They`re here!

Kids and grandkids arrived yesterday after a crazy week at home for them with moving and then a long travel day.  We took the grandkids to the pool while their parents went to Costco for a few supplies, it felt good to cool off.

Paw Patrol pups all wear hats so it`s good enough for Miles too!

Blues and Reds

The colours here are amazing, during the day the shades of blue in the ocean blend into each other as you look out towards the horizon.

Mauna Kea beach

As the day comes to a close the sky turns orange and then almost red as the sun sinks down seemingly into the ocean, and it happens very quickly.  Even the boats at anchor in the bay appear to point in the direction of the setting sun as if to watch.

Sunset at A Bay 

Enjoying an Evening Out

Sitting together with friends and talking about lives, our kids, our challenges and joys - so good.

 Sometimes the setting is a little more formal, other times very informal.

And especially at one of our favourite spots - Lava Lava, we solve a lot of world problems!!  

Friends

On Saturday at lunch we zipped out to the airport to pick up Ken and Shirley, it's the start of their vacation and they'll be staying with us for the first week.

They look pretty happy to be out of the rain and in the sun now!

Yesterday we went for our long morning walk and then finished it off with Kona coffee beachside at the Fairmont.

Fairmont beach - early morning

After an afternoon of grocery shopping it was back to the resort for time by the pool, and then it was Happy Hour at #202.

Mixologists - making the perfect Mai Tai

Cheers to longtime friendships!

A Day in Kona

Snorkel, Kona Brewery, Errands, Boogie-boarding

We left at 8:30 to head to Kahalu'u Beach Park - the snorkel beach in Kona. There's been high surf on the beaches in Hawaii for about a week now, Gina and I didn't stay in too long and then when we tried to come back in to shore it was a bit hectic with an outgoing current.  Lots of pretty fish though so it was worth going in for.  My camera has decided to pack it in so unfortunately the photos are lacking - I'll have to use Ted's iPhone for now.

Kona Brewing Company - home of the Longboard beer!

After snorkeling it was time for lunch so we went to the Kona Brewing Company for great pizza and cold beer, then we had a few errands to do in Kona (an hours worth of shopping at least!)  Finally we were back on the highway with the game plan to stop in at the Veteran's Beach so Gary and Ted could do a bit of boogie-boarding.

The waves at this beach were action-packed so after about thirty minutes of riding the waves the guys were ready to head home.   We covered quite a bit of ground today, crossing a couple of fun-to-do things off our list of must-do's while we're here.

Sunset

Sunset at the Fairmont Cat Park

Last minute ideas are sometimes the best and this was one of them, a quick decision to gumboot it down to the beach to see the sunset.

Going, going, gone.

Sun and Fun

Paddle Ball

Over by the pool there's a grassy area with room to toss a frisbee, lounge around, or in this case - play paddle ball.  Last year Ted bought a set of these at a corner store here and he was quite happy to find them again this year.  Always organizing a game of something - this year is no different.

Brad and Joan are the cheering section

Gary's smile tells me he must be winning... 

Morning Walk

I've been enjoying the early morning walk, what a great way to start the day off and it's particularly enjoyable doing it with friends instead of alone.  

This pond we walk by is an amazing green colour, and so still it's unreal.  There's always some fish ponds that we go by that have many interesting fish, as well as Gina's favourite sea creature - the eel.   She is sure that they jump right up out of the water so you better watch out and don't lean over the railing!

Coffee

After our walk we headed over to the Fairmont for a latte with an ocean view that can't be beat.

There was some delicious looking pastries which I was very tempted by but was able to resist, although I did see Gary eating a fabulous looking pineapple danish.  The beautiful view almost made up for it!

Sun

Hapuna Beach was our choice for some afternoon playtime, the waves were pounding and we watched some locals have some fun trying to launch their 'party raft'.  It was pretty comical watching them try to get past the waves and out to sea, although maybe that wasn't their goal after all because we heard lots of laughter every time it dumped them overboard.  

Boogie boarding is lots of fun at Hapuna, and the waves today were pretty high.  Brad, Gary and Ted geared up and headed in!

And here they come in to shore!  Even I gave it a go, although that's a photo for another day................ :)