said that was especially true on days when people come from the cruise ship on excursions. They seem to have no time and are on a schedule where they need to get back on the bus.  I was thankful that we were able to stay as long as we wanted.  Uncle Taro showed the kids how to make a fish out of coconut fronds, he helped Ali with hers and Connor and I worked together.  The kids were so excited about their projects and were happy to have met Uncle Taro, this was definitely a highlight of our day!

Ali and Uncle Taro

The kids and their finished projects

After our lovely chat with Uncle Taro we headed back to the car.  When we got back to the car there were three buses in the parking lot, I was so glad that we'd arrived before them and been able to enjoy a relatively empty park. 

Upon the advice of some of my friends we headed south another 1/2 a mile to the South Kona Fruit Stand.  This was definitely a yummy stop!  We ended up with a smoothie, some excellent lemonade, and some fruit.  We also have a loaf of banana macademia nut bread for breakfast tomorrow.  I highly recommend the Liliko'i Lemonade, it is amazing!

Ali enjoying her guava banana smoothie with Dan

After our stop at the South Kona Fruit Stand we headed back to the condo.  We'd actually packed a lunch but we ended up eating it on the lanai.  Can't complain too much about a picnic in the room, the view was pretty good.

We took some time to relax in the room and then headed to Kahaluu beach park for some snorkeling.  When we arrived the water was pretty wavy for snorkeling.  We decided to try anyway.  It was pretty rough out there and we didn't see too much, I saw a few schools of fish but it wasn't as clear as I like.  On a happy note, Ali did great!  We also saw two sea turtles up near the shore so that made the short trip worth it!

We headed back to the condo and spent some time at the pool.  The kids love the pool! 

We decided to take advantage of our laid back night and head to downtown Kona for some shopping.  We went to a few souvenir shops and of course we had to go to Crazy Shirts.  Crazy Shirts is a bit of a tradition for us, my family has been shopping there since my first trip to Hawaii in elementary school!  The shirts aren't cheap but the designs and quality are great.

Ali outside the Crazy Shirt store.  It seems the mermaid must have lost her shell bra.

Tonight we went out to dinner.  We went to Killer Tacos, one of our favorite places from last year.  Killer Tacos isn't fancy, it is located near an industrial park.  The food is good though and it is cheap.  My family loves mexican food so Killer Tacos is perfect for us!

We ended our night with a little night swimming at the pool.  The kids had been begging for days to do it.  Who knew swimming after sunset could be so exciting?











Hawaii Day 3 Kaunaoa Beach at Mauna Kea

Everyone was awake by 5:30 this morning, 30 minutes later than yesterday.  I can't complain too much though, it has been nice to be out the door and heading to the beach by 8:00 am!

I've been dreaming about the beach at Mauna Kea for over a year.  I'd hoped to visit last year when we were here but it just never worked into our schedule. 

Kaunaoa Beach is located at the Mauna Kea resort.  There is public parking for 30 cars at the resort.  If you have your heart set on a day at Kaunaoa Beach it is important to arrive early.  When you arrive you stop at the guard shack and get a parking pass, if you arrive too late the parking passes will be gone. 

We left our condo at 8:00 and arrived at Mauna Kea by 8:45, the resort is about 30 miles north of where we were staying.  We stopped at the guard shack and the friendly attendant gave us our golden ticket (aka. parking pass).  The road to the parking lot goes through a lovely golf course.  Dan thought it was pretty funny that a poor guy was in the trees searching for his lost golf ball. 

From the parking lot it is a short walk on a paved path down to the beach.  As we walked I was nervous that the beach wouldn't live up to the hype.  When we arrived at the end of the path and stepped foot on the beach, all my worries faded away!  The beach at Mauna Kea is beautiful!  The sand is white and the water is a beautiful turquoise color.  It is definitely worth getting an early start to visit this amazing beach!

We quickly found a spot to set up our beach stuff.  The beach wasn't crowded at all, it was so peaceful.  We had our snorkel stuff with us but after watching the surf for a few minutes we decided that it might be a better day for boogie boarding, Dan went back to the car and got the boogie boards.
 

The kids didn't waste any time!

Dan and the kids played in the waves for an hour or so.  Dan tried snorkeling by the rocks on the left side of the beach, he said it was pretty murky and he felt like it was too wavy.  That probably had a lot to do with the ocean conditions today.  I read a few chapters in my book while enjoying the beauty of the beach.  We were lucky and saw a sea turtle today!  The turtle was just floating in the surf, the sea turtles are one of my favorite things about the Big Island.

The kids decided that they needed to try out the sand toys that we picked up at Target last night.  They worked together to build a sand castle.



After a few hours of beach fun everyone was hungry so we ate our picnic lunch.  You just can't beat picinics on the beach!  If you plan to picnic on the beach be sure to bring wipes for your hands so that you don't end up with sand in your sandwich, we also bring a grocery bag to put our trash in so that it can be thrown away easily. 

Here is my happy boy eating lunch on the beach

We stayed at the beach until noon, originally we thought we might stop at Kua Bay on our way back to the condo but both kids said they wanted to head back to the condo instead.

As we drove down the coastline we noticed that the surf was pretty big.  Our original plan was to rest for a bit and then head to Kahaluu Beach for some snorkeling.  We decided to check out Kahaluu before returning to the condo because I had a suspicion that the surf might be too big for good snorkeling.  The waves were definitely pounding, we saw a lot of surfers and boogie boarders.  My suspicions were correct and the normally calm Kahaluu was pretty rough, we decided to save snorkeling for another day.

We got back to the condo and had a relaxing afternoon.  We napped and relaxed.  Dan and the kids went to the pool for an hour, my kids have a blast down at the pool and seem to meet new kids every time they go.

We ate dinner out on the lanai and enjoyed watching the waves crash into the rocks.  After dinner we watched some brave souls boogie board in the big waves right out in the bay.  They were a lot braver than I'd ever be, the waves were big but even more scary than the waves is the rocky shoreline!  It was fun to watch them catch the big waves.

Today was a great day!  I can't help feeling like this vacation is going by way too fast.  We are enjoying every minute!