Never once to Hawaii, now twice in 2 years. Sis’ celebrating her big 5-0 Birthday this week AND running a 50K all-UPHILL ultra-marathon in our 50th state.
[Can’t believe you have a sister turning 50? Just smile & say: Nope I can’t believe it either. No need to share she’s my younger sister ❤]
Boarded a direct flight to Kona (United). 7 hour ride, 5 of it over the vast Pacific. Kept my shade shut & movie-binged. Caught up on the latest Planet of the Apes prequel – don’t be a hater. NOW we know why Nova couldn’t speak in the Charlton Heston version. LOL>
Open-air airport, no walls – just like Maui. Rental car pickup. B&B overnight in Kona. Palm trees, flowers – and chickens, crazy amount of chickens free-ranging in Hawaii. Tropical, temperate Hawaii. Sis might be planning ALL future family getaways.
Woke super early (time difference). Morning hill trek before Saturday’s 50K. Road climbed high above Kona, beautiful view of the ocean. Easy 2-mile run that got away from me. Garmin read 5.12 [miles] when I returned for fresh fruit & papaya pancakes. Paradise.
Late road start to Hilo for tomorrow’s 50K registration. Sis beat me there (retrieving lost luggage) & managed bib pick-up. Afternoon FREE, too early to check-in my bougie condo in Waikoloa – beach DAY. Detoured north: Laupāhoehoe Point Beach Park.
80° & sunshine. HUGE turquoise waves lashed the Park’s volcanic-rock shore. Laid back in lush green grass & closed my eyes. Ocean breeze, surrounded by Palms, secret quiet paradise. Big Island drive home (digged on the Hawaiian names).
Laupāhoehoe ⇨ ʻŌʻōkala ⇨ Pa’Auilo ⇨ Honoka’a ⇨ Waimea ⇨ Waikoloa
Lunch in Waimea, dinner in Waikoloa, both with a pig theme. 500,000 wild hogs on the Big Island – I went with fish 🙂
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- Sis’ 5-0 destination BIRTHDAY
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- tropical CEMETERY run
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- secret quiet paradise
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- HUGE turquoise waves
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- ocean breeze, surrounded by Palm
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- Laupāhoehoe ⇨ ʻŌʻōkala ⇨ Pa’Auilo ⇨ Honoka’a ⇨ Waimea ⇨ Waikoloa
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- 500,000 wild hogs on the Big Island
Laupāhoehoe Point
Hawaii’s feral pigs have history in their genes
“It has always been believed that the pigs were likely brought by famed explorer James Cook when he discovered the islands around 1778,” says Anna Linderholm, assistant professor of anthropology at Texas A&M University.
“He almost certainly brought pigs, chickens, and other animals with him. But our findings show that the wild hogs there today were introduced much earlier than his arrival, by hundreds of years at least. They likely came from European or Asian descent.”
Texans love their cattle, and Hawaiians love their pigs. Millions of visitors to the islands have attended luaus where a roasted pig in the ground is considered a must-see event, and Hawaiian lore has it that pigs were associated with various Polynesian gods and they were treated with great reverence and respect.
“The ancestry of feral hogs in Hawaii today can be traced back to Polynesians, and their colorful island history and legends are embedded in the state’s culture and many traditions,” Linderholm says.
Last day — no surprise, hard to say goodbye.
Up early, showered, packed, keys on the counter, door locked behind me — aloha. Aloha, hello & goodbye. Goodbye Wailea, hello volcano hike 🙂
Ya’ll know I’m a fan of our National Parks — and hiking, that’s my first love. Hit the highway & spent my last Hawaiian day in Haleakalā Nat’l Park. We Americans are so blessed. Whether it’s Glacier, Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Rockies, Crater Lake, Pikes Peak, Mammoth Cave, Assateague Island, Grand Teton or Haleakalā — our nation’s strength, its core, its inner beauty comes from the land…Atlantic to Pacific, we Americans are blessed. National Parks are our country’s greatest gift to its citizens. HUGE fan!
Renewed my annual pass at Park Headquarters, then started the climb to Haleakalā Visitor Center & Pu’u ula’ula Summit 10,023ft — high even by Colorado standards.
This dormant volcano last erupted 400 years ago. Lava poured from Haleakalā & flowed south to the Pacific, just east of Makena. I remember my hilly Day One run — landscape formed from this same massive explosion.
Aside from stunning views at each of the Park’s three overlooks, I appreciated the dramatic temperature drop. After 4 days of island humidity, mountain breeze & low 50’s were a welcome relief 🙂
Summited Maui’s high point, an easy .2 mile hike on Pā ka’oao Trail. Whatta view! Haleakalā Crater was formed from wind erosion — not dome collapse like Crater Lake in Oregon. Arid, desolate, wind swept sands. The volcanic panorama was more reminiscent of Iceland than tropical Hawaii.
Spent so much time landscape gazing, left myself only an hour to hike from Keonehe’ehe’e (Sliding Sands) Trailhead. Orange, reds, browns, taupe, auburn, pink, maize — not ONE colour of sand, but an intricate patchwork of WOW!
Clouds gathered (first rain all holiday). Drove north shore, back to Pāʻia for one last mind imprint — dinner at Mama’s Fish House. [Excellent recommend, thanks Tina.] Menu varies based on the day’s fresh fish catch. Yeah, FAAANN-FRICKIN’-TASTIC!
Mahalo, Hawaii — thanks for 5 unforgettable days; Wailea to Lahaina, Pāʻia to Hāna Bay, Molokini Crater to Haleakalā.
Mahalo, Hawaii. No regrets, nothing left undone.
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- sunrise
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- LOVE our National Parks!
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- Hawaiian Goose, the Nene
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- climb up to Haleakalā Visitor Center
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- life always finds a way
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- volcanic panorama, reminiscent of Iceland
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- first Pu’u ula’ula, then Keonehe’ehe’e
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- Pu’u ula’ula Summit 10,023ft — high even by Colorado standards
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- formed from wind erosion, not volcanic dome collapse
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- colourful patchwork of WOW!
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- barren, desolate & beautiful — last eruption 400 years ago
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- arid, wind swept, volcanic landscape
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- memorable, last dinner in Maui
oceanfront Polynesian Luau
Snorkeling by day, luau by night.
Shower, short nap, hour drive north to Lahaina. Evening plans? Feast at Lele. What island vacation would be complete without a traditional Hawaiian luau?
getting my luau on
Truth: First exposure to a Hawaiian luau – the Brady Bunch. Mike, Carol, 6 kids & Alice all wearing flower leis – enjoying island life but troubled by a cursed Tiki idol, which followed them all vacation. LOL>
4-course dinner & dance, celebrating the island cultures of Hawaii, New Zealand, Tahiti & Samoa. Ranking them – personal faves: Hawaii & Tahiti.
LOVED LOVED LOVED it! Highly recommend.
Feast at Lele, Lahaina
