All Good Things...

...do come to an end, but we are very grateful for this wonderful trip we've had.  Today we will be back at the beach for one more swim in the tropical waves, to Lava Lava Beach Club for one more beautiful sunset, and then it's off to the airport for the overnight flight home.  Mahalo Hawaii!

Rays on the Bay

We heard that the Sheraton in Kona has a nice restaurant / bar so we drove down to take a look around.  The main lobby is beautiful, with large open bay windows.

.

Sunset photo taken at Rays on the Bay bar as we wait for the manta ray divers to arrive.

Boats begin to congregate.

There were quite a number of divers and snorkelers that entered the water from a variety of boats, it was pretty interesting to watch the process.  Apparently the manta rays are attracted to the lights, one that comes around regularly is 35 feet across.  It was an interesting evening, and the best Mai Tai's!

Odds and Ends

I'm not well-travelled but I know when I'm in a special place, and this is definitely it.  We've been here three weeks and we've seen and done a number of things that will be filed away in our memories as great times.  This post is a smattering of photos that will remind us of our time here as we reminisce.

Birdsong mornings

Retro Hawaiian pics

Home away from home, thanks to generous friends.

Lava Lava Beach Club

 

                          Friends of 40 years arrive

My night on stage as assistant to magician 'Kona Kozy'!

The natural beauty of our amazing planet earth

Tomorrow is our last day in paradise....

Tennis

This afternoon was drop-in tennis at the Fairmont Orchid so Ted went to see if anyone was there as it was quite windy.

There was only one other guy there but Ted was happy to see that it was a guy he had played with before and had enjoyed playing with.

I went to the beach for a couple hours and came back just as they finished up.

Later on it was over to our favourite beach bar to see the sunset, and maybe the lunar eclipse that's happening tonight.

Four Seasons Hualalai

On the way to the airport we stopped at the Four Seasons Resort, the surf was up.

Pool with the ocean in the background, the surf was madly rolling in.

Beach Tree Bar and Grill 

Final tropical sunset for their holiday, it was beautiful.

Making the most of it

It's our friends last day here so we are making the most of it.  The two Teds went for an early morning hike all the way around the Waikoloa Beach Resort petroglyphs, golf course, Hilton Village, beach walk and then we all went to Hapuna Beach.

Looking for the perfect wave

Seeing the perfect wave

Riding the perfect wave

Walking the beach

Ted and Sheila were here!

This afternoon it's off to the Four Season Resort for drinks and a quick meal, then we will take them to the airport for their evening flight.

Water Sports Extravaganza

Paddle boards, kayaks, water bikes, and pool noodles, what more can you want?

Ted came through on his promise to Ruby and Bennett and did a headstand on the board,  people on shore clapped and cheered!

Then they were off and paddling.

Some of us weren't quite as ambitious but still had fun.

Kayaks were next.

Then water bikes!

We finished the day relaxing at Lava Lava Beach Club and watching the sunset.

Local stuff

I've taken a few photos of interesting things we've seen while out and about so today's post will be some of these.  This is stuff we don't normally come across in our day to day travels at home.

Palm tree right in front of our lanai being pruned.

Hawaiian tattoos

Okay so these aren't local but they're still cool to see at the hotel!

Palm trees at sunset

A bale of turtles seen while on an evening stroll.

Woman chopping coconut from the shell

Banana trees at a roadside fruit stand.

This morning we are going to the beach where the guys will try paddle boarding, and maybe even a headstand on it!

A Lazy Day at 'A' Bay eh?!

It's been a windy 24 hours but it eased off this morning so we went over to 'A' Bay to swim.  We've developed a system of what to take, who carries what, and how to pack the back of the SUV with (almost) everything we need.  Today we didn't take the boogie boards to the beach so it was pretty easy.

Ted and Sheila enjoying the sun and surf.

We forgot an opener but a friendly woman nearby offered her flip flop that had an opener in the sole!

Today's biggest problem was solved, now back to relaxing...