Change of Plans for Lava Man

[Dunbar]

Originally Posted by Honu

The snorkle spot at Hapuna is , if you are looking at the ocean go to left and park yourself by the cliff in the shade, when you go in the water just follow the wall to the left ( south) and you will see some coral heads straight out . If you just follow the wall you will see all kinds of stuff, Ive actually swam for about 20 mins with a Honu along the wall . Kona Coast state park is just a few miles past the airport on the left hand side , you have to go out thru the lava field on a pretty bumpy road but I have driven rental cars down there so its not that bad . They filmed return to blue lagune there and its just a white sand cresent shaped beach with usually not to many people there. Alot of time the Honu's come in to eat the limu( sea weed ) off the rocks to the left Ive even had them eat it out of my hand before. If things go well Ill be back living there in a couple of years, my mom wants to buy me a house there ( i think she is just scared im going to die riding horses). Ive never felt so at home as I have when I lived in Hawaii, its the best life and the aloha spirit is truly alive on the Big Island.

Mahalo for the info about Hapuna and the state park. I think I remember where the State Park is now. Didn't they put in a new ranger station there just a few years ago?

That's cool about feeding a honu by hand. Never tried that, but I've let geckos lick papaya off my fingers. Hey, they're reptiles, too! ;>) I love swimming with honu, trying to coordinate my arm motions with their flipper movements. They are so peaceful and graceful in the water. And then amazing when they drag themselves out of the water at Kahalu'u and rest on the sand for an hour or two.

Do you ever go up to the Mauna Kea observatory's Visitor Center? We usually do that on our way back from checking out the latest volcano action on the other side of the island. Driving the saddle road at dusk is always eerie, and rising above the clouds to the Visitor Center is gorgeous. Never been all the way to the top where the big telescopes are, though.

Agree completely about the aloha spirit. We seem to immediately shift into a different gear and attitude when we arrive at Kona-Kailua. Heck, the airport itself makes you smile. ("Hey, where are the walls?!")

Sun and breeze and water and wafts of plumeria at night. Life is so good there. Even the morays seem to smile.

--Dunbar