Our carriage at San Jose airport

Ready to head to the Kailua Kona Airport on the Big Island of Hawaii

Our home for the week, 766280 Alii Drive, Kona. Want to rent it? See the VRBO page for it at the link: http://www.vrbo.com/35786

Lovely paddle boarder taking ff from the small beach right below our house.

Too bad that girl got right in my way when I tried to photograph the waves. Oh well, what can you do?

Our second sunset on the Big Island, right in front of the house.

A ripe coffee cherry torn open, with a little unwanted resident inside.

A wild Breadfruit growing on a roadside tree.

Part of the abandoned farming and fishing village at Pu`uhonua O Hōnaunau State Park.

Phyllis respectfully approves of the sacred Ki'i.

Deb enjoying herself just a bit on the ride out to the Manta Ray site.

At Halwawa Gulch Beach on the Northern coast, on Hapuu Bay. About ss far North as you can go without a boat.

Pu'u Maile seen from Kohala Mountain Road.

The Fam busy at work.

Dormant cinder cone

Lava flow on Kilauea.

On the tarmac at the Kailua Kona Airport, where everything is outdoors, even the luggage carousels.

View from the second floor balcony of our house, right on the water.

Our morning paddle boarder doing her thing in the cove by our house.

Watch out for floating Cageners

Our second sunset on the Big Island, right in front of the house.

The outdoor coffee drying beds at Greenwell Farms

A very tiny Gecko who tried to sell us insurance, along with a bunch of his pushy pals. He was quickly released as he had a commercial to film.

You have to be this bald to enter. Sorry hairies.

Palms at the royal fishpond, Place of Refuge.

Alan reads about the 20 degree temperatures in California as we enjoy the 75 degree morning...

Norfolk pine trees, also known as the “Hawaiian Christmas Tree", growing on Kohala Mountain Road.

Hawaiian cattle country. Doesn't look like, Hawaii, does it?

Leslie has cake envy.

A road that's been eaten by lava

The caldera at Kilauea.

Hey, we're tourists, what did you expect?

View of the pool an lanai from the second floor window.

This looks totally fake, with swimmers dropped in by Photoshop, but it's not! That's what it looked like.

I'll have a Phyllis, Deb and Lesile on the rocks, please.

The Greenwell Farms coffee plantation. Link: http://www.greenwellfarms.com/coffee-tour

"Apple bananas" on a tree at Greenwell Farms

Say that properly 20 times and I'll call you Hawaiian. We Haoles call it the Place of Refuge. Link below to the Pu`uhonua O Hōnaunau State Park. Fascinating back story, go read about it. LINK: http://www.nps.gov/puho/historyculture/index.htm

Sacred Ki's getting help in guarding the place of refuge.

Teensy tiny road near Keone‘ele Cove.

Phyllis and Deb working hard for us all.

Pine trees at 1500 feet on Kohala Mountain Road. This area of the Big Island is very reminiscent of Northern California.

"Oh children, Harley's birthday dinner is served!"

Leslie and Slim Jim

Lava flows near Kilauea.

Our first sunset in Kona, as seen from downtown by the seawall.

Mr Welch's staked out in his regular morning spot.

Phyllis "Flash" Howell reverse foot surfing....

Leslie and Jim enjoying the sunset outside our casa.

Coffee tree at Greenwell Farms

Gorgeous avocados growing at Greewell Farms

Descriptive exhibit at the Pu`uhonua O Hōnaunau, (Place of Refuge).

The Hale o Keawe, which in ancient times served as a royal mausoleum. Likely built around 1700. LINK: http://www.nps.gov/puho/historyculture/hale-o-keawe.htm

The Kona Ocean Adventures boat we're going night snorkeling on...

"Downtown" Hawi, in North Kohala, on the northern tip of the Big Island. Cute shops and stores, and so tiny... LINK: http://www.gohawaii.com/big-island/regions-neighborhoods/north-kohala/hawi

Paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) country in the Northern part of the Big Island, on Kohala Mountain Road.

Lee and Deb figure out the wine selection.

Phyllis and I get ready to go for a ride all over the entire Big Island with Blue Hawaiian helicopters.

Lava flows near Kilauea.

Spotted right off the coast by the town of Kona.

Morning view from the 2nd floor balcony.

Phyllis taking a punch from Neptune

Diana checking out the surf.

Coffee cherries, ripe for picking.

Awesome red flowers can't remember what they were called...

The Royal Grounds at Pu`uhonua O Hōnaunau, centered around Keone'ele Cove.

Caganerians.

On the Kona Ocean Adventures boat heading to the Manta Ray hangout spot. What a blast! By all means go see the short and amazing video of what we did at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DC2xke6H0xc (same video as above)

A King Kamehameha Statue, down the road from Hawi in Kapaau. LINK: http://www.gohawaii.com/big-island/regions-neighborhoods/north-kohala/kamehameha-statue-kapaau

Paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) country in the Northern part of the Big Island, on Kohala Mountain Road.

Fantastic fish tacos, among other homemade treats.

Heading toward the South towards the active volcano, Kilauea.

Lava flow on Kilauea. Those are entire trees, not branches.