Hurricane Double Whammy?

Could we be in for a Hurricane double whammy?

On the Big Island of Hawaii, we are bracing for what happens when  Madeline and Lester move through. 

Right now (8/30/16 5 PM HAT) here in Waimea (Kamuela) the weather is not too bad.

View with a lava field in the foreground. It looks like churned up soil, but its lava rock.

View of Mauna Kea in the morning

View of Mauna Kea in the evening

The first hurricane is  not supposed to get here until tomorrow. 

I filled the big water sink in the garage with extra water and put a bunch of refilled plastic bottles of water (but not filled up because ice expands) in the freezer. So, if the power does goes out the food will stay frozen longer.  I think I need to get a storm lantern and check to make sure we have enough batteries.

The orange to pink colors in this hibiscus is mesmerizing. I just had to "rescue" it.

Check out my other blog, 

to find out how I keep busy.

As for the weather, I'll let you know how it churned out after Madeline and Lester move by.

Mahukona Beach County Park

Mahukona Beach County Park is one of my favorite places to go snorkeling.

Mahukona Beach County Park Sign

Driving north on 270 along the Kohala coast, Mahukona Beach County Park is about 12-13 miles north of Kawaihae on the west coast of The Big Island. 

As you approach, you’ll see a few abandoned buildings and warehouses. Mahukona was once a port from which the Kohala Sugar Co shipped its goods. 

Is it a shack in the shade, or is it a treehouse?

rusted out water tank

Panorama view of Mahukona Beach County Park

There is still a pier with a hoist. 

The pier with a hoist at Mahukona

 Yes, there is a ladder to get in and out of the water.

The harbor is filled with industrial debris which makes for some good underwater exploring.  

There is no sandy beach here.  Snorkeling the offshore reef is rewarded with an abundance of sea life. I just love snorkeling here and looking at the colorful variety of fish.  Click the link to see some of the colorful reef fish of Hawaii. 

rocky beach 

some lucky horses at a nearby ranch with an ocean view

An old abandoned vehicle in a nearby field

For more facts about Mahukona click the link:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahukona,_Hawaii

If you are interested in seeing more about what I do,

please follow this link.

Mahalo for visiting. 

Kona

Kona is one of my favorite towns on the Big Island of Hawaii.

View of Kona waterfront from Kailua pier

The swells were very high this day and kids were jumping off the pier into the water.  When the swell was as high as the pier, they could just pull themselves back. up onto the pier.

This is another place with more than one name:

It goes by Kailua-Kona, Kona, Kailua or sometimes, Kailuatown. I’m going to refer to it as Kona. 

Kona is right on the waterfront and it is almost always hot and sunny here. Especially after coming down from Waimea.  The most popular tourist area is  Alii Drive starting at the Kailua pier. It is busy with restaurants, shops and galleries. It is the place to take a stroll.

View of part of Kona waterfront. The greenish building houses a delicious seafood restaurant.

Kona town is on the west coast or lee side of Hawaii. This is the dry side of the island. It is sheltered from the trade winds by the Hualalai Volcano. The wind it does get are from wrap around sea breezes.  It is about 8 miles south of the Kailua-Kona airport. 

Hulihe'e Palace, where Hawiian royalty once vacationed, is now a museum.

Fancy palace gate

looking up an old driveway on Alii drive

view along the seawall

a kiddie beach right in town

Humpy's, one of the popular casual restaurants to grab a beer and a puupuu (Hawaiian for appetizer) with a view

view from Humpy's

On the 3rd Sunday of the month there is a market on Ali'i Drive. 

Kona has a spectacular 4th of July parade and fire works

just another little beach in Kona

For more facts on Kailua-Kona, click the link:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kailua,_Hawaii_County,_Hawaii

Aloha

Evening beach scene looking south towards Kona

The Town with Two Names: Waimea (Kamuela)

Parker Ranch Shopping Center in Waimea 

I live in a town with two names. 

The one name is Waimea the other name is Kamuela. There are two other Waimeas in the State of Hawaii so the Post Office named the local branch Kamuela, the Hawaiian version of Samuel. Named after Samuel Parker the grandson of John Palmer Parker the founder of Parker Ranch. To read more about the history of Parker Ranch, follow this link. 

About Parker Ranch

The 4th of July Rodeo at Parker Ranch has been a tradition for over 50 years. 

To see where Waimea is on a map, click this link:

Waimea is in the north central part of the Big Island of Hawaii

approaching the "Y" in the road just before Waimea

Late afternoon sunlit hill just west of Waimea

view of Waimea

the town of Waimea is just behind those trees

Chickens basking in the sun literally in the middle of town.

another hilly slope view of Waimea

Another view from my walk around Waimea

Waimea is at an altitude of 2,600 feet. The air is cool and it is often quite breezy. It is right where rainy side of the island meets the dry side of the island. Where we live you can have sunshine and then misty rain within a few minutes. 

Almost every late afternoon is graced a vivid rainbow. 

a perfect rainbow seen from the back yard

 The temperature here is usually in the 70s. At night it dips into the 60s. You don’t need heat or air conditioning. 

This is the house we are living in with Jim's work truck on the side.

This is the amazing view looking out of the garage.

We have an unobstructed view of Mauna Kea, the tallest mountain in Hawaii right from the back yard.

A delicious dragonfruit bowl

For more facts about Waimea (Kamuela) follow this link.

Life is good here, real good. I am so indescribably  grateful to have the opportunity to live in Waimea (Kamuela), Hawaii.

Note: if you send me a letter in the mail, use Kamuela. 

ALOHA

Welcome to Big Island Hawaiian Adventure

Hawaiian beach scene

Aloha and welcome to Big Island Hawaiian Adventure blog. I moved to the Big Island of Hawaii almost two months ago and I have taken hundreds of pictures and a few videos. This blog is intended to be my method of sharing photos and videos of my experience on Hawaii with family and friends. 

This post contains photos of my first impressions from the first few days I was on this lovely island. 

view of Kona 

The waterfront street in Kona is a fun place to take a stroll and to enjoy a delicious meal or drink.

Hapuna beach - a great place to swim

I like to go swimming here at least once a week.

a beach with lava rock

dinner music with hula dancer

Kawaihae harbor at dusk

a dreamy Hawaiian sunset

These pictures were taken during the first few days I was on the Big Island of Hawaii. The beaches are all on the west coast of the island along the stretch from Kona to Kawaihae.