Family Adventure on the Kohala Coast

By Julie Z

Jan

3

Who gets to see a mammoth whale come barreling out of the ocean behind a group of surprised surfers? My children and I last Friday! We were on a “Mauna Lani Area” adventure to discover the Holoholokai Park and Puako Petroglyphs on Thursday night and Friday morning.

What did we find?

1. A secluded park (Holoholokai) wrapped behind The Shops at Mauna Lani and the Fairmont Orchid. This is a pretty swanky area of the Kohala Coast and to find a park with numerous picnic tables, BBQs and a stunning view of Maui, the Kohala coastline and the Kona sunset was a real treat.

We had a picnic dinner while we watched the sun set into the red voggy glow of Kona. It was high tourist season and there were only a handful of people there to enjoy this serene sight with us.

2. We went to The Shop’s at Mauna Lani’s free Polynesian hula show from 6-8 and enjoyed the way the hula troupe incorporated their entire family into the show including a ten year old and a three year old. My kids really enjoyed watching the keiki up on stage twirling batons and dancing to the pounding Polynesian beat. There were also fire dancers and women wearing coconut bras..yes, really. We sat on the terraced lawn steps in almost the front row, which gave my husband the chance to have one of the performers come up with a scary warrior stance and then shake his hand after the effect of shock was created. Pretty funny.

The next day the kids and I came back around 10 am and went out to the beach park. There we found a very easy to walk beach path and did some exploring. That’s when we saw the breaching whale. It was pretty close to shore and the splash he made literally created ripple waves for the nearby surfers. Then the whale flapped its fins a few times on the water to the delight of everyone watching. Glad to see the whales are back for the  season.

3. The Puako Petroglyphs were an easy walk from the beach park. As soon as we passed the sign that explained that these petroglyphs were created between 1,000-1,800 A.D., we were able to walk around a large circle where the most interesting and deeply carved petroglyphs had been cut out of the rock and placed for easy viewing. They were a showcase in cultural artistry. Another circular area contained a few more well placed carved stones and then we followed the path into the Kaiwi trees which led us through the forest where we found few more along the trail. I took a video so you can see it.

It started getting warm so the kids asked to go play in the fountains at The Shops. They had a ball playing with a toddler who was also there to cool off. The water runs in unpredictable spurts and this kept them entertained for awhile until the 4D movie started. After the movie, we got sushi from Foodland Farms, had a nice lunch and headed home.

When I asked the kids what was their favorite part of the day, they said the fountains, but educationally, I was glad that I took them to see the petroglyphs! My daughter made me laugh when she said a possible explanation for the petroglyphs could have been children carving into the rocks when their parents were out fishing! Who knows?

Things To Do in the Waikoloa Area For the Holidays

By Julie Z

Dec

9

Every Christmas, I take my kids up to the Waikoloa area when they are on break from school and let them experience the holidays at the resorts and shops in that area. I am going to write a few posts about  some of the fun things we have planned to do this year if you need some help with ideas for holiday adventures!

Starting with North Waikoloa:

1. The Shops at Mauna Lani – (My friend, Laura Kinoshita, is the web marketing pro there and gave me some tips to share with you)

First of all, many of my friends from Kona STILL don’t know where this mall is located. It’s about a mile NORTH of the Waikoloa turn off. It’s the same entrance you would take to go to the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel. As you are heading towards the hotel, look on your right and you will see the Shops.

My kids LOVE the Great 4D movie ride and they are excited about going up there during their break. Kama’aina Kids RIDE FREE during December-Cool, huh? Bring your kids up to the 4D movie ride and let them experience one of six different rides. The rides start at noon.

Yummy tip..the Foodland right next to the 4D ride has gourmet gelato by the scoop, so I am going to surprise the kids and treat myself, too..can you say MINT CHIP?There is also Juice 101 for healthy smoothies and they are opening up a taco restaurant, too.

Another feature that is quite entertaining is the water fountain at The Shops. It plays like a mini-Vegas show and the water is warm..hence, kids love to play in it. My son spent over 40 minutes in there one time! There is a dancing/chasing feature that little kids love because they don’t know where the water streams will burst from next. Good news: Even in December, the mid-day temps are in the 80′s, so kids can play in the fountain all year long.

If you are a tourist or visitor here, The Shops is doing a great promo right now for Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. If you go today until December 22nd, you can get a free appetizer up to $15 with the purchase of two entrees. Get your coupon here.

The Shops also has a FANTASTIC and FREE Polynesian Hula Show every Monday and Thursday starting at 6. The performance troupe, Te`E`a O Te Turama, have been performing for over 20 years and provide a show that is  just as good, if not better, than any you will see on the island. After the intermission at 7 pm, they perform a FIRE dance. How cool is that? Here is a short video clip of the fire dance portion of the show; http://bit.ly/tgmgeO.

My next post will be the petroglyphs and the Mauna Lani Christmas trees!

Top 10 Places You Can. Not. Miss. on the Big Island

By Julie Z

Nov

16

Who needs a guide book when you have seasoned explorers who live here! I have been on fire in taking visiting family members and friends around the island while they have been staying nearby. For the past three weeks, my husband and I have played tour guide and taken the knowledge we have gained from living here for the past year exploring the nooks and crannies of this island and shared it with our friends. Why just let them enjoy our favorite places when I can also share this information with you, my readers!? So, let’s start with #10 and end up at the BEST place you HAVE to experience while you are here. Ready?

#10-Volcano National Park-Most people would put this closer to the top as we have the only live volcano you can visit safely on the islands. It’s a VERY long drive from Kona and basically takes 11 hours to fully enjoy the trip down and back. I suggest this trip if you can spend the night in Hilo..or have some very patient friends who don’t mind desperately trying to stay awake while they drive the long dark road home back while you snooze peacefully in the back seat.

#9-Makelewena Beach. This is further down the list simply because it is so hard to get here. The beach is BEAUTIFUL and since hardly anyone is there, you may only see 10 people on the entire beach. The swimming is perfect, with some reefs for snorkeling and my kids just love the little bays they have to play in. You need a 4WD to get there from either of the two access roads, but we made it with our van on the easier road that leads to the State Beach. You can park your car and walk about 20 minutes to the beach across the lava. Like I said,,it ain’t easy, but it sure is worth the effort.

#8- Two Step-This is the bay right next to the Place of Refuge at Honaunau. (The picture shows Kealekekua Bay, which is right nearby) We take our friends who have at least SOME experience with snorkeling. The entry and exit from the water is a bit of a challenge, but the swimming, snorkeling and fish are EXCEPTIONAL. The coral is 20 feet down, so tourists can not ruin it by stepping on it, so the reefs are AMAZING and pristine. That means you can not stand up and readjust your mask or get a lay of the land like you can do at Snorkel Beach in Kona. You can see vast arrays of tropical fish here and if you come in the morning, the dolphins are usually in the bay, as well. We have had friends FREAK OUT when the 20 foot water gradually descends to 50 feet and all you see is deep blue. If you are scared of deep water, just don’t go out to the middle, stay around the edges and you will be entertained for as long as you can swim.

#7-Gourmet Coffee with a View-Java On the Rock

If you love a great cup of deep, rich and flavorful Kona coffee, come get a big cup and breakfast with a view at  Java on the Rock between 6 am-11 am.

The restaurant is owned by Bruce and Andrea and they grow their own coffee and hand roast it. Three Stone is my FAVORITE coffee! They are located on the ocean side as soon as you come into downtown from Keauhou.

#7.5-Cheap Pupus and Drinks at Huggo’s On the Rocks. At least for one night of everyone’s trip, we have to hit Huggo’s on the Rocks. The happy hour menu which goes from 4-6, let’s even the most cost concious traveler splurge for an evening. $4 mai tais and $3 beers along with $3 food specials makes this a fun and tasty place to watch the sun set with your feet in the sand. Great for that picture with your friends that you post to Facebook and make people jealous.

#6-Pololulu Look Out and Valley hike-Another GORGEOUS view and fun hike down to see the island’s stunning beauty. Located about 15 minutes out of Hawi, the trip down to the valley should be given most of the day to fully enjoy. If you can get here in the later part of the day and stay until sunset, you will not be disappointed. A photographer’s dream.

#5-Waipio Valley-Another all day adventure, and a place only accessible by 4WD. The beauty of the taro fields with the mountains as the backdrop will be etched in your memory for a very long time. We take our friends through the back end of the valley and drive through rivers to see the taro fields. We usually see the wild horses on the beach or on the road and the wildness and serenity of this valley are unmatched anywhere else on the island. The waves can be unpredictable and the terrain UNDER the waves is especially unpredictable. The river that feeds into the ocean has a way of changing the landscape around the entry point into the ocean, so go in carefully. I had the time of my life one time here body surfing and wish it was like that every time.

#4-Green Sand Beach-We just love this place. It takes a 4WD to get here and the road is an adventure unto itself. However, for the adventurous traveler, the climb down, the feeling of being on the only green sand beach in the islands and the waves crashing against the walls of the small bay is fantastic. We are experienced swimmers and body surfers and have quite a time here sometimes. Don’t go in if the waves are up and you feel unsafe. We have entertained a few friends who decided to sit it out and just watch us enjoy ourselves in the waves.

#3-The Four Seasons Resort at Hualalai. My guests were VERY impressed with the elegance, landscaping, pools and views from this resort. I love this place because the beach is NEVER crowded, so even if you are hanging at this swanky property, everyone is in the pool, not at the white sand beach or the little protected bay in front of the hotel. You can grab a beer here for $7 and just lounge and people watch and enjoy the sun and view. (You can also easily grab a $20 glass of chard here, too!) I would suggest checking out the fresh/salt water lagoon which has all kinds of tropical fish. Dining here is exceptional and this is where celebrities often come to get away from it all.

#2-Mauna Kea Resort beach view. The bay is gorgeous and the view from the lobby and terrace are stunning. I could lounge here all day enjoying the view. You can get tasty cocktails at the beach bar and go swimming here as a non-guest. You have to tell the guard at the gate you want to visit the beach and they will give you a guest pass if there are any left. If not, pay for valet, walk through the property and go swimming anyway.

#1-Kua Bay. I have now been to this beach four times in the past few weeks and each time our guests have said it is one of their most favorite beaches. I would have to agree. LOTS of fine white sand, BLUE water, plenty of room to put your towel down, sets of waves that challenge body surfers, but kids can play in the surf, too. The bathrooms are now working and so are the showers, which is fantastic after having them closed down recently. Easy access from the highway, parking without a guard scrutinizing you, and best of all, the whales are coming back for the season and this is a great place of on shore whale watching. (Last March I was diving under the waves and hovering at about five feet under the water and I could hear the mommas and baby whales singing. HEAVEN!)


Sam Choy’s Is Open and My Life Has Been Altered

By Julie Z

Sep

10

I know, I know..a restaurant opens and my life is altered..I know that sounds far fetched, but this is the story:

We moved to Kona in 2005 when the location, which is now the new Sam Choy’s, was occupied by a dumpy Wendy’s. A Wendy’s with a sweeping 250 degree view of the ocean. Everyone called it the only Wendy’s in the country with a million dollar view. It did not fit.

Then it went out of business and sat there…for years. It was a blight every time I drove down Kam III Road to our house. When we heard that Sam Choy, a famous local chef, was going to make it a Hawaiian fusion restaurant and really take advantage of that 800 foot view, I was thrilled. Not just because it’s great to be able to walk to a restaurant with the local star power of Sam Choy, but that someone would finally take full advantage of a space that has such a sweeping view of the ocean, the sun set, and the palm trees. And I can finally have a place to enjoy a cocktail with my friends and watch our famous red Kona sunsets without having to go to downtown Kona.

Did I tell you they have fire pits?

Fire pits looking out over a body of water so you can share some laughs with friends with a fire…I don’t know if it gets better than that for me. They have fire pits at Incline Village in Lake Tahoe and you snuggle there with your friends and watch the boats out on the lake. “Snuggling” near a fire in Kona seems kind of crazy, since it never drops below 70 degrees here, but sitting by a fire in shorts, sipping tropical cocktails is fine by me, too!

Opening Night

As I have been watching the final touches being applied to the restaurant, my excitement level has been rising. I see that there is plenty of outdoor seating. There are air walls so the entire restaurant is totally open to take advantage of the view. I drove by last night and the parking lot was full and people were holding glasses as they mingled on the patio. To me, it’s finally turning into the place that I had hoped for that space. I guess as I have been waiting for the recession to end, and the re-creation of that  space is kind of a like a bellwether for everything else. Maybe getting a drink at a fancy  new restaurant makes me feel that the worst is behind me. Maybe envisioning friends around a fire makes me feel that people can have some fun without always worrying about money. I don’t know, but it symbolizes hope for good times ahead.

Pictures this morning.

My friend Delania says I have been stalking this restaurant. This morning, I sure felt like a stalker! I went in on the first morning they are officially open and they are serving breakfast! ($2 pancakes and $2.50 for coffee!)  I took pictures of the famous cobalt blue bathroom sinks, the boat bar and yes, of course, the fire pits. I knew I would love it and I was not disappointed.

As an event planner, I just love cool spaces. This is going to be a place that I will want to hold events. My first one will be our upcoming Kona TweetUp on September 29th at 6 pm. I look forward to sharing drinks, Hawaiian fusion pupu’s, knowledge, fun and a glorious sunset over Keauhou on that night.

Thanks Sam for believing in Keauhou and that little beautiful spot up on the hill! Good luck in your endeavors!

(Side note: Dinner entrees are around $25. The cool thing is that you can get six different wines for $5 a glass. Sam hit the “enjoy what you can afford” nail on the head.)

Sam Choy's Kai Lanai on Urbanspoon

Why the Big Island Is A Terrible Place To Live

By Julie Z

Jun

28

When my family and I decided to move here a year ago, we thought we would only be here for one year. However, due to the fact that we love it here, we have found deep friendships and have made business contacts so we can find employment, we have decided to stay. So, you ask, why the title of this post? Mixing it up. Watch:

The Big Island is a terrible place to live because:

1. You send pictures of what you did on the weekend to your friends on the mainland and they write things like, “I used to like you”, “Stop, you’re killing me!” “Can’t you please keep it down?”

2. Once you stay here for any length of time, you feel the energy of the land and the people. When you leave the island, you can’t shake the feeling that you are missing a part of yourself.

3. You can’t imagine going back to a major city center. I used to love going to big, fancy shopping areas, watching movies in big theaters with hundreds of fellow movie goers, and watching people wearing the latest fashions. Now, I can’t imagine dealing with the traffic anymore. I can now show up 5 minutes late to a first run movie and get a good seat. Fashion does not own me anymore. I used to work to afford expensive shoes, the latest seasonal dress, and new suits. I wear sandals and flip flops, shorts, tank tops and on occasion a sun dress. I don’t spend much on clothes anymore, and with the extra time I have not working to afford it, I sit on a beach with my kids.

4. You have to drive slow. And let people in. You actually have to relax on the highway, because since many residents practice the Aloha Spirit while driving, there is very little, if any honking. Most people who ride people’s bumpers, are from California on their way back to the airport.

5. You can’t rest when it’s a blue day. Since you always feel like you are on vacation, its VERY difficult to look outside from your computer and not have the feeling that you should be out swimming. Or running. Or surfing. You feel the same way about laying around in your house with a book. You feel guilty that you are not out enjoying another day in paradise.

6. You can’t get anything done when people come to visit. If someone came to visit us in the Bay Area, they usually had other family members or friends to visit. Or they would come for dinner and go about their trip. Here, they live next door to us for a week. And since we are the consummate lovers of adventure and travel on this island, we can’t say no to taking friends and family to the best snorkeling spots, dining with a sunset view and sharing umbrella drinks, coffee farm tours or 4 Wheeling to remote beaches. Nope, your days are shot.

7. You meet people who make you re-evaluate your diet. There are MANY organic farmers on the Big Island. They talk about pesticides, genetically modified seeds, and commercial farming and livestock handling and how that affects your health and your spirit. You don’t realize it all at once, but you find yourself touring local farmers markets and giving tropical foods a try. You purchase island grass fed beef, no GMO dairy products from island dairy farmers, and you think about planting a garden yourself and growing vegetables. You find yourself blessing your food and really understanding where it came from. Isn’t that crazy?

8. Sunscreen? Hats? Swim shirts? You better have plenty because you find yourself walking on sunny trails, strolling through bright outdoor markets, swimming in tide pools, reading on a beach, driving in a convertible, exploring a Volcano or heaven forbid, hiking down into a sacred valley.

9. You can’t wear big, fat, heavy coats. Or thick scarves. Or shovel snow out of your driveway. Or have your car skid on black ice. (caveat..unless you go up to Mauna Kea above the 9,000 foot visitors center. Then all bets are off on the above complaint)

10. You can NOT commiserate with your friends on Facebook or Twitter when they say things like, “It’s going to be 114 degrees today in Scottsdale” and another says, “It’s 112 here in Tucson” and then finally from Phoenix, “My car thermometer says it’s 120. Please, kill me now”. Nope, you can not jump in there with a knowing statement. Conversely, you can only offer condolences when your friends send pictures of the four foot snow drifts left by a recent blizzard.

11. And the last thing I have to say about why this island is a terrible place to live…you see people standing on the walk way outside of the hotels and resorts with their bags packed waiting to go home. And you feel sorry for them.

Favorite place for Kona coffee and a view!

By Julie Z

Jun

12

Goin’ Places With Addy!

By Julie Z

May

3

4 wheel adventurin’ was not the first thing on my list when we first decided to move back to the Big Island. We came with our mini-van and my husband was given a golf cart to drive when he became a resident manager at our complex.

The 4 WD concept hit hard when our friend, Nancy, invited us to go to Green Sand Beach with her last October. My husband got to drive her truck as we managed to get over all the bumps and drops on the way to the beach. (that road is just difficult no matter what kind of 4WD vehicle you own!)

When we got home, my husband realized he had the bug. He wanted to purchase a truck of his own so we could explore more of the island as a family and “go deep” onto the island’s off-roading trails. The opportunity to purchase a used Toyota 4 Runner from Hilo arose in January, after months of internet research and Craigslist shopping.

We found “Addy” in the garage of an affable man in Hilo who needed to move on to another vehicle. The broken seat, aged interior and need for some love and restoration beckoned my husband, who looked longingly at Addy as a project/hobby he could talk to all of his friends about.

It is now early May, and five months later, Addy has a had a complete overhaul. Not to bore the ladies, I won’t go into the replacement of the front suspension, the steering components, the entire interior, and the unexpected, too, like the radiator. The one thing I did want was a MP3 player, so I could sing with the kids to my favorite hits of the ’70′s and ’80′s!

What I WILL say, is that my husband boosted the power and the comfortability of the truck. We have now bounced along roads to Green Sand Beach a few times, down a 25% grade road to Waipio Valley, the 5 mile Un-Road to the Sea, Kona State Park, Pine Trees, and a hidden black sand beach north of the airport. This is  where he drove on pahoehoe lava and there was NO road! (I got out and walked..which I have done a few times now, as he tackles road hazards I don’t want to be part of as a passenger!)

My husband is celebrating his birthday this week. He did not want a present. Instead, he asked that he be allowed to put new “knobby” tires on the truck and he ordered a bikini top for Addy so it will be almost like an open air jeep..just what we need when we are either in a sand storm at Green Sand Beach, freezing up near Mauna Kea, or in the sun parched lava near the beach. (my request for a sparkly purse for my birthday was met with, “And where are you going to actually use that?”..can I say the same for Addy’s new bikini?)

Addy has given our family some memorable road trips that our kids will share with their kids. I can hear my son..”When I was a kid, living on the Big Island of Hawaii, my family and I would pack up our brown 4WD on Saturdays and take off for an adventure that my dad found in the “Big Island Revealed” book….”  I am sure my husband and I will cruise down memory lane and recall the dirt roads, beautiful beaches, serene vistas, rockin’ tunes and screeches from the back and front seats as passengers yelled out in surprise from being tossed sideways.

Addy’s next adventure will be along the “Mana Road” up at the 9,000 foot level along Mauna Kea..I am trying to get up there before her bikini shows up.

Sharing Kalopa Camping With Homeless Keiki

By Julie Z

Apr

7

I was so moved by the beauty of  Kalopa State Park and how much my kids LOVED it there, that I want to be able to help other kids have a chance to experience it.

Project Hawaii is holding a Summer Camp for Keiki this July at the Kalopa State Park cabins. They are working to send 24 homeless children between the ages of 4-7 to this camp for a week. There will be nature walks, science games, arts and craft projects, and lots of teens who will help mentor these special kids.

I want to help by raising funds to pay for the costs to get the kids there and feed them nutritious meals while they enjoy days of outdoor fun.  To do this, I am holding two social media seminars in Kona. The first one is called:

The Good, Bad and Ugly-Who’s Using Social Media for Business Right and Why on the Big Island.

Thursday, April 28th at the West Hawaii Association of REALTORS located at 74-5620 Palani Court #106 in Kona from 1:00 pm-2:00 pm with 30 minutes of open Q & A.  I will share a powerpoint presentation with screen shots from various businesses using Facebook business pages, Twitter, WordPress blogs, Yelp and FourSquare. I will also be giving some marketing ideas for individual business owners who attend.

Cost of this social media seminar is $20 and 100% of the proceeds will go to Project Hawaii to help the kids at camp.

My friend, Jenn Windsor Ball, owner of MooBettah Frozen Fun , is providing Tropical Dreams ice-cream with a topping bar after the event to the attendees of the April 28th class! Thanks Jenn! (Actually-this has been changed–expect home made cookies!)

Space is limited, so if you would like to come, learn about social media, have some tasty ice cream and support homeless kids at camp, email me at julie@ziemelis.com. You can find out more about the good works Project Hawaii is doing at www.ProjectHawaii.org, too!

One of the cool species of funghi we discovered in the park..

Kalopa Campgrounds Immerse You in the Ancient Hawaiian Forest

By Julie Z

Mar

29

My family and I ventured up to the Kalopa Campground, located above Honokaa, this weekend and was blown away with the Ancient Hawaiian forest! We did learn that you need to contact the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources to get a camping permit at least seven days in advance. Here is a link for a “Wiki Permit” You will thank me for this later.

We got up there and thought we could catch the caretaker and get a permit to stay in the cabins on a Friday afternoon. Nope. We ended up sleeping in our truck!

The forest made the tight sleeping quarters worth it in the end.

Kona Tsunami A Wake Up Call for Perspective

By Julie Z

Mar

15

Have you ever been fortunate enough to experience a natural disaster first hand? An earthquake, forest fire, tsunami?  I say “fortunate” because only by actually experiencing the loss, the sadness and the knowing that something that was there yesterday, is no longer there today, can you feel compassion towards others who go through it.

I was in the Bay Area for the Loma Prieta Earthquake in October 1989. However, besides losing a water heater in our garage and cleaning up some broken dishes, it was not that bad. (although the sense of disaster was in the air for days after that as everyone existed in a shared state of shock).  I also have a family home in Lake Tahoe that was less than a 1/4 of a mile from being burned by the Lily Lake fire in 2007. Seeing the neighborhoods decimated by that fire and the mountain sides that still have acres of burned forest made us feel like we missed a bullet.

Now, we came within 50 feet of losing our home to the tsunami that hit Keauhou/Kona on March 11th. Again, I missed the bullet, but again, we still live in an area that saw its share of overall devastation. Our beaches are ruined and businesses demolished.

The feeling of shock is just now starting to dissipate as the Kona businesses block off Alii Drive in downtown and get to work fixing the street, mucking out the sand and debris that swirled around inside their stores for hours and get ready for a public event on Sunday to show everyone “Kona Is Open For Business”. The county has poured mounds of sand down at the Keauhou Bay beach and the Keauhou Canoe Club members are working down there today to get the place cleaned up.

It is seeing this level of determination by the business owners, the county workers and the residents to move on that makes me have hope for those in Japan. They have suffered far worse than Hawaii, both ins property destruction and loss of life. However, when I saw the pictures of people looking for their homes in what was left of their neighborhoods in Japan, I have a clearer sense of compassion after seeing our beach get swept away last week along with the buildings we walk past each week on our way to get some coffee at the Sheraton.

I went down to “H” Bay this morning, located right next to Keauhou Bay. The little hidden Hawaiian village we recently discovered down there when they cleared out the foliage a few months ago is ruined..(if you can say that about ruins being ruined.)  The fresh water springs that were carefully constructed with lava rock walls by the ancient Hawaiians were filled in with rocks, coral, sand and debris.

Gone. Only when you have been in a disaster do you truly understand that feeling of  ”GONE”. And not just “Gone, let’s rebuild it again” like we did in the Bay Area. Gone are things that you can’t rebuild. Like the huge tree near that beach we created memories on with our six year old and now that tree is in pieces 50 feet away from the water with coral crushing it.

I am glad it was not my home that was taken from me. But walking around looking at tires hanging from trees and the smell of the rotting debris, fish and coral is something that newspaper pictures just don’t and can not capture. I think about our “island brothers” in Japan and I mourn for them. The folks in Kona are coping by doing the only thing you can do:  start picking up, sweeping, and hauling. The landscape has changed, but you move on. And you have a lot more compassion for those faces in the paper.

Here is the video we took when we walked down to Keauhou Bay the morning after the 12 foot wave hit the beach. We were surprised that the ocean was continuing to surge in and out for a few hours…causing even more damage as the walls and structures were undermined by sand and rocks.

Keauhou Tsunami