CRUISING FOR CHRISTMAS, PART 4 Big Island of Hawaii

BIG BIG BIG, more than a thousand words in pictures
This is my favorite island. It's BIG, with 6 active or dormant volcanoes. The earth still grows here, with another volcano underwater ready to break the surface in about 15 years. There's snow here, and desert, and plenty of rain, hazy when volcano Kilaueau is active, the largest ranch in the world-- Parker Ranch with angus cattle, amazing orchids and anthirums, black sand beaches, lava flowing right into the ocean, macadamia nut farms and Kona cofeeland.

Hilo, hello! Arrived early, 7am.

I wrote the morning away, and then my sister Zennie Sawyer picked me up for a visit with her family. After a bowl of Japanese noodles at a local diner,

we stopped and saw Zennie's daughter, Kapua, who was working very hard on a school paper. She's getting a PhD in Family Counseling. Her son, Apuwai, or Apple Pie as he has been called, was fast asleep.


I used the time at Kapua's house to post my blog, Part 3. It was getting to expensive to blog from the ship, as time ticks in dollars onboard at the Internet Cafe. Which by the way is next to the Coffee Bar where I cherished my cappucchinos in the morning.

Before returning to the ship, we stopped at Sears to see my nephew Likeke, who sells TVs there. He's the only boy in the Sawyer family, with five sisters keeping him in line.

Our last stop was at the Big Island Candies store in Hilo. Oh mymymymymymymy!!!

Check out their webpage.
http://www.bigislandcandies.com/
Our popular macadamia nut shortbread cookies are diagonally dipped into a delicious bath of velvety smooth milk chocolate, dark chocolate or sweet white confectioners coating for a delectable combination of exquisite flavors and textures! Cookies are individually wrapped and packed in a gold gift box.

Wouldn't you know, that afternoon for an hour,

the chefs of the 6 fine dining restaurants onboard hosted a Chocoholic's Buffett!

CHECK OUT THESE CHOCOLATE MARTINIS!

It was enough to feed everyone and truly a feast for my eyes because I couldn't eat any of it,

except for the desserts from the sugar free table. (Been off refined sugars for a year now!) What a treat! It was so festive and everyone was so jolly, like they were about to get their "fix".

I loaded a plate with no-sugar-added things -- a few-chocolate covered bananas, a brownie cake, a mocha round cake and a tart of whipped cream and berries.



Took it back to my cabin and ordered a big pot of coffee, so I could keep working on my transcribing of my mom's interviews. After four days, I was almost done with transcribing the nine hours of interviews and ready to start scripting.

Departed Hilo Bay at around 6pm and headed to the lava flowing into the ocean, on our way to Kona on the other side of the Big Island of Hawaii. The flow was spectacular, if you were there to see it for yourself. My camera could do no justice!!

That night we slept soundly as the ship made its way slowly to Kona.

Our morning was greeted by the site of a hazy Kona. And if you look closely, at the center of Kona, you will see Walmart (a favorite spot it seems of crusiers when they hit land).

Those who went ashore jumped in shuttle boats to take them ashore. As for me, I skipped the landing, and stayed in quiet concentration as I continued my work. I did get out on the aft deck for several of my meals and enjoyed the sun and view of this sleepy little town famous for Kona Coffee!!!

NEXT: A MAUI LITTLE CHRISTMAS