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Always Packed for Adventure!

It's the destination and the journey.

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Hawaii 2019: Captain Zodiac Raft Expeditions

If you visit Hawaii, It is mandatory to explore the Pacific Ocean. We booked a snorkeling excursion with Captain Zodiac Raft Expeditions. We took a midday tour, meeting at the Captain Zodiac tour office in Gentry’s Kona Marina. The marina was easy to find and offered free parking.

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We were offered a warm greeting at the tour office as we signed our waivers and were fitted for equipment. Upon booking the tour, I asked about a changing room, as the excursion was far from our hotel and I didn’t want to be stuck in my bikini all day.

It turned out that the “changing room” was actually a small bathroom that all of the local businesses use, including a bustling restaurant. It was awkward to change with a queue of women waiting to use the toilets. If we take this excursion in the future, I will definitely just wear my bathing suit under my shorts.

Make sure to wear sunscreen and make sure that it is designated “reef safe.” It’s also not a bad idea to bring a hat with a tight strap and sunglasses. The sun is intense and we all returned pinker than we left.

As soon as the other guests arrived ( about ten of us in total, including several older children) Captain Rick and his assistant, Amanda, walked us over to our zodiac boat.

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At first, the ride was a lot of fun. I was laughing and having a great time. I hadn’t been on a zodiac raft in many years and I forgot how bumpy the ride can be, especially when we hit open water. We had to lean forward and keep a minimum of one hand gripped on the safety rope as our feet were tucked under a different rope.

After about twenty-minutes the ride turned from thrilling to uncomfortable. I was white-knuckling the rope. If you want to feel old ( I was forty-one at the time) go on a zodiac raft ride. You will feel every ache and pain in your body. The following day, Dan and I could barely move. There are warnings regarding this not being a great excursion for people with neck/back conditions and other medical problems that might be aggravated, but for us, it was simply being in our 40’s. Ouch!

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That said, the ride had beautiful views and it’s always a joy to be out on the water soaking up the sunshine.

And we saw dolphins…loads of dolphins!

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We stopped at Kealakekua Bay for about two hours to snorkel. We were told that Disney animators came here to get inspired for Finding Nemo. It’s a calm snorkeling spot with plenty of fish.

It’s not easily accessible by land, so the bay was filled with various excursion operators. There is a trail that takes approximately 2.5 hours to the Captain Cook Monument, a memorial with an obelisk for the explorer that is said to be on the spot where he died. This tiny area of land is technically British soil. Cook is a highly controversial historical figure, having bullied his way into many indigenous populations, causing them harm. He met his demise in Hawaii, when the Hawaiians fought back.

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Captain Rick and Amanda gave us our life jackets and snorkel gear. They also had pool noodles for anyone who wanted extra floatation help. Despite having little snorkeling experience, Zoe and Dan jumped right in. I was nervous. I have no fear of swimming in the ocean and I’m a strong swimmer, however, I had a claustrophobia issue the last time that I went snorkeling and panicked. Amanda was very kind in talking me through my panic attack and I felt brave enough to give it a try. Felix and I jumped in the water at the same time and started exploring.

The minute I hit the water, I felt confident.

Colorful fish were everywhere! These pictures absolutely do not do it justice. It was far more bright and magical. I clearly remember the underwater crunch sounds that I was later told were fish eating sand.

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Before our bouncy ride back, we were given snacks: fresh pineapple, chips, cookies, juice and soda. On the way back, we took a slightly different route, so that Captain Rick could show us some special points of interest. We went near sea caves, saw teenagers cliff-jumping into the ocean, and visited some rock faces where Disney animators found inspiration for Moana. I think Disney animators are just finding excuses for Hawaiian vacations!

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I can’t remember if the rate is the same as what we paid in 2019, but the current prices for this tour are 125.00 for adults and 90.00 for kids. Plus, don’t forget a tip! My only negative was the aches and pains from the zodiac ( I think Dan would agree), but the kids thought it was fun. Captain Rick and Amanda did a professional job and the tour included many wonderful experiences. We recommend Captain Zodiac Raft Expeditions.

tags: Hawaii Vacation 2019, Hawaii Vacation with Kids, Big Island Hawaii with Kids, Big Island Hawaii Activities, Big island Hawaii Excursions, Big Island Hawaii Snorkeling, Big Island Hawaii Snorkeling with Kids, Hawaii Trip Report, Kona Coast Trip Report, Kona Coast Snorkeling, Who Was Captain Cook, Captain Cook Memorial Big Island, Captain Cook Monument Hawaii, Where Did Captain Cook Die, Captain Cook and Hawaii, British Land on Big Island Hawaii, Hawaii Locations That Inspired Disney Animators, Kealakekua Bay Snorkeling Excursion, Is Kealakekua Bay Safe, Pictures of Kealakekua Bay, Fish in Kealakekua Bay, Kealakekua Bay Finding Nemo, Kealakekua Bay Captain Cook Monument, Dolphins in Kona Coast, How Can you Get to the Captain Cook Monument, Kealakekua bay with Kids, Where We Snorkeled in Hawaii, Kealakekua Bay Snorkeling Tour Captain Zodiac, Experience in Riding a Zodiac Raft, Captain Zodiac Raft Expeditions Hawaii, You Feel Old When, What Activities Make You Feel Old, Gentry's Kona Marina, Captain Zodiac's Raft Expeditions Price, Captain Zodiac Raft Expeditions Review, Captain Zodiac Raft Expeditions Amanda, Captain Zodiac Raft Expeditions Captain Rick, Captain Zodiac Raft Expeditions Pictures, Cliff Diving Hawaii, Must-Do Big island Activities, Afraid to Snorkel, Snorkeling for the Claustrophobic, Big Island Hawaii Must- Do's, Big Island Hawaii Travel Tips, Reef Safe Sunscreen, Zodiac Raft Photo
categories: Visit
Thursday 03.11.21
Posted by Karen Lea Germain
 

Hawaii 2019: Mauna Loa Factory and Hilo

After leaving Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, we started our journey back to Waikoloa Village, but rather than cut through the center of the island as we did on our morning drive, we went north to enjoy coastal views.

We were surprised to discover the Mauna Loa factory.

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I love Mauna Loa chocolate covered macadamia nuts. As an adult, my best friend’s parents would give me a box every year for Christmas and I would devour it in a single sitting. I’m powerless to resist the chocolatey-macadamia nut goodness!

We took the detour to the factory, driving along a beautiful road through orchards.

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The Mauna Loa Factory is small and offers a free, self-guided tour. We walked to a second floor exterior ramp, which allowed us to peek into the factory. Our family enjoys factory tours and even more so, when the factory is operating. We were able to see the machines running at full-steam, packing those nuts!

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We went inside the store for product samples. Obviously delicious, but we also had a nice surprise when my stepson, who can be a picky eater, enjoyed the chocolate covered macadamia nuts. In fact, he loved them enough to spend his own pocket money to buy a bag! This is a kid who had never tried nuts, so quite a big deal. There were a few moments when he tried new foods on our vacation and we know it’s hard for him, so we were proud that he took the challenge.

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The Mauna Loa Factory was our best unexpected surprise on the trip.

Afterwards, we drove to Hilo, which is the most populated area on the eastern side of the island. We found a cute fish & chips shop called Mohala’s Bayfront, where we ate dinner.

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The restaurant was very family friendly and one of my favorite touches were these conversation-starter napkins.

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Just down the street we discovered a local ice cream shop for dessert. Makani’s Magic Pineapple Shack has an adorable tiki theme and delicious mango ice cream.

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Our drive took us past lush greenery, waterfalls, and ocean vistas. The landscape was dramatically different from the moon-like rocks of the Kona coast. The east side of the big island is certainly the landscape that most people would associate with Hawaii. We even saw a rainbow!

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Just as we were a few miles from our hotel, we ended the day with a gorgeous sunset.

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tags: Hawaii Vacation 2019, Hawaii Vacation with Kids, Big Island Hawaii with Kids, What we Did on our Hawaii Vacation, Hilo Activities Hawaii, Waikoloa Village Hawaii, Hawaiian Sunset, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Mauna Loa Factory Pictures, Mauna Loa Factory Tour, Mauna Loa Factory Tour Review, Mauna Loa Factory Tour Samples, Mauna Loa Chocolate Macadamia Nuts, Macadamia Nut Orchard, Best Hawaiian Products, History of Mauna Loa Factory, Factory Tours in Hawaii, Best Factory Tours in the United States, Things to Do in Hilo, Where to Eat in Hilo, Mohala's Bayfront Fish and Chips Hilo, Where we Ate on the Big Island, Hawaii Foodie, Family Friendly Restaurants Hilo, Makani's Magic Pineapple Shack Hilo, Local Ice Cream Hilo, Mango Ice Cream, Pictures of Hilo Hawaii, Pictures Big Island Hawaii, Driving in Big Island Hawaii, Big Island Hawaii Adventures, Local Hawaiian Products
categories: Eat, Visit
Thursday 03.04.21
Posted by Karen Lea Germain
 

Hawaii 2019: Telescope Protest and Dimple Cheek Cafe

One of our longest and most exciting days of the trip was our adventure to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. We woke up before sunrise to begin our nearly two hour drive across to the other side of the island.

It was a very full day and since so many things happened, I’m going to break this day up into several posts, beginning with what happened on the drive to the National Park.

The first big event happened in the middle of a field. We felt like we were in an isolated area in the center of the big island, but it turned out to be bursting with activity. We drove right down the road that held protestors. We had heard about the protest on the news, the native Hawaiians and their supporters were protesting an international scientific effort to build a massive telescope on the top of Mauna Kea, the tallest volcano in Hawaii. Mauna Kea is a sacred place for many Hawaiians.

We drove right in the middle of the protest and later learned that Dwayne Johnson “The Rock” had been there. As much as I support the efforts of scientists, I recognize that this is a very sensitive issue. Hawaii is a state that I spent many summer vacations as a child, however, I did not realize the way that the US took the Hawaiian Islands until I was an adult. It’s horrific and sadly, not surprising. I can understand how this protest is both about preserving a sacred place, but also just not allowing any more grabbing of their land. I believe this fight over the telescope still continues without resolution.

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On a lighter note, we saw a Ne’Ne crossing sign! The Ne’Ne Goose is native to the Hawaiian islands. I’ve seen them on Maui. Adorable.

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Close to the entrance to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, we stopped for breakfast at the most delightful restaurant: Dimple Cheek Cafe.

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The owner of the restaurant ( named after her beautiful dimpled cheeks) both served and cooked our food. She was so kind and welcoming. We learned that she is the mother of many children, which made since, as she treated us with a mother’s touch.

The food was one of the best meals on our vacation. I had eggs with rice and soy sauce, which made me wonder why I had not eaten this before??? So yummy and filling. Dan had a Hawaiian dish called Loco Moco, which is a beef patty in gravy. The kids had waffles. The food was good, hearty, and great value. We wished that Dimple Cheek cafe was on “our side” of the island!

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We took a picture with the owner. If you’re visiting the big island, make sure to eat at Dimple Cheek Cafe. I can’t say enough great things about this restaurant and its owner. I really hope that her business survived the pandemic.

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On the way out, we stopped to admire the plants and flowers for sale. Dimple Cheek is not only a cafe, but also a small market place. I love tropical flowers.

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In my next post, I will share pictures from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park!

tags: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Volcanoes in Hawaii, Waikoloa Village to Volcanoes National Park, Things to do in Hawaii, Big Island Hawaii Vacation, Big Island Hawaii with Kids, Big Island Hawaii Activities, Hawaiian Telescope Protest, Why are Hawaiians Protesting Telescope, Mauna Kea Telescope Protests, Mauna Kea Telescope, Tallest Volcano in Hawaii, Mauna Kea Spiritual Site, Mauna Kea Sacred, How Hawaii Became a State, The Rocky at Hawaii Protest, Pictures of Hawaii Protest, Pictures Mauna Kea Protest, Dwayne Johnson Hawaii Protest, Hawaii Protest Summer 2019, Ne'Ne Goose Crossing Sign, Hawaii Native Animals, Hawaiian Plants, Dimple Cheeks Cafe Hawaii, Best Place to Eat in Hawaii, Best Breakfast Big Island Hawaii, Where to Eat Hawaii Volcanoes Park, Loco Moco, Traditional Hawaii Breakfast, Best Food on the Big Island, Hawaii for Foodies, Hawaii Food Review, Our Drive Big Island Hawaii, Must-Do Big island Hawaii, Our Visit Hawaii 2019, Hawaii 2019 Trip Report, Native Hawaiian Rights
categories: Eat, Visit
Tuesday 02.23.21
Posted by Karen Lea Germain
 
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