Island Tour - South to Black Sand Beach

Travelling on from the coffee plantation along the narrow and very winding main highway around Big Island we stopped near the southernmost point and saw this extraordinary tree.

The hills were much greener at this point as we approached the rainforest area - very different to the bare lava fields that we had seen around Waikoloa.  There are significant cattle ranches in the Central part of Big Island, exporting beef cattle on a weekly 747 flight to Canada, apparently.

Our next stop was at a black sand beach - a coarse, gritty sand, shiny and resembling coal dust.  The rocks showed the two types of lava that we had been seeing along the way - the rough surfaced lava which covers huge areas around Waikoloa and which looks as if it has just been broken up, known as 'a'a' 

and the smooth , molten looking lava known as 'pahoehoe', which looks like elephant skin.

The beach is famous for being home to the very large Hawaiian green sea turtle and there were several in the surf at the edge of the beach.

This picture which David took this morning at the shoreline near the hotel shows the turtle more clearly - they are 2-3 feet long and as ungainly on land as they are agile and swift underwater.

At the back of the beach was a freshwater pool filled with water lilies and an orchid or similar flower.

Island Tour - Coffee Plantation

We set off on an organised tour of Big Island this morning - first stop a Kona coffee plantation.

The beans, called 'cherries' when they are ready to pick, were at varying stages of ripeness..

Hawaiian coffee production is small scale and the plantation acted as a weighing station for other farmers to bring their beans for sale.  

The plants are quite close together on the steep slopes..

Perhaps because of this, the farm was reliant on fairly traditional forms of carrying the beans when harvesting..

Around the area of the coffee plantation which was high above the desert-like climate at sea level and very humid, other trees and fruits were growing in abundance..

Papaya..

Dates..

Avocado.. (on a very large tree)

Oranges..

Bananas..

African tulip trees ..

.and an odd plant that we did not recognise..

We sampled the coffee..

We then had lunch in the company of some quite exotic looking free range chickens and got back on the minibus to the next stop.

Anniversary Celebrations!

It is hard to believe that our lovely day with friends and family - some, sadly, no longer with us - was 30 years ago today.

Even though we are far from home in Hawaii, it was lovely to receive greetings and good wishes from so many people - thank you.

On our first walk of the day - around the lagoon - we were privileged to see so many green turtles - some swimming and some basking on the (very warm ) lava shore.

We took the shuttle bus to do some shopping and marvelled at the flowers growing around the shopping village, despite the heat and lack of soil.,

This afternoon we headed to the lagoon for a swim.  Protected from the sea, the lagoon is tidal and full of tropical fish and green turtles, but also a very pleasant place for a dip..

At 5.30 (sunset is around 6pm) we had a table booked at a restaurant overlooking the sea..

From our table we enjoyed the sea and the sunset..

All in all, a lovely day!

Exploring Waikoloa

It was only once the sun rose that we could see the view of the ocean from our balcony.  The mynah birds, roosting in the trees all around, started 'singing' around 5am but it was not light until almost 7 - the sun rising very quickly once it appeared.

This is the view inland from our room, on the edge of the golf course.

We walked to breakfast via the 'museum corridor' which is lined with art of all kinds - in this case an impressive collection of very tall Chinese vases.

On our way back we explored some more of the resort and went to look at the ocean.

The beach is beautiful but almost impossible to walk on as there is sharp black lava rock under the water and then fossilised white coral making up the beach itself.

We have planned some trips for later in the week and this evening went to a traditional Hawaiian Luau - an outdoor feast at sunset with entertainment by Hawaiian dancers and musicians.

The cocktails were good..

The food too..

A main part of the buffet is pork cooked in a traditional underground mud oven, wrapped in leaves.

The entertainment was very colourful..