The locals call it “The Warm Ponds”, but it’s a bit like climbing into a very large public saltwater bath tub. Everyone else seemed to really enjoy the experience but I found it oddly disturbing. After a few hours in the tub it was time for food and fun and Sofia’s birthday party. The kids really enjoyed swinging an aluminum bat at the pinata while the parents looked on with moderate concern.

Earlier this morning we enjoyed the local tide pools for a few hours, so by dinner time we were all wiped out. By the time the sun set the kids were sound asleep and Jen and I were enjoying a blender full of a frozen rum concoction. Every day should end so sweetly.

Today we decided to make a break for the Walmart in Hilo, which is about 45 minutes away from where we are now. Every time we get into the car we ooh and ahh and all the exotic plants and flowers. The view is spectacular no matter in which direction you look. However during this particular ride I quite possibly could have thrown myself from the moving vehicle. Jennifer’s son Tristan is usually delightful as most three year old are. On rare occasions he successfully master the temper tantrum and I cringe while Jen tries to turn into the backseat without steering us into oncoming traffic. Walmart itself is usually a nightmare, which is one of the major reasons I steer clear of it….well that and the people who actually shop there. But of course a screaming three year old and three other children trying to talk over the screaming child only adds to the excitement of wading through the mixed crowds of tourists and locals. Once clear of Walmart we grabbed some lunch, which was not unlike the drive to Hilo and the Walmart experience.

With four kids crammed in the car Jen and I decided that it was time to seek out a swimming hole and let the kids entertain themselves for a bit before we had to stuff them back into the car and drive 45 minutes home.

Instead of public pools here they have man made/ nature made inlet swimming holes. Large barrier rock have been lined up to break the waves and allow for shallow swimming areas for families with children. Now I’ve always been quite clumsy, so walking in wet flip flops across jagged volcanic rock should strike anyone- especially me as a very terrible idea. However we wouldn’t even be having this discussion if it were indeed the case.

Of course I forgot to bring my bathing suit, so while Jen and the kids went swimming I decided to explore the area where the fishermen climb out over the rocks and swim along the shoreline. You have to wade through water to get to the perfect spot for the perfect view, and I did just that. After which I promptly slipped and given the choice to land on my 4 thousand dollar camera or any body part of my own…well I would do the same thing for either one of my children as well. As expected, I promptly busted my ass onto the rocks. Technically my foot, knees, and hand. So that perfect spot for that perfect view allowed me time to wash off my bloody foot and collect my composure before the return hike over the rock and through the water back to the refuge of the picnic table.

Just as we were packing up the Shave Ice truck arrived and the kids were blessed with yet another cup of ice soaked sugar. Treats for the kids inspired treats for the adults, and as soon as the shave ice was a memory Jen and I made our way over to the mall for Mac and I even bought some of those awful Crocs. I don’t care what anyone says-I think they’re downright hideous, but yes they are VERY practical in Hawaii.

Late nights do not make for early mornings. 6am came and I quickly covered my head with the pillow and went back to sleep. I think I managed to avoid the dawn all the way up until around 8am. This morning Jen beat me up and was brewing fresh Kona coffee and working on a batch of the most amazing pancakes.

Today would be a lazy day. We’re been off conquering our tropical paradise since the moment our plane pulled up to our tiki airport and today we would rest. The kids played happily with the kids from down the block; they rode bikes, played with water guns, and attempted to learn to ride a unicycle courtesy of one of the kids who live down at Belly Acres.

Somewhere after lunch we decided we were ready to venture out in search of tide pools. Every thirty minutes we enjoyed a light downpour but the kids hardly noticed. We found a few amazing black cowrie shells and a few other fancy shells with names I can’t recall.

The black sand and rocks were amazing, and much to our delight the water splashed violently all around us. This would be the most excitement we would find all day, and that was just fine with all of us.

Last night I fell asleep to the charming symphony of the Coqui Frogs screaming just outside my window. However, 6am found me wide awake once again. First on deck was the community swap meet. We drove to the end of the block and mingled with the locals while checking out all the cool junk. We picked up some adorable clothes for Leila and a few pieces for Jen before packing up to head to “Market”.

Market was a lot like the community garage sale but on a much grander scale. They had live music, food vendors, fresh produce and both cut flowers and potted plants. We picked up a few bags of Lychee fruit, a Puka Shell necklace for Malik, and several more Hawaiian skirts and dresses for Leila.

Next we headed for the weigh-in that marked the end of the week long 2008 Ulua Challenge fishing competition in Hilo. The was a shoreline fishing competition with over 450 entrants. One of which was Jen’s brother Suni. While we waited for Suni to show up with his catch, we watched the other hopefuls line up for the big weigh in. Each fish seemed bigger than the one before it, and Malik was full of questions about how a person could stand on the shore and pull a 70lb body out of the water on a tiny string. He’s been fishing before, but rarely with any real luck. Suni failed to catch anything worth weighing and getting his picture taken with. Instead Suni and Malik chatted up a plan to go fishing before the weekend. Malik had great success snorkeling and now he thinks he’s ready to go do some fishing with Suni and his spear gun. I can see how gratifying it must be to go fishing with a gun as opposed to sitting patiently with a string and hopeful bait.

Lunchtime brought us to “Ken’s House of Pancakes”, and then we sought more of that tasty Shave Ice. Downtown Hilo has an amazing view of the water with the shadow of the great mountain in the background. Much to our dismay the Sugar Shack was closed on Sundays. We decided to walk around the shopping district and found yet another open market that produced a Puka Shell bracelet to match Malik’s necklace.

On the way back from our tour of marketplaces we decided to take the scenic route home. This would be a different scenic route from the day before, and apparently there are many different scenic routes. Most days just going to the mailbox is quite scenic no matter which route you take.

I hardly understand how there is enough daylight to accompany the number of activities we seem to fit into a given day. Before heading to “Belly Acres” for pot luck, Jen and I would each enjoy a Mai Tai while the sun set somewhere on the other side of the mountain. Actually I think we enjoyed 2 or 3 before it was time to pan fry fresh Ahi and grab a bowl of lychee and pile into the car to coast 6 driveways down to the infamous “Belly Acres”. Belly Acres started with a group of performance artists who joined together to create a communal celebration of the arts on a jointly owned compound. Basically a group of amazingly talented hippies who welcome other talented people to come and go and gather to perform. At pot luck I would only see them dance half naked around the bonfire to the strumming of a guitar.

I didn’t take any photos at pot luck (although Ash has requested I take some down at the nude beach), but I did manage to snap a few of the market and the Ulua weigh-in.

One of the bigger ones (though not the biggest by a long shot):

Day two and we’re all packed up and ready for our next beach adventure. This next beach offered lots of beautiful yellow sand and the shade of gorgeous trees that looked like large driftwood with the leaves still intact. The lovely trees curled and cracked and weaved from the sand shore to the aggressive black rock that formed the crescent shaped alcove. I couldn’t help but wish I could come back when the branches weren’t decorated with drying towels and the sands weren’t littered with fellow sunbathers. Oh what a photo I have already etched in my mind.

From the beach we still had roughly two and a half hours of steep mountain terrain to cross in order to reach the other side of the island. Before we would begin the journey though, we stopped for the obligatory “Shave Ice”. I would related shave ice to a large sno cone, but that would never give this concoction justice. They take a bowl and fill it halfway with the tastiest, fluffiest snow you can imagine. Then they bury a scoop a vanilla ice cream under the other half of ice and then add a rainbow of flavors. The resulting delightful treat is something better than a sno cone, tastier than a creamsicle, and the best thing the kids have seen since we’d arrived.

Rising at 6am sure has it’s perks. For one, you tend to get a lot more out of your day. I’m sure you’re saying, well duh, but I’m not a morning person and never have been. I couldn’t even tell you the last time I saw a sunrise…or a sunrise where I was rising instead of just going to bed. Watching the world wake up while fully rested is quite an experience. I suppose since my internal clock is all off I can’t exactly take full credit for rising bright eyed and bushy tailed when ordinarily it would be noon if I were still in my time zone.

Our first day in Hawaii was filled with a number of exciting discoveries. While Leila and I were exploring the hotel grounds we ran across something that we have continued to refer to as “Flat Squirrels” In actuality we discovered the Mongoose. The Indian Mongoose was introduced to Hawaii in order to combat the rats that were brought over on ships with settlers. Unfortunately the Mongoose isn’t nocturnal and is never awake to eat the rats. Now they just run around looking something like a cute brown squirrel…except it’ll rip your face off if you get too cutesy. How bizarre.

Next was a breakfast of native lychee fruit, papaya, eggs, toast, and yes- rice. Apparently they eat quite a bit of rice here in Hawaii. After breakfast we skipped over to the inlet and enjoyed a few hours of amazing snorkeling. The fish and the coral were so beautiful, and we were delighted to enjoy a brief swim alongside a beautiful green sea turtle.

Hours seemed like days and yet it was only lunchtime, and then naptime. If it weren’t for naptime, I would never have made it to happy hour. While the kids splashed in the pool, Jen and I sampled a few absurdly garnished island cocktails. The buckets of peel and eat shrimp that followed exceeded all expectations. I couldn’t have hoped for a better end to day one.

16 long hours of travel, 4 different airports, 3 different planes, and several thousand miles later we finally arrived in Kailua-Kona Town, Hawaii. The airport could only be described as a very quaint tiki hut with a short runway and a modest baggage claim. Much to our delight we were greeted with gorgeous plumeria leis courtesy of our host Jennifer.

The time zones have us all confused and completely out of wack. I find myself enjoying the sunrise and nearly exhausted by sunset. Here it is my first day in Hawaii and I’m up at the butt-crack of dawn. Obviously I am not a morning person, but technically it’s the middle of the afternoon back home.

Leila and I were the first ones awake so we decided to sneak off and check out the landscape. Since we arrived under the cover of darkness, we really had no idea where we were at all. Much to our delight we discovered a view similar to any postcard I might send you. Most people expect amazing pictures from a self proclaimed art photographer however, I managed to snap just one with my phone. Enjoy: