After the early starts the previous few days, it was almost pleasant to have a slower morning if it wouldn't have been the final day in Hawaii. Some extra coffee and quiet time is good for reflection. Looking at weather for travel home, it was humorous to note that it is actually colder in Hawaii than at home. We also had a bit of morning rain; this is good, as it means we had some rain every day while in Hawaii.
We spent some time making the Hideaway clean and organized before we left. We followed the notes and instructions, but once most of our stuff was packed, there wan't that much else to do. We made sure to leave the sponge in the kitchen... Checking and double checking everything, we headed away from the Hideaway for a final time.
Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Company was just a short drive down the road so we stopped there for the tour. Coming into the farm, we first saw many trees we later identified as papaya trees. These fruits must grow prodigiously in Hawaii since they are nearly free at the grocery store. Then we went past a couple miles of macadamia trees.
The tour at Mona Loa Macadamia Nut Company is short, looking through the window at the production area with a couple video monitors to give additional information. It only takes a few minutes and was worth a stop on our way out.
The visitors center has free samples and they seduced us to buy some nuts. That is probably the point of the tour for them. The wasabi and teriyaki nuts were crazy good, but don't taste very much like wasabi or teriyaki.
The tour at Mona Loa Macadamia Nut Company is short, looking through the window at the production area with a couple video monitors to give additional information. It only takes a few minutes and was worth a stop on our way out.
The visitors center has free samples and they seduced us to buy some nuts. That is probably the point of the tour for them. The wasabi and teriyaki nuts were crazy good, but don't taste very much like wasabi or teriyaki.
We drove through Hilo and headed up Mauna Kea. We've driven this road several times already, but this time we headed up to the Mauna Kea visitor's station. The drive there from Saddle Road is narrow but paved and is one of the steeper roads I've ever been on. I was expecting a information, pictures, and other interesting bits about the astronomy that goes on top of the unique observatory and there was a little bit of that, and they did have one telescope set up. But the location appeared to be more of an outpost for hiking than anything to do with astronomy - which was a little disappointing. We looked around for a few minutes before heading back down the steep road.
On the way back down, the wet side - dry side of the Big Island was evident as in the Hilo direction, the road descended into clouds.
While on the Kona side, it was quite clear by the standards of what we've seen for the last several days.
On the way back down, the wet side - dry side of the Big Island was evident as in the Hilo direction, the road descended into clouds.
While on the Kona side, it was quite clear by the standards of what we've seen for the last several days.
Hawaii is the only place in the United States that grows coffee and this was a rare opportunity to see how it is done. We'd driven past several coffee growing operations in the trip, and we decided to stop for the free tour at the Hula Daddy Coffee Company. The tour lasted about 20 minutes and was quite educational. Having quite an interest in coffee, most of the information I knew, but seeing the artisan operation was fun and there were free tastings of several of the coffees available. Most surprising was the tea that they make from the dried coffee cherries. It was tannic and almost astringent, but a good use of something that is often discarded or used for animal feed or fertilizer. The taste was uniquely good in its own way, but probably not my cup of tea (pun intended).
After a lunch at the Big Island Grill (good, but the Kalua Pork doesn't compare to Kuhio Grille), we headed up the coast a ways. Traffic was totally bonkers at first, until we got about 10 miles or so away. We stopped at a few parks on the way, one of which was a couple mile back one of the worst roads we'd been on so far (we didn't make it all the way back).
We stopped at the interpretive park we had previously been at when on the motorcycle, but it was to close a few minutes after we got there.
Our final stop was near the north point of the island at a gritty county park. It looked like a former industrial dock that was recommissioned as a park. The park had mostly locals in it and some impromptu campers. We hiked around the area for a short while, but looking at the clock, we decided that given the traffic towards Kona and the airport, it made sense to head back to avoid rushing at the end.
I took one final picture - the last wave in Hawaii, before leaving.
Once back at the airport, the rental car was returned. In total, we drove 1700 miles around the island which is a crazy amount for just over a week, but every mile was worth it as part of the adventure.
Getting to the airport, it felt like an encounter in a third world country. No flights were scheduled to leave for a while and both the ticket counters and security checkpoints were closed. People were sitting and standing all around just waiting. Most of us just took it in stride and enjoyed a little island time. Some people were unnecessarily grousing...
I had some issues getting through security as the reader wouldn't accept the bar code on my phone. Still appearing like a third world country, none of the kiosks to print tickets were working either. I politely asked TSA to try again and he allowed me through after verifying me with another scanner. My guess is that would not have happened if I started screaming about it. Being nice and early usually pays.
There was quite a wait in the airport, but eventually, we were up into the sky aboard a 757 headed back to the Mainland USA. Switching planes in Phoenix, we ended our flying with all four flights going without incident. Driving back from Detroit was painful as we were both tired and hungry from the travel and lack of real food for about 24 hours; getting home with a Little Ceaser's Pizza felt great.
The travel did allow a lot of time for reflection. Before planning for the trip, I was worried Hawaii would be cheap grass skirts and plastic leis. I expected white sand beaches and palm trees, yet I'm most definitely not a lay-around-the-beach kind of guy.
What I found was something totally different. Drinks in plastic coconuts on cheap Formica with hula statues nearby may exist in Hawaii somewhere, but I think one would have to look for it. If someone goes to the Big Island hoping for great beaches and palm trees, they will be disappointed - although both can be found.
Most of the trip was about volcanoes, hiking, mountains, jungles, stark lava flows, coqui frogs and awesome craggy shorelines.
Most importantly, the goal of riding a motorcycle through all 50 states has been completed.
I also thought about a question Sawyer had posed on the fishing trip, "So, do you guys think you'll be coming back next year?"
Almost certainly No. Despite issue-free travel (with the exception of the ice-drive to Detroit), the pain and expense of getting to Hawaii is prohibitive. I went, knowing that Hawaii would be a once-in-a-lifetime trip. On further reflection, returning to the 50th state could happen. The volcanic activity seems to be at a recent historical low. Even Pu'u O'o was not very active as evidenced by the update from the National Park Service: "Lava flows from the past few days were inactive within Puʻu ʻŌʻō crater."
But some time in the future, when Pele wakes up a little more and the volcano allows for an up close and personal encounter with lava, I may be back. That would be a totally different adventure...
After a lunch at the Big Island Grill (good, but the Kalua Pork doesn't compare to Kuhio Grille), we headed up the coast a ways. Traffic was totally bonkers at first, until we got about 10 miles or so away. We stopped at a few parks on the way, one of which was a couple mile back one of the worst roads we'd been on so far (we didn't make it all the way back).
We stopped at the interpretive park we had previously been at when on the motorcycle, but it was to close a few minutes after we got there.
Our final stop was near the north point of the island at a gritty county park. It looked like a former industrial dock that was recommissioned as a park. The park had mostly locals in it and some impromptu campers. We hiked around the area for a short while, but looking at the clock, we decided that given the traffic towards Kona and the airport, it made sense to head back to avoid rushing at the end.
I took one final picture - the last wave in Hawaii, before leaving.
Once back at the airport, the rental car was returned. In total, we drove 1700 miles around the island which is a crazy amount for just over a week, but every mile was worth it as part of the adventure.
Getting to the airport, it felt like an encounter in a third world country. No flights were scheduled to leave for a while and both the ticket counters and security checkpoints were closed. People were sitting and standing all around just waiting. Most of us just took it in stride and enjoyed a little island time. Some people were unnecessarily grousing...
I had some issues getting through security as the reader wouldn't accept the bar code on my phone. Still appearing like a third world country, none of the kiosks to print tickets were working either. I politely asked TSA to try again and he allowed me through after verifying me with another scanner. My guess is that would not have happened if I started screaming about it. Being nice and early usually pays.
There was quite a wait in the airport, but eventually, we were up into the sky aboard a 757 headed back to the Mainland USA. Switching planes in Phoenix, we ended our flying with all four flights going without incident. Driving back from Detroit was painful as we were both tired and hungry from the travel and lack of real food for about 24 hours; getting home with a Little Ceaser's Pizza felt great.
The travel did allow a lot of time for reflection. Before planning for the trip, I was worried Hawaii would be cheap grass skirts and plastic leis. I expected white sand beaches and palm trees, yet I'm most definitely not a lay-around-the-beach kind of guy.
What I found was something totally different. Drinks in plastic coconuts on cheap Formica with hula statues nearby may exist in Hawaii somewhere, but I think one would have to look for it. If someone goes to the Big Island hoping for great beaches and palm trees, they will be disappointed - although both can be found.
Most of the trip was about volcanoes, hiking, mountains, jungles, stark lava flows, coqui frogs and awesome craggy shorelines.
Most importantly, the goal of riding a motorcycle through all 50 states has been completed.
I also thought about a question Sawyer had posed on the fishing trip, "So, do you guys think you'll be coming back next year?"
Almost certainly No. Despite issue-free travel (with the exception of the ice-drive to Detroit), the pain and expense of getting to Hawaii is prohibitive. I went, knowing that Hawaii would be a once-in-a-lifetime trip. On further reflection, returning to the 50th state could happen. The volcanic activity seems to be at a recent historical low. Even Pu'u O'o was not very active as evidenced by the update from the National Park Service: "Lava flows from the past few days were inactive within Puʻu ʻŌʻō crater."
But some time in the future, when Pele wakes up a little more and the volcano allows for an up close and personal encounter with lava, I may be back. That would be a totally different adventure...
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