Our First Day in Kona

May 9th (my sweet sister's birthday)

Today's post will be tomorrow and yesterdays post today, that's kind of how it's going!

We arrived in Kona around 2:30 PM. Malia was shopping at Costco and we had to collect our bags, so the timing was perfect.

What a sweet, sweet reunion with our precious friend. She jumped out of the truck and grabbed Mike and held on like she would never let go. I was making my way to the truck, lugging my overstuffed carryon bags, when she saw me. As we met and embraced the tears were flowing. It was as if no time had passed since we were last together; 7 years ago! We couldn't stop hugging and crying.

She and Napua, her sweetheart, have a beautiful home in Kona. It sits on a hill where you can see the ocean as you sit on the deck that surrounds the complete back of the house and around one side. Our accommodations are such that it will make it very hard to leave. Add their hospitality to that and they may just have new residents! :) All of the doors and windows are open with a gentle ocean breeze blowing through all day and night; so peaceful!

Mike took a 3 mile run down to the beach and joined us as we walked out on the dry seaweed and lava rocks; so interesting! He ran back, all up hill, so he got in a nice 6+ mile run. He is now out in the yard 'chipping' golf balls.

Napua was golfing when we arrived, so we got to meet him later in the day. What a neat man! We all clicked and feel extremely comfortable together.

Had a great dinner; roasted chicken, rice, corn and salad; topping it off with a macadamia cream pie, oh my!!

Early to bed as we would rise early for the 7AM mass at St. Michaels, the oldest Catholic church on the island which was leveled by an earthquake a couple of years ago. They now meet under a big tent, the old-time revival type, minus the sawdust, by the ocean.

As we watched the sunset while sitting at the dinner table, we relished our wonderful first day in Hawaii.