It's Called The Big Island Not The Tiny Island

THE BIG ISLAND

SHOVELING SUNSHINE

"My First Extended Stay In Paradise"

Kona

Coffee & Blue Hawaii

Kona has coffee; and where there is coffee there is caffeine, and where there is caffeine, there is Starbucks and the opportunity to do stupid things faster. Kona's ocean water almost always reflects a blue Hawaii that leaves me thinking "Where is the ukulele and Elvis sightings?"

"American coffee is 'dirty water' and Instant coffee takes too long. Kona, however, is 'Ono'. Tastes good."

Philosophy

Follow Your Bliss

We're on the Big Island, the west side, at the local Starbucks, for some Kona Joe, sitting with our friends cream and sugar. As Joseph Campbell says, "Follow your bliss"... Time doesn't exist in Hawaii but being stupid does (has its benefits). Ignorance is bliss.

"The irony of Starbucks being everywhere, even in Kona, has its gravitational pull on me - exerting almost cosmic influence on my life!"

Captain Cook

Spirit of Discovery

The weatherman deity god Lono's breeze whispers cool, like a pat on the back and blessing from Captain Cook's spirit saying, "Well done, you found out about this place. Now don't get yourself killed like me for being a stupid Haole."

"Kona is very inviting, leaving me curious, and with no other option but to stay a while because it's not called the tiny Island, It's called The BIG island - Volcanoes, Waterfalls and Rain Forests. Bring it on!"

Hello Hilo

Artistically Bohemian

Hilo is artistically bohemian, and in terms of authenticity, is the real deal - papayas, homemade jams, roasted macadamia nuts and koa wood carvings. The Banyan trees are worthy of a hug. It's the type of tree that moved me to tears of joy (For Real). I've often biked to Rainbow Falls too.

"That whole area - the nature, the land, the people speak, and it's easy to listen. They seem more resigned to the way they have to live than New Yorkers like me do."

Kilauea

Lava Rivers & Moon-Lit Magic

Hilo is so cool to sail to because, overnight, with a moon lit backdrop, we steam past Kilauea, the active volcano lava rivers spark and spill into the sea, and leave its aftermath of molten rock at the waters edge. Only the view from Maui's Haleakala offers such a once in a life time view.

"Something you probably never have seen before."

Biking

Volcanic Rock Adventures

I often took my bike (that I stored on the ship - You could have a surf board or a bike - cool!) I soon realized the terrain on the Big Island is a bit like the moon with all that razor-sharp geo-volcanic rock. It only took one time to catch a sliver of black volcanic rock and flat tire.

"I upgraded to flat-resistant tires and was good to go for the season and I was back to living happily every after in King Kamehameha's Kingdom - Don't worry Be Maui!"

The Tour

Seven Days of Paradise

It was on America Hawaii Cruises. Starting off with an embarkation day at Aloha Towers in Honolulu, then a sea day, and we hit Kauai, Maui (Lahaina and Kahului) Hilo and Kona. It was the best! The weather was always temperate and I had the most energizing and spiritually uplifting time.

"The definition of ecstasy is that you are not doing your ordinary everyday ho-hum existence. Shoveling sunshine in Hawaii beats a day at the office."