I got back to Wyoming on the 7th of this month, and it was a shock to be sure after three weeks in the arms of the Big Island of Hawai’i. It was an incredible journey and I’ll be sharing some of the special moments over the coming weeks.
The photo at right is the view from the lanai of the ohana unit (family unit) I was staying in during the last two weeks of my stay in Hawai’i. You will notice the overcast sky. Most of my second and third week on th island was overcast, or at the least partly overcast as it is “winter” there. Kiluea is also putting out a good bit of gases right now also, and that contributes to the grey skies. The place is on 1 acre of land, and I can’t say enough kind things about the owners. They were incredibly kind and generous with a true aloha spirit. There is just about everything you can think of growing on this property, and I was told that if I got hungry to just go out and graze. Many mornings when I got up, outside the door on the table on the lanai would be fresh picked mangos, oranges, tangerines and avacados. Also each morning when I woke up they would have put their copy of the “West Hawai’i Today” newspaper on the table outside my unit for me to read.
What a lush landscape. I’d take that kind of winter any day! Thanks for sharing it, Richard.
Ella, my friend Jill in south Kona said a few days before I left that a cold front was coming in and she needed to find her socks. THAT is my kind of winter.
How fortunate for you to be able to spend 3 weeks in Hawai’i! My husband and I have enjoyed our trips there and always end up comparing our snorkeling and underwater experiences with that of the islands. It seems the majority of the Caribbean lacks the color and abundant sea life that Hawai’i has to offer.
Carpeviam, yes the sea life was abundant and in the lagoon right next to the resort there was a budding coral reef and every type of tropical fish you can imagine. Three weeks was not enough though. I need a lifetime there, but I’ll settle for the rest of this one.
I will probably never get to travel to Hawaii except in my dreams. The idea of having such wonderful food growing on such a small plot of land is so appealing. I’m so happy to hear that your hosts were generous and kind too.
timethief, if you ever get the chance, and you feel like it is something you want to do, do it. You won’t be sorry.
Having so much food within a handful of steps from where I was was an incredible rush, and it tasted so incredible.
Sigh!
What an amazing journey! And I get the feeling that you may return! Perhaps in the near future!
Gemma, yes it was an amazing journey and I’ll be back there for good sometime in September. In fact, the Island gave me a little long distance nudge a couple days ago, and another one today, which got me in gear to start finishing up things here and closing this chapter.
Oh how I envy you…all that time in such a beautiful place and then you come home to Wyoming. I love Wyoming…went there on family vacations many times. I wanted to thank you for taking the time to help me in the forum. It solved a big problem for me, so thank you very much. Welcome home, I look forward to reading all about it over the next few days.
Richard, it really looks beautiful over there!
Ah, so beautiful! I was on the Big Island myself 5 years ago and your blog brings back sweet memories 🙂 Probably once in a lifetime for me, 30 hours travelling (from the Netherlands) is not really my cup of tea … So it’s nice to see it again on the www!
Richard,
I left Hawaii at age 16 and am now 65. The beautiful thing to learn is that my home state is still as kind to people as it was when I was there.
lornakismet
Lorna,
Thanks, and yes it is kind, and magical and I look forward to being a part of that Aloha spirit.