Day 4
Up before 6 again, Jill prepared our lunch and dinner, ate more Frosted Flakes and Kona coffee and headed to the Manua Kea Hotel's beach for the day.
In Hawaii all beaches are public, and the Mauna Kea opens 40 parking spots a day for public access. Plus, the famous hotel was damaged in an earthquake a couple of years ago and they decided to completely gut the place. Even the golf course. So combine the 2 and you have one of the top 10 beaches in the country with few people.
It was great. A white sand crescent, waters ranging from turquoise to dark blue. Few waves in the morning. Great snorkeling.We (mostly Jill) hauled our stuff to the beach and had a great time. Even had shade under a tree. Dave and Kristen snorkeled for a couple of hours and it was fun to do that again. Saw lots of fish, sea urchins, sea stars, etc. It was Kristen's first snorkel expedition and I think she fell in love with it, at least until she swallowed a little too much water and we decided to go in.
Ate our picnic lunch and later in the afternoon had a maitai, and juice mocktail, for $15 from the Mauna Kea's outdoor bar, which is still open. Certainly got our $10 worth of rum in the MaiTai and Dave immediately fell asleep for 1/2 hour after drinking it. We were there from about 9-3.
In Hawaii all beaches are public, and the Mauna Kea opens 40 parking spots a day for public access. Plus, the famous hotel was damaged in an earthquake a couple of years ago and they decided to completely gut the place. Even the golf course. So combine the 2 and you have one of the top 10 beaches in the country with few people.
It was great. A white sand crescent, waters ranging from turquoise to dark blue. Few waves in the morning. Great snorkeling.We (mostly Jill) hauled our stuff to the beach and had a great time. Even had shade under a tree. Dave and Kristen snorkeled for a couple of hours and it was fun to do that again. Saw lots of fish, sea urchins, sea stars, etc. It was Kristen's first snorkel expedition and I think she fell in love with it, at least until she swallowed a little too much water and we decided to go in.
Ate our picnic lunch and later in the afternoon had a maitai, and juice mocktail, for $15 from the Mauna Kea's outdoor bar, which is still open. Certainly got our $10 worth of rum in the MaiTai and Dave immediately fell asleep for 1/2 hour after drinking it. We were there from about 9-3.
Did a drive-by of some other beaches on the way home that are more for the general public, or for people who can't get to the Mauna Kea early enough for one of the 40 spots. Nice but not as nice as where we were today.
Home for a much needed shower, a movie for Kristen and now a diary update on the very windy but still warm lanai. The wind may be 20mph but I'm still shirtless.
Earlier, started to learn Tiptoe Through the Tulips on the Ukulele I brought from home! The other night I was screwing around with The Beatles' Honey Pie.Couple of Coronas and going to get the grill fired up for some chicken tonight.
Day 5 >>>
Home for a much needed shower, a movie for Kristen and now a diary update on the very windy but still warm lanai. The wind may be 20mph but I'm still shirtless.
Earlier, started to learn Tiptoe Through the Tulips on the Ukulele I brought from home! The other night I was screwing around with The Beatles' Honey Pie.Couple of Coronas and going to get the grill fired up for some chicken tonight.
Day 5 >>>
