Friday, December 9, 2011

Dolphins, Sea Turtles, Exotic Fishes, Oh My!

Friday December 9th.
Ho'okena Beach County Park

Spent a couple of leisurely days hanging out at Kapa'a Park because it was quiet, dark and secluded. Love the north end of this island. Simple living where indoor and outdoor blend together as someone told me. My kind of living!

Then yesterday we wandered south through Kailua (Kona), the biggest city on the island. Expensive pizza, great stuff at the farmers market, more fuel and out of town. Too much.

Our park for the night is down a 2+ mile windy road to the shoreline. 1000 ft drop. Tucked in by the rock cliff in a sandy grove of young palms were a bunch of tents. But room for 2 more. And we keep running into people we met somewhere else on the island. It's a small island we're finding out:). And young and old are camping their way around it, like we are. Great fun. Sharing ideas and good finds!

Today was fabulous. Started with swimming in our cove at the campsite with dolphins right off shore. Then we went to Kealekakua Bay and rented a tandem kayak and paddled across the bay to the Captain Cook Monument. And guess who joined us? Ten to thirty dolphins. Pods here and there, all around us! Then at the monument we snorkeled in one of the best coves in all of Hawaii. OMG! Fish of every color and absolutely clear water! And there were people there that paid $130 each to do the same thing. We paid $20 each to rent the kayak.

Did some coffee sampling and walked through a tropical fruit garden. Fruit is EVERYWHERE!

And we visited City of Refuge, a Nat'l Monument where the kings lived. Quite special. And there we saw our first sea turtle paddling in shallow waters near shore! Incredible! So much to write, but this thumb typing is killing my basal joints!!!

Here's our sunset tonight as we celebrate a good day!




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