HAWAI'I DAY 3- Round the Island Tour

The day started not quite as early as yesterday, with Elaine awakening after the sun had risen. Today looked like it would be a beautiful day.

The Morning From Our Room

A 9 AM pickup was scheduled with Roberts Tours, for a 309 mile, 11 hour tour around the island of Hawai'i.

The Bus- pretty comfortable

Vincent Our Driver. He talked constantly ALL DAY. Very knowledgable.

We headed north east toward Hilo, where there is the most rain in the US. However, it hasn't been raining for a few days, so the waterfalls are a bit short of water.

Pretty Falls. 

After an hour driving, we stopped for Portugese Donuts- Malasadas- which are filled donuts- I had bavarian cream and Philip had Raspberry. So much for dieting.

A hour more driving for a stop at the Chocolate Factory in Hilo- along with a free tasting.

Workers at the Big Island Chocolate factory "hand dipping"

A visit to Rainbow Falls, and lunch at the University Astronomy Center completed our time in Hilo.

Rainbow Falls

A short nap occurred while we headed up to the Volcanoes National Park to see the Caldera and crater near  the Jaggar Museum.  Tomorrow we will see it from the helicopter.

The Crater 

Caldera from a distance.

 Next we went for a short walk through the Thurston Lava Tube. Stories about the Lava Tubes and the impact they have on the state were fascinating.

Walking down in the tropical rain forest to the Lava Tube.

Inside the Lava tube- fortunately no lava flowing today, 

Elaine in the lava tube.

Another hour of driving to the Punaluu Black Sand Beach, where the turtles sleep on the beach to "warm up".

Philip on the Black Sand Beach

Sleeping Turtle

Elaine on the Beach

Interesting tree

Continuing our drive around to the Kona Coast, we stopped for a taste of 100% Kona Coffee and watching the Kona Sunset.

Kona Sunset- 

After driving through the Kona Hotels to drop off people, then going to the airport to drop off the "Day trippers" who had flown to this island just for this tour, we decided we really liked our quiet hotel up further north.  
After all these snacks, we decided dinner would be light, so we had enjoyed a salad and some of our chocolates.

Dinner

The Chocolate

HAWAII DAY 2- Kohala Coast and North Kohala

Last night we were invited to an Island Orientation for 0830 today that we debated attending. We expected a time share pitch or something similar. I awakened at 0800 and encouraged Philip to hurry up and get ready. Once he was sitting on the side of the bed, he informed me that the clock in the room said 0610, not 0800.  Guess I had read my watch upside down. So I showered, and he went back to bed. The sun was just rising, so  I sat out on the deck with my coffee and read a book until the "real" 0800.

Expecting to eat some of our breakfasts in our room, we had purchased blue berry pastries. I helped myself to one to eat on the balcony, which necessitated sharing the crumbs with several birds who were happy that I dropped so many crumbs.

After listening to the Orientation spiel, we signed up for an Around the Island Tour tomorrow, and a helicopter ride over the Volcano on Saturday. So their sales pitch worked on us...

With about five spare hours before the Giants game started this afternoon,  we took a walk around the hotel prior to we heading north up the Kohala Coast. 

Philip and Elaine walk around the grounds

Marriott Waikokoa Beach Resort

Kohala Coast

Pu'ukohola Heiau view

Maui from Big Island

King Kamehamheha Statue in  Kapa'au

Pololu Valley Lookout

Over Kaaoau Mountain Road

Sunset back at the hotel

Self Portraits at Dinner

View from our dinner table 

Maui French Onion Soup

Morris the hotel cat 

Fish Linguini

Mahi Mahi

HAWAII- DAY 1- Arrival

Realizing we needed about 4000 more air miles to reach Premier Class for this year, we searched for the cheapest place we could fly and include using our Marriott Hotel miles. The outcome was that we would go to the Big Island of Hawaii (cheap flight) and stay at the Marriott at Waikoloa Beach "free" in a Garden View Room.
The plane flew at 0915 AM, which required rising at 0400 to catch a 0520 taxi ride to BART. This made for a LONG day.

We weren't able to sit next to each other on the very full plane, but I had a nice window seat, although I prefer the aisle. I did get some neat pictures.

We lucked out and received a free upgrade auto rental to a convertible, which of course we love.

Arriving at our hotel just in time for the World Series, we spent the afternoon watching the game. It was overcast outside, although warm and humid.

For dinner, we headed out to the Queen's Marketplace and had a wonderful Thai dinner at Charleys (???) Thai Cuisine. Neglected to take a picture of this food.  We collapsed very tired about 9 PM.