What better way to start our first morning on Big Island than to have breakfast at Lava Java, where you can look out over Kailua Bay while listening to live music.
My Waipio stack might look messy (maybe because I ate half of it before I remembered to take a picture), but it is even tastier than I remembered.
We walk past the ABC store during the short walk back to the hotel and of course we have to stop and browse the aisles for Hawaiian trinkets and snacks. I get that it's a tourist trap, really, but at this point it's like tradition and they sell some good stuff like Maui Caramacs, Chupa Chups lollipops and the most adorable turtle ear rings.
Ali'i Drive
Saffron Finch on the grounds of the Royal Kona Resort
A few more pictures of the hotel grounds. I love it here!
The view from our lanai ... who wouldn't want to wake up to that!
We head out for a fun afternoon of snorkeling at Kahalu'u, a shallow life-guarded bay with a good variety of fish that's great for taking pictures. On the downside it's a narrow strip of sand that's not the most picturesque and it can get pretty crowded especially on the weekends. We've gotten lucky and never had to wait long to be able to park and it's still one of my favorite places to go.
I wish we hadn't lost the underwater pictures, but thanks to this turtle hanging out right by shore I still have something to share with you.
The sun is setting by the time we're showered and ready to head out for dinner. One of the things I love about staying at the Royal Kona Resort is that there are so many great places within walking distance.
Ooh stormy weather moving in!
That's Sandy walking ahead of me.
Looking back towards our hotel
We decide on dinner at Bubba Gump. Their oceanfront outdoor seating is one of the best in Kona and it's perfect for watching the sunset.
First some sunset pictures from outside before we got seated. Hawaii has the most amazing sunsets!
For dinner I order the Shrimper's Heaven, a combination of coconut shrimp, tempura shrimp, grilled shrimp with my one alcoholic indulgence of the trip, a Lava Flow, frozen piña colada swirled with strawberry. Sandy has the Accidental Mahi, grilled mahi mahi over a bed of rice topped with shrimp and a Blue Louisiana Lemonade made with lemonade, vodka and blueberries that may have been even better than the Lava Flow. To be totally glutenous we have a Chocolate Chip Cookie Sundae for dessert.
In all fairness, the food is good, but not great. Still we come back year after year because of the laid back vibe and nice views. Not every meal has to be the best.
So cute with the Forrest Gump theme, torches and the view of the ocean, plus the "Run Forrest Run" signs are great. If you need any assistance for your server just flip them to red, "Stop Forrest Stop," and someone will be right there.
Kona doesn't have the art scene that Lahaina does, but it does have Kona Oceanfront Gallery that features work by some of our favorite Hawaiian artists like Tabora and Clark Little, as well as Wyland and DeRubeis. It's a great place to walk around and admire the colorful pieces.
Posing by the Wyland killer whale in the Hawaiian floral print dress I bought at the Aloha Stadium swap meet last year.
Guess who's waiting for us back the hotel? Pregnant fish!
When we first saw this fish we thought it was ready to pop, but there it is year after year looking exactly the same haha.
How can you eat that much in the morning?
ReplyDeleteYou and your chuppa chups. You know they even sell them here!
The sunsets in Hawai are beautiful.
Maybe the food doesn't taste that great, but it does sound great. The names are mouthwatering.
Nice dress Cat.
Till next time xxxx,
Joeve
I know they sell them in Holland ... I remember eating them when I was little! :-)
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