BIG ISLAND VACATION

Wow! Awesome, incredible, sights from the "Big Island"...We returned last night from a six day excursion on the Big Island of Hawaii. Cousin Bruce and Vanessa were our tour guides. They had their honeymoon on the Kona Coast years ago and although they have business on the Island it was fun for them to just "Vacation"

We flew to Kona and traveled around the island to Hilo. We stayed at the Hilo Hawaiian which was beautiful and "open air" . The scenes were beautiful and with no insects in the islands the open air environment is awesome. On the way we visited Mauna Kea and the various observatories with incredible views. The ranger station is at 9500 ft elevation. You stop and rest at this elevation to get use to the altitude for 30 minutes before traveling to the top which is by dirt road and is 13,680 ft above sea level. When on the summit it is like being on another planet or the moon. (perhaps this was where Neal Armstrong really landed).

After spending two days in Hilo and visiting the Akaka Falls and Rainbow Falls we traveled to Lava Tree State Park and could see the lava flowing into the sea and also played on a "Black Sand Beach" We went to open air markets and ate some really great food at Kens Restaurant a real favorite in Hilo...everything on the menu was incredible.

We spent a day viewing and hiking at Kilauea Volcano. This Volcano really demonstrates how awesome mother nature can be and with all the sulfur dioxide spewing it makes Al Gores warming theory seem "CRAZY"..LIKE WE CAN SOMEHOW CONTROL PELE . This volcano has had 2500 degree rivulets pour into the 78 degree ocean waters since January 3, 1983 with this last eruption.

We visited the Parker Ranch which is the largest cattle ranch in the USA or maybe the world..(not sure) We stayed in Kona at the Outrigger Royal Sea Cliff. This condo was incredible with wonderful pools and views of the lava fields on the beautiful Kona Coastline. We saw where Captain Cook landed and also died. Queenie and Vanessa spent some time in the Hilton at the site of "DOGS WEDDING"...truly a national landmark.

A real highlight was meeting Jim and JD (JD is Allen's mom) Allen is dating Bruce and Vanessa's beautiful daughter Kanoe. Anyway we went to a house they own for wine and to watch the sunset. The house is high atop a mountain in Kona..the house is in a gated community and the guards not only check your ID but actually call the residence for permission before you can enter. The structure is unbelievable ..the house has been written up in magazines as the "Dolphin House" there is a huge statute of dolphins swimming in the "open air entrance foyer..u then see through the living room into a infinity pool that overlooks the Pacific Ocean at 4000 ft above sea level....because the structure has total privacy the house has been rented at times to notables such as Bruce & Demi Moore, and several professional athletes (Admiral Robinson Houston)...Charles Barkley etc......unbelievable!! We then dined at an unbelievable French Resturant La Bourge.

Sunday we attended church at the Mokuaikaua Church in Kailua-Kona Hawaii. This was the first christian church established in Hawaii. It was founded in April 1820. It was a very inspiring service...the people are so very nice. The beauty of the Hawaiian Islands make a person know a God had to have created this paradise.

Another great local restaurant where we dined was Likeke's located at 75-5909 Ali'i Drive Kailua Kona..We talked with the owner who established the restaurant in loving memory of his son Ricky..who now rest in Paradise.

Its hard to describe all the sights and beauty of this island but we will try and include photos for some examples...

We thank Bruce and Vanessa for all the fellowship and fun on our trip....it was incredible!

Connie and I are now back in Honolulu and getting ready for tomorrow's "tropical storm" Queenie seems to be getting into this "Retirement GIG"

ALOHA DEAR FRIENDS: