Saturday, July 30, 2016

THE AUTRY

When you are the only two in the museum, you can take as many pictures in a row as you want.




Sunday, July 17, 2016

HAWAII 2016 SNOW

Little bits of our Hawaii adventure as seen through the lens of a Snow camera.  


Friday, July 15, 2016

LAST DAY in HILO

After the Botanical Gardens, we ate and drank our way through Downtown Hilo.

The Blue Hawaiian at Big Island Juice Co.  Just what we needed to rejuvenate on a hot day!

Felt like a kid again at Sugar Coast Candy

Had to make one last stop at Two Ladies Kitchen, DUH.

Before heading to the airport we made our way to Coconut Island to savor the ocean waters and strawberry mochi one last time.

This is what parks look like in Hawaii.

We came right as they were closing, so they packed us extra mochi!

Both the cutest and tastiest thing I ate on the trip.

<3 <3 <3 ugh.
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HAWAII TROPICAL BOTANICAL GARDEN

In the 1970's a business man and his wife bought 17 acres of property of what was once the fishing site Onomea Valley.  For eight years, he slowly made his way through the virtually impenetrable jungle by hand using cane knives, sickles, picks, shovels, and chain saws as to preserve valuable plants and tree roots.  Today it holds over 100 species of plants from around the world, carefully chosen and sculpted by the founder himself.  Here's to you and your beautiful vision, Dan and Pauline Lutkenhouse.

Though the Hawaii Tropical Garden runs on admission prices of $15 an adult, it is surely not to be missed!  The carefully sculpted paths, water falls, and flora leave a fond appreciation for nature in the tropics.



Like your walking through the jungle.





Cat Whiskers, my fave plant of the day.





These were the plants that I weeded while woofing.  Damn them.
Here they are in all their glory.


Andrew and I made sure to explore all the different trails by always turning left.  The paths led us straight to the ocean where we ate our bento lunch.


View for lunch.  The Twin Rocks... legend of lovers forever trapped in time.
Do you see them supporting each other through still waters and crashing waves?

Bento picnic from the Kawamoto Store.
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TROPICAL LEAF PATTERNS

Let's learn a thing or two about patterns from nature...




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Thursday, July 14, 2016

RAINBOW FALLS

As we drove into Hilo, we decided to visit Rainbow Falls before checking into our airbnb.

DAB.

Can you see a little bit of a rainbow?

Waterfalls water flowing back into the ocean.

Near the top of the falls.

Andrew decided to follow the unmarked path to the top of the waterfalls.  I, did not.

Can you spot him at the top of the falls?

He also decided to walk in the trees.  I, took pictures from below.

Do you see him?
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WAIPIO LOOKOUT and MASALDAS

By this point in our vacation we were pooped, so when we read that Waipio Valley Lookout was "minimal physical effort and maximum gorgeous views."  We knew this was the perfect next destination for the day.

A short walk down a ramp...

... and here is the beauty!




We opted out of hiking down into the valley itself.  Instead we drove to the nearby Tex Drive In in Honokaa which were boasted to have the best malassadas on the island.

Portuguese sugared and fried balls of fluffy yeast dough.  This one is filled with guava jam.  Like a doughnut, but +1.
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MAC NUTS, SHAVED ICE, and PANCAKES

We left our Kona airbnb in the early morning, to journey back to the east side of the island.  We drove north to visit the Hamakua Macadamian Nut Company. It's a worthwhile pit stop where you can fill up on samples of sweet and savory macadamian nuts, candies, and 100% Kona coffee.

Flavors included: garlic, spam, coconut honey, and Kona coffee.


They also have a small operation where you can see how the nuts are processed.

Tip: Fill up your sample cup with coffee or nuts on your way out.
Snack on them in the car.

Just around the corner from the nut factory was Anuenue Shaved Ice, which was recommend to us as the BEST shaved ice on the island.  Though the storefront was humble, the shaved ice and ice cream came in countless flavor combinations!


Lychee, melona, and ginger lemongrass flavors for $2.00!

My man and my sweets.

As we continued to head Eastward, we stopped by the quaint town of Waimea to eat at the Hawaiian Style Cafe.  We had their Kalua Pork Hashbrowns and Haupia Pancakes.  Outstanding diner style food, but the portions are more than way more than humanely necessary!

Pancakes as big as a baby.

Hand for size reference.  We didn't even finish 1/3 of this monster.
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