Hawaii Adventure

Kamoa Point State Historical Park is our backyard.

After four months of pretty intense work for OSTA and STEMscopes, it is time for a break.  The work is rewarding, and gives me a sense of giving back and supporting science education, something I am very passionate about.

However, the constant go, go, go, now matter how important and enjoyable, there is a need for recharging. This is that time, and I am grateful for this opportunity.  And, I am very happy that my good friend, Lynn, who recently retired from science teaching agreed to join me!

Lynn and I have traveled before, with our husbands, George and Steve. And while those trips have been wonderful adventures to cherish, we have longed for a trip that wasn't as well planned out, nor that moved around every 2-3 days.  Something a bit more mellow and relaxing.  This is our chance!  The only plans we made were the plane reservations, and lodging.

Sunrise in our backhard

We are spending our fist week in Kona, staying at a condominium with a pool and common area with a lovely view of the ocean. And, outside our condo within 10 feet of our lanai is Kamoa Point State Historical park.  So our mornings are greeted with the interesting sounds of native bird calls, along with the sunrise through its vegetation.

After settling in to the condo, the next day we went out to do some grocery and equipment shopping.

At Jack's Diving Locker

First we went to Jack's Diving Locker, a dive store that Lynn has worked with on a prior trip to Hawaii with her husband, Steve.  They are divers, so I am in good hands for challenging myself with snorkeling.  I've done it before when I was in the Galapagos....almost 30 years ago!  As Lynn is a marine biologist, I will also be able to get the taxonomy on all of the marine life and features I am sure to see.

The Poke display at a local KTA Grocery Store

The local KTA grocery store chain provided a cultural experience, as we chatted with the Hawaiian on the other side of the Poke display in the deli.  As I have seen a couple of Poke (pronounced POH-keh) places pop up in Portland, I was curious.  It is a Hawaiian dish, that has been described as deconstructed sushi, as it is cubed raw fish, often served over rice.  It is cubed, raw fish, with sauces, herbs and spices that reflect both Hawaiian and Asian cultures.  So, as traveling adventures must include culinary adventure, we just had to try it.  It is delicious!  I am now going to have to check out those Portland Poke places to do a bit of comparison tasting.


My first snorkeling adventure was out of a small beach park not far from the condo.  A popular place, and good for a first timer, as it was easy to walk out and just get started. I do know how to swim, but it isn't something I do often, so it is definitely pushing me outside of my comfort zone. But, how do you grow if you don't say "yes" to things that challenge you?  I rented a vest for a bit of added security, which was helpful.  Maybe by the end, I'll eschew it?  We'll see.

Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park to the left,  & Two-Step beach to the right where snorkeling commenced

Anyways, its another world below the water. We drove south to the Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historic park. This is the royal grounds where the leaders of the native people gathered for governing and spiritual activities, and the Place of Refuge for those who had broken laws in hopes of being absolved by a priest.

Just north of there on Honaunau Bay is a set in for snorkelers and divers.  So many yellow tang fish gathered near the set in, that they were visible in the surf, and the yellow butterflies flying around to match the yellow in the air.  It was lovely.  We also saw Hawaii's state fish, the Humahumanukunukuapua'a, which translates to "fish with a pig's snout."  I don't have an underwater camera, so this picture of the fish is courtesy of Wikipedia.

So, as I'm getting more comfortable with playing in the water, we are getting ready to rent a kayak at Kealakekua Bay, then paddle across to the Captain Cook Monument on the other side along with the spinner dolphins. More on that adventure later....