Today started with a kiss while we watched the sunrise. Then, we ate breakfast and went to Mauna Kea Beach, north of Kona. The Hawaiian beaches are public property so resorts on the beach need to allow public access to the beaches. Mauna Kea was such a beach and it was a little odd. The resort was designed for the golfing community and seemed luxurious, which probably explains the process we had to go through just to get to the beach. We had to stop at a security gate and get a parking pass with detailed instructions what we could and could not do. Then, there was a lady at the parking lot who asked to see our pass. The lady told us to “park in the lines, not on them.” There were just 40 spaces designated for public access. After we were more fully ostracized by having to enter the beach on the Public Access walkway to the far north side of the beach, the beach was ours.
And it was beautiful. Both beach and ocean floor were sandy and smooth. The snorkeling wasn’t great so we played in the water a while. While sunbathing, we heard there was a turtle near shore. We walked over and saw the turtle swimming out to sea, so it wasn’t much of a view. It got a little warm, in the low 80’s and we just aren’t the type to laze onto beach all day, so we packed it up. It was about 10:30 when we walked back to the car. The lot was full with people waiting to enter. I’m not sure we’ll go back to that particular beach again.
It was lunch time so we went to Waikoloa Village, after a short detour. We drove around the city looking for a restaurant but couldn’t find one and we were getting hungry. We already learned that lesson so when we drove past a golf course for the second time, we decided to go to its bar and grill. It was actually very nice. We sat in an open air room on the practice putting greens. Mike’s burger was adequate while my “lunch special” was really good. With full bellies, but mine still reminding me that I wasn’t 100% healthy, we returned to the condo for a nap.
After our naps, I use the plural because Mike ended up napping on a chair on the lanai, we decided to go to White Sands Beach. The beach looked full when we drove past it so we returned to Kahalu’u Beach. The snorkeling was better. There was no Shark Sited sign and I had warmed up to the sport so I wasn’t as nervous. Well, until a school of bright yellow fish decided to be a little too friendly. They got really close and it freaked me out a bit. Mike loved it. He had the camera pushed up to them and chased them around with it. A turtle swam by Mike and, we hope, he got a good picture of it. Mike also saw a spiny pufferfish, which freaked him out. It is an ugly fish that seemed to be interested in Mike.
The next thing on our agenda was dinner and that took some figurin’. Where to eat our anniversary meal? At some place we’ve already tried or someplace new? The good bet would have been the brew pub but we decided to take the risk and go somewhere new. We went to Quinn’s Almost By The Sea. I had their famous fish and chips, which was good. Mike had a chicken burger, which was big and he liked. Then, we splurged and asked for their dessert menu. That’s when the waitress said the magic words– Mac Nut Pie. I’ve been looking for it since I saw it on the Huggo’s menu our first night here and didn’t order it. Mike and I shared a piece and it was wonderful! Mike took a picture of me with my after-pie glow. We watched the sun set.
Wildlife Report Update: Two more turtles, lots of adorable geckos, lots of overly friendly fish including a spiny pufferfish, and a cockroach (we’re not sure if it was alive or dead).
