Janet's Hawaii Trip January 2007

Genny got to take Janet to Hawaii for a week in January 2007. This was a wonderful adventure and experience for Janet and Genny. Janet had never been to Hawaii before so she got the royal Hawaiian treatment with aloha spirit every day. Marah lives in Kona on the Big Island so that is where Janet's Hawaiian adventure was centered. Not only did Janet get to spend time with granddaughter Marah but Genny had an entire week of "mommy and me" time. Janet wanted to do absolutely everything in case this would be her only Hawaii trip.

Day One (Monday) was spent flying to Hawaii, getting our rental car and relaxing at Marah's house. Marah invited some friends in for dinner and Janet set the table (right) in Marah's back yard. We got used to the warm weather and humidity very quickly and it agreed with both of us. Shane and Genny's renter had just left their vacation house that was only about eight blocks from Marah so Janet and Genny got to stay there - having the whole house to themselves. Marah brought over a fold out bed, linens and some dishes and we were all set. Boy, were we tired this first night. It rained this first night (our only rain the entire trip).

Day Two (Tusday) dawned with sunny skies and everything clean and watered from the rain. Janet was up early, dressed and ready to go ... so we decided to spend our first morning out to breakfast and then try snorkeling.

Shane and Genny's favorite breakfast spot is on the water in Kona, called 'Huggos on the Rocks.' they have some of the best Kona coffee (Genny' favorite). We got a table right on the water (in the sand).

We planned to go snorkeling this first morning but before we got all undressed for swimming we took a beach walk to check out the snorkel cove - Kahalu'u Beach Park. Everything seemed to work well so we got all suited up for the snorkel.

Getting suited up to snorkel was easy but as soon as Janet felt the water she was not a happy camper. The water was much warmer than California but not like her jacuzzi. She felt really cold so we just stood around for awhile and sat on the lava - hoping to warm up.

What a great sport Janet was ... laughing the entire time. But, a full-on swim in Hawaii's ocean in the winter was not something Janet wanted to do. So, we took photos ... Genny was delighted to have the photos. As a marine biologist it was great fun to share with mom but at 83, snorkeling is not her deal but boy did she try. This was Janet's only ocean water experience ... for the rest of the trip we stayed dry. But, she has her 'hero snorkel pictures here.'

Janet's second night was spent at a luau put on by the King Kamehameha Hotel. Janet got to try poi, laulau, kalua pig, and various other traditional Hawaiian dishes. It was also fun to watch the Hawaiian dancers (even a fire dancer) after dinner. Marah's boyfriend, Matt, is an activities coordinator at a couple of the hotels in Kona so he was able to book us on several fun outings - this luau, and then a ranch trip and an observatory trip (pictures later).

Three generations at the luau - Janet, Marah and Genny ...

After the luau one of the dancers (who played a Hawaiian chief) turned out to be a guy who works out with Marah at the gym where they both are members. He paused here for a photo with Janet.

Day Three (Wednesday) was the day Genny and Janet drove south of Kona and went to a wonderful coffee farm (Kona coffee is just the best ever) as well as visited the City of Refuge (now called Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Park). This was the location of the residences of some of the early Hawaiian royals and also it was a place (on the other side of the wall) where Hawaiians who had done something that was tabu could come for absolution.

In the City of Reguge were various displays showing the history of the early Hawaiians. One area had a neat Hawaiian game on a black lava stone with white coral pieces for markers.

This third evening Matt and Marah arranged for Janet and Genny to accompany them to Kahua Ranch at the north end of the island. After a couple of hours of driving we arrived at one of the largest cattle ranches in the US. We had a great bar-b-que dinner and were entertained with rope tricks, branding (yes, Janet branded her own cedar shingle), and history of the cattle ranching in Hawaii. One of the most interesting things is that all the cattle are shipped live back to the mainland - many in boats (like giant cattle cruize ships ... with decks and decks of cattle) and some on an airplane. The airplane was converted to hold cattle only and on the first trip the cattle heated the air so much that the pilots had to take off their clothes ... it was close to 104 degrees - the cattle were fine but not the crew. So, from then on fewer cattle could be flown at once to be sure the airplane's AC could keep up. Such a fun evening and this 300 pound pig kept running in and out ... it was a pet at the ranch and thought it was a human ... Janet even gave it a pet!

Day Four (Thursday) dawned another sunny day and we had breakfast in our PJs on the lanai at Shane and Genny's house. We packed up and started the two hour drive to the south end of the island and east to the volcano.

Our first stop, before the volcano, was at Punalu'u Black Sand Beach. These black sand beaches are unique in the world and only a few are found along Hawaii's south shore resulting from the volcanic magma hitting the ocean and exploding.

Along the black sand beach two large green sea turtles had come out of the water. The green sea turtle has been protected in Hawaii for some years now and their numbers are increasing. We actually saw sea turtles in the water before this but it was too hard for Janet to see into the water so this opportunity was welcome and she got her 'up close and personal' sea turtle experience (although we stayed a good distance away so as not to disturb them).

Arriving at Kilauea Volcano (National Park) in the afternoon gave Janet time to nap before we ventured around the five mile diameter caldera. There is a wonderful self-guided drive along the edge of the caldera with stops at view points and steam vents. This picture is about a third of the way around the caldera from the Visitor Center.

Janet with Halema'uma'u crater in the background

About half way around the caldera, and almost exactly opposite the Visitor Center, is the Jagger Museum. We stopped here and walked along their viewing area. The museum is on the high side of the caldera rim with a great view down into this immense caldera (5 miles across). Janet is standing on the rim of the Kilauea caldera and the view is of the bottom of the caldera. You can see Halema'uma'u crater behind Janet which is in the bottom of Kilauea Volcano.

Day Five (Friday) started at the 'Volcano House,' where we spent the night, right on the rim of Kilauea Volcano and near the Visitor Center. We were up early enough to get a window seat in the dining room and see the sun's first rays lighting up the inside of the caldera rim. The day we were there the flowing lava was all underground and all viewing was from a couple of miles away (for safety) and then it was only to see where the lava was coming out along the ocean cliff. There was lots of steam though. So, Janet did not get to see flowing lava but she did experience one of the only active volcanos in the world where people can safely go.

On day five we had a couple of choices to make. We were about 1/3 of the way around the island at the volcano - a good two hours from Kona. We had originally planned to continue circumnavigating the island and drive the other 2/3 of the way (four more hours) to return to Kona from the north. This drive would take us to the wet side - Hilo, orchid farm and waterfalls. But, Marah and Matt had arranged for a trip up Mauna Kea to some observatories and the trip started earlier than planned. We needed to be in Kona at 1:30 ... so we decided we could forego the wet side, orchid farm and waterfalls and we picked the observatory trip. We were finished at the volcano and off to backtrack to Kona ... which was great as we were early enough for Janet to get in a long nap before leaving for the observatory trip. How glad we were to pick the observatory trip. It was one of our favorite adventures!! Thanks Matt and Marah for arranging this.

Our observatory trip was a nine hour adventure. We were taken by van up Mauna Kea to 13,796 feet above sea level. Yikes, Arrowhead is only 5,000 feet high so you can imagine how high we were. Our guide explained all kinds of history about the extinct Mauna Kea volcano and how, if you measured its height from the bottom of the ocean, it would be taller than any mountain on Earth. Thirteen observatories are built there from many countries. It is one of the best places on Earth to do astronomy. Not only is it high but there are no main cities nearby to interfere with light. And all cities on the Big Island have special street lights so as not to add light to the night sky to keep the astronomical observations pristine. We were given dinner and hot soup right before sunset ... got to watch the sunset from the top of Mauna Kea ... and then we came down to 9,000 feet to a visitor center, set up telescopes, and viewed the night sky with lessons from our guide and hot chocolate. We saw Saturn rising as we packed up to come home. Shane and Genny had been there in 1976 when there were only two observatories and Marah was 2 ... no visitor center or anything. Boy this was a unique opportunity and Janet enjoyed the entire experience without any problems by staying in the van, bundled up in the parkas they gave us to wear up on the mountain (it was very cold and there was snow at the observatories). Our guide talked and set up the telescopes near the van so Janet could hear everthing. Janet was worried about her breathing but never had a wheeze the entire time (although we kept her very quiet). Marah and Matt had been before and really enjoy this trip ... we recommend it for anyone - it is really different.

Day Six (Saturday) we spent with Marah. She took us to her work at Kukio and we had a great time seeing Kukio and learning about how this development is working to restore and maintain some of the original Hawaiian ponds and ecosystems as well as be a beautiful gated community.

Our last night we spent watching the beautiful Kona sunset from the lanai at Shane and Genny's house. It was just what we thought it would be ... such a great spot.

Marah cooked us a super farewell dinner and Matt brought a bottle of wine. We four celebrated the end of a most memorable week for Janet on this our last night. Genny picked 20 of the best photos (most of the ones on this website), had them printed at the one-hour Long's Kona photo center and presented Janet with a photo album (on the table in front of her) of her trip on this last evening so she could share when she came home with those who come to her apartment.

Day Seven (Sunday) was Janet's last day. We spent most of the morning packing and cleaning Shane and Genny's house. Marah helped us and started returning all the things she had brought over to make our stay comfortable (futons, towells, dishes, CD player, chairs, table, etc.) We said our last 'goodbyes' to Marah up at her house as she was leaving for paddling (above). This will be a trip to remember for Janet - especially being able to see her granddaughter in her own environment as well as getting quite the tour of the Big Island of Hawaii. It will always remain as a special memory for Genny - wow, an entire week with mom doing fun things. We both loved it and are so thankful everything went well, we were healthy, and the weather was gorgeous.

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