HAW AII 'S Big Island

The Food, The Culture, and The Art

Hawaii in January is a lovely way to escape the gray, chilly weather on the mainland. It’s a long flight but so worth the trip. I haven’t been to a place that feels more alive. The lush landscape in some areas and the rough edges of the lava rock in others give the Big Island various interesting sites. This was my second visit to the island. The first time I stayed in Hilo, which is considered the rainy side of the island. It is also the more affordable side for housing. In Hilo, you will see waterfalls, many fruit trees, and tropical plants. In Kona, cacti climb high into the air among the tropical flowers as a reminder of the dryer climate.

I arrived on a Thursday evening right before sunset. The sky’s warm golden glow welcomed everyone arriving at the same time as if to sayAloha. The real meaning of Aloha in Hawaiian is love, peace, and compassion. Aloha is often used as a greeting. Peace and gratitude surely came over me when I arrived in the spectacular environment close to the coast. The airport is an open-air layout, and the immediate exposure to the fresh warm air felt so good after 11 or so hours on a plane. I quickly made my way to the baggage claim and grabbed my suitcase, and within minutes my friend Jake appeared to pick me up.

I am fortunate to have the opportunity to travel far, and to a destination many people have on their bucket lists. I am even luckier because I have friends who moved there almost three years ago, and this was my second time visiting them. My friend Chris and I met when we were in the 6th grade. In the homeroom class his seat was directly behind mine, and he pulled my pigtails. We still laugh about that and all the other funny times throughout middle and high school.

When we arrived at the house, Chris greeted me at the door, and his hug was the icing on the cake for the day. Since he knows me so well, a glass of champagne was close by to toast my arrival and officially begin my vacation on the island.

That evening we sat outside near the fire pit, and the breezy air refreshed me from my travels until I was ready for bed. I slept so well that night. I was awake and out of bed around 6 am. The time difference is a little tough to adjust to, and most days throughout the week, I was up at 5:30 am. I would get out of bed a little later to begin the day with coffee by the pool with the dogs The dogs are a significant part of Chris’s family. They have three dachshunds and one Shetland Sheepdog They are well-behaved, beautiful dogs I have known since they were puppies I love each of them and enjoyed cuddling with them throughout my visit

When I travel, I must eat the local cuisine I love to try new dishes, and I appreciate the history of the foods. It gives an insight into the culture and allows me to feel more immersed in the travel experience Aside from the great restaurants, my friends also took me around town to visit local shops to see Hawaiian art and a couple of destinations where I learned about sea salt mining and part of Hawaiian life long ago during the times of war and refuge.

I had the luck of running errands with Chris and visiting the local high-end furniture consignment shop- Furnishings by Debi. Chris has made many friends in his new home, including the shop owners He buys and sells many pieces there They have so many unique paintings and furniture I found myself thinking about the people who brought them in to sell, and I wondered what kind of unique homes they came from. I found a little treasure there that I could pack in my carry-on. It is a small wooden bowl with a silver lid with a hummingbird design. There was no tag, and when I asked Zac, the owner, the price, he said it had been on the shelf for a while and I could have it What a lovely souvenir to remember my visit to their shop. FYI, there is a furniture shortage on the island If you ever find yourself with a home on the island you need to furnish, check them out

Not only is food a source of fuel for survival, but it was indeed a source of pleasure throughout my week away. The morning after I arrived, Chris and I had breakfast at the Royal Kona Resort I had the traditional loco moco- white rice with a hamburger patty, 2 eggs, brown gravy, and fried onions as a topping Wow! So satisfying and filling The onions really added that extra flair

One evening we had tapas at a place called Cheers, it’s a “speakeasy’ lounge vibe with sophisticated dishes such as Billionaire bacon with a miso caramel sauce, Sexy Steak-ribeye with a demi-glace, and lobster roll sliders Each of those dishes was perfectly prepared and presented elegantly. The owner, Kessie, is a local lady who knows good food and style and has a generous heart The restaurant gives back 1% to the West Hawaii community, which includes preparing meals for a weekly community feeding program

Hawaii is the home of poke bowls, and I could not resist trying the dish at two restaurants The best bowl was my last lunch on the island at Island Lava Java Bistro The location is across the street from the ocean, and the view that afternoon was high waves crashing against the shore with the potential to reach over the rocks We ordered an appetizer, the fish nuggets, fried to perfection with ribbons of fresh cabbage and a light dressing Delicious and worth the calories! My main dish was the ahi tuna bowl So fresh and surprising, with very few ingredients to highlight the main star, the tuna Onions and cabbage offered a nice crunch and slight spiciness

Desserts were another leading player during the week. I made two visits to Magics Beach Grill, this restaurant is within walking distance of my friend's home and is right on the beach. While you wait for your food, you can enjoy the sites of the surfers riding the waves They have a well-rounded menu and dessert options that don’t disappoint On the first visit, my dessert buddy Liam and I shared the creme brulee and a slice of grilled banana bread with vanilla ice cream. The creme brulee was elegant and silky, and all the flavors in the banana bread were activated and on point from the grilling The slowly melting ice cream was a match made in heaven

I was excited about exploring new sites on this trip, and on my first night, I saw a Facebook ad for the Kona Salt Tour I asked my friends about it; they had been before, enjoyed it, and booked the tickets to go again with me We headed to the coast on Saturday morning for a 10 am tour. We arrived a few minutes late, and the others in the group were already there, which was about 12-15 people. The tour guide, Kanekoa, ensured we had everything we needed to be comfortable for the 45-minute tour. There was fresh water to drink and parasols to shield us from the sun I forgot my hat, so I was relieved to know I wouldn’t get burned in the sun. Kanekoa did an excellent job giving the backstory of the farm and showing us the process of drying the salt after it was mined 2,200 feet below the ocean’s surface The tour ended in the gift shop with a tasting of the finishing salts on fresh fruits and vegetables Of course, after trying the salts, I had to buy some to take home to carry on the flavor and memories of the island.

Early in the week, Chris and I went for a drive to the City of Refuge- Puuhonua O Honaunau National Park on the coast We started our visit by watching a short movie on the history of the sacred land and the people who sought refuge there There are trails to walk and explore the grounds, and there is an area outside the park to snorkel. The water is clear and calmer in that area

Another afternoon we visited part of the island further inland, Waimea We admired the displays in the Isaacs Art Center and Museum benefiting the Hawaii Preparatory Academy. All proceeds benefit the school’s scholarship fund They have various collections of carvings and paintings, and I found my favorite pictures are from the artist Madge Tennent. She created paintings of Hawaiian women because she thought they were beautiful “The Hawaiians are really to me the most beautiful people in the world," she once said, “no doubt about it – the Hawaiian is a piece of living sculpture”

This getaway was different from others I finished the week feeling recharged and ready to return home I have a sense of peace, and I hope it continues. As I reflect on my time and the experiences of eating good food, learning more about Hawaii’s history and culture, and most importantly, the time with my dear friends, I feel grateful I feel the true Aloha and it’s now a week after returning home

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