We left Newmarket on a cold, rainy Wednesday (what else have we had in April?). Destination: the Big Island of Hawaii. It took us a couple stops to get here (Boston to Las Vegas to Honolulu to Kailua-Kona), but it was worth the cramped airplane seats and lack of food to reach this beautiful place.
We arrived at the Kailua-Kona airport by 8:15 am and as soon as we stepped off the plane, we could feel the pace of life slow down. The first thing we noticed--the waiting "room" and the baggage claim are in the open air, made possible by the limited annual rainfall on the west side of the Big Island. TSA must be there, but flying through this airport felt like the old days, before we had to remove half our clothes to get on a plane. Stepping "outside" the airport we were struck by all the trees in flower and the lava.
Our VRBO is tucked down a quiet, dead end road and a five minute walk to Keauhou Bay. The backyard is full of trees in flower or fruit, drawing in lots of birds. Our family group of eight on this trip is into birding so we picked the right place to stay. Sadly though, everything we've seen so far is not native--birds, feral cats, mongooses, plants, geckos. Still, it is all so different from New Hampshire.
Instead of New Hampshire granite, Hawaii has lava and lots of it. Rock walls, stone paths, and garden mulch are all lava rock.
We arrived at the Kailua-Kona airport by 8:15 am and as soon as we stepped off the plane, we could feel the pace of life slow down. The first thing we noticed--the waiting "room" and the baggage claim are in the open air, made possible by the limited annual rainfall on the west side of the Big Island. TSA must be there, but flying through this airport felt like the old days, before we had to remove half our clothes to get on a plane. Stepping "outside" the airport we were struck by all the trees in flower and the lava.
Blue sky, flowers, and lava welcome us outside the Kailua-Kona Airport.
Our VRBO is tucked down a quiet, dead end road and a five minute walk to Keauhou Bay. The backyard is full of trees in flower or fruit, drawing in lots of birds. Our family group of eight on this trip is into birding so we picked the right place to stay. Sadly though, everything we've seen so far is not native--birds, feral cats, mongooses, plants, geckos. Still, it is all so different from New Hampshire.
Our front yard.
Gold dust day geckos hang out on the side of our house.
They are also non-native, but quite beautiful.
Instead of New Hampshire granite, Hawaii has lava and lots of it. Rock walls, stone paths, and garden mulch are all lava rock.
A rock wall built from lava rock.
Lava rock instead of bark mulch in gardens.
This trail to the beach is through a lava field --
a rough surface for sure, requiring sturdy footwear.
A stonewall made of lava rock was built in the 1880s to contain cattle.
Mailboxes tucked into lava walls.
We highly recommend our VRBO: great location, dead-end quiet street, 5 minute walk to Keauhou Bay where you can swim and snorkel, 10 minute walk to the Sheraton where you can watch the sunset and stay later to see manta rays come in to feed under the night lights (all free!), and the Keauhou Shopping Center is nearby.
Our VRBO: 78-117 Holua Road, Big Island
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