The Joys of Retirement Production Company

A storm from the north hit the northern islands Wednesday night and waves from it are hitting all of Hawaii now, even the west shore of the Big Island, where we are. 8 to 10 foot breakers, but they look higher in person!

We did a dolphin swim today and had a wonderful added treat, a Manta! The video will follow, as I got a migraine after the trip so rested all afternoon. Here are some stills from our great trip

Here is a 2 minute sample of our excursion. https://youtu.be/UbryLvq2pa0

There is a wood carver here at the hotel named ‘Auhi’a whose family has carved Tikis, Turtles, necklace,  and other souvenirs.  His family carved and gave the giant Tiki to the Royal Kona that greets you as you enter the drive.     The lockout devastated his family business,  as it has many family restaurants and businesses all over the islands.   I loved this fish hook and Auhi’a personalized it with the honu, the sea turtle, his name and the year on the back.   The wood is curly koa.  I will add some more pictures later of other objects he has carved.   it will be a wonderful addition to our carved hawaiian wood articles at home.

I’m practicing with the GoPro today in the little lagoon, getting ready for a great fun experience this week… stay tuned. Here my refresher video, reviewing all the buttons on the camera, uploading the video, and using the quick editing program etc. I haven’t mastered picking the music tho….🤑

The kids all sent me this gorgeous tropical bouquet! It will really brighten our room! Thank you, Liz, Laura, Mark, and all the grand and great grand kids!

Huggo’s is closed Monday and Tuesday so we began celebrating a day early. Fritto misto, calamari and shrimp, I had a wonderful macadamia nut crusted mahi mahi, but devoured it before the picture. Birthday key line pie!

When high tide is early we have our coffee listening to these waves, with this spectacular view

We visited the local Salvation Army thrift store and purchased a full size coffee maker – $10! And all the snorkel gear for both of us, fins, goggles and snorkel plus a net bag to carry them, $36! Just need a couple pair of water shoes. We needed A couple plates and bowls for breakfast eating in the room! We did our fresh market shopping at the local farmers market for papaya and the small Apple bananas, as they are called and visited Walmart for water, Milk, yogurt, and some snacks. Our next, and most important stop, visited our friend, Emmerich Grolsch, for our 100% Kona coffee and macadamia nuts! Lastly, Huli Chicken for lunch! We are ready to camp out here, listening to waves!

We stopped at paradise Cafe for breakfast, and I’m in Paradise on earth. Portuguese sausage and locomoco! Picked up the cute Hawaiian guy, and we were joined by a native! He liked the jelly best

Our first resort,  the Royal Kona, is a hotel room,  not a condo,  but our room has a fabulous view.  This was the deal we couldn’t pass up,  75% off the points value,  so 9 days worth on Kauai equaled about 40 days in Kona!   We asked for a bay and ocean view  We are hoping to move to for that view,   but in the meantime this 1 does have a spectacular view with the waves crashing 5 stories below our lanais!  Plural!  We have them on both the Lagoon and ocean sides!   We are too tired to go out to eat, so snacking tonight and going to bed early!   The sunset welcomed us.   Feels wonderful to be here again!