Day 1 - Arrival and Malasadas

It is raining in paradise! Big storm is expected tomorrow, so this is probably the forerunner.

Connie took us to the airport yesterday and we got through security quickly - thanks to the fact that Mom uses a wheelchair, so gets expedited service.  We boarded on time, but we were about an hour late taking off due to sleet/freezing rain that occurred while we were boarding.  They had to check the wings for ice before leaving.  The pilot announced that due to head winds we would aim for Honolulu to save fuel, but would veer off to Kona.  When we got off the plane it was about 82, but there were ominous clouds hanging about.  It was about 4:30 by the time we were leaving the airport with the rental car. 

Before getting our luggage, I found a spot for Mom to wait near the curb with our carry-on bags.  I went to claim our suitcases, grabbed two of them, and while I was dragging them to where Mom waited I saw a woman with our other suitcase!  I said, "Lady, you have one of my bags." She looked a little shocked, but realized right away that was the case, so she dragged it over to where Mom was waiting.  Years ago I tied pieces of red fabric to the handles of our suitcases and that is what I spotted.  Apparently, our suitcase as well as the woman's both had yellow belts around them.  I dread thinking what we would have had to go through to get our bag back.  Mom wouldn't have had clean underwear.  Fortunately, all her meds and valuables were in her carry-on.

We stopped at the market in Kailua-Kona where I bought a couple of papayas and some bananas for our breakfast this morning.  We brought coffee, peanut butter and a few english muffins with us.  The market is open Wednesday through Sunday and their fruit prices are much better than in the grocery stores. The coffee has made a round-trip to Hawaii as it is Kauai coffee we bought last year and have kept in our freezer.

We are at the same condo as we were in 2012, but in the unit next door.  This unit is in much better condition than the other one, but since it is further  back, we don't have the ocean view we had before, which is a disappointment.  We have to lean over the lanai railing to see the ocean.  The furnishings are nicer, though they are dark and heavy. 

Since our first trip to Kona our tradition has been to have our first meal of a calamari sandwich and mai-tai at the Kona Inn.  We kept to that tradition last evening and were there for the sunset, which wasn't spectacular, but showed some pink and the breeze coming in from the ocean was nice.

We unpacked the necessities and went to bed early.

Today we got up early and had our breakfast, then unpacked and got somewhat organized. Then we headed up "Hump Road" - that's what we call Royal Poinciana Drive, which has 11 or 13 speed "humps" - to the main highway, headed for Honoka'a, at the north end of the island, and Tex Drive-in for malasadas.  Only someone from Seattle would drive 53 miles in the pouring rain for a malasada, but they are yummy and worth the trip.  We brought home a dozen and put them in the freezer. They will reheat nicely in the toaster oven.

For the uninitiated, a malasada is a Portuguese donut made from sweet yeast dough and fried, but unlike a donut, they don't have a hole.  Depending on who is making them they can be round like a ball, or square and flatish, which is how they make them at Tex Drive-In. The ones at Tex are light and airy.  I think if you could eat a cloud, they would be somewhat like a Tex malasada.  We first had them here in 2011, and have since had them on Oahu, Kauai, and Maui - even some in Seattle - and we think the ones at Tex are the best.

The last time we were on the Big Island two years ago, they had been experiencing a drought and everything was quite dry and brown, especially up on the plateau driving to Waimea, but I thought everything looked pretty green up there today.  The landscape we crossed today varied from coastal, urban tropical foliage to lava fields to high country grasslands to eucalyptus forest lands.  The road to Waimea crosses Parker Ranch, which at one time was one of the largest in the US, and is still one of the largest.

We drove back on the coast road so we could see some of the wave action as there were high surf warnings today. Because of this many of the beaches on the west side of the island were closed.

First stop on the way home was Costco.  It was a madhouse.  You think Costco at home is bad, come to the one in Kona!  Even though things cost considerably more here in Hawaii than on the mainland, Costco still sells rotisserie chickens for $4.99 and hotdogs with a soda for $1.50.  Next stop was Target (I figure they have to have the best security in retail now).  I find prices at Target comparable to those at Walmart, but it isn't as busy and is a better shopping experience.  Then back to the market in Kailua for more papayas and other fruits and veggies.  Finally, good ol' Safeway - as a Safeway shopper, there are just somethings I want to get only at Safeway.  I spent an awful lot of money, but considering what we'd pay for a mai-tai and dinner out everything night, I think we probably have saved a lot. Not that we won't go out for dinner occasionally.  After all that shopping, then putting everything away, I was sure glad I bought a take-and-bake pizza at Costco for tonight's dinner, not to mention the fixin's for mai-tais!

So it rained today, and it was cold, and we didn't even take our sweaters with us!  I was beginning to think they only have AC on the cars here - I was freezing by the time I figured out how to get some heat going.  The outside temp according to the car thermometer was as low as 62 and didn't ever get higher than 74.  (I know many of you are thinking "what is she complaining about it is 29 and snowing here today," but we are in Hawaii for cripes sake!) It was windy and cold up at Tex and everyone else was bundled up in hoodies, and we didn't even have a sweater. 

So it rained - we still had a good day.  We're in Hawaii. Life is good.  Aloha!