Hawaii, here we are

Kona Coast of The Big Island 

Since the May 3rd eruption of Kilauea volcano, tourism is down on the Big Island. So of course, we had to visit.  And while parts of the Volcano National Park are closed,  there is still a lot to enjoy on this island.

Deplaning at the Kona international airport

We arrived today just before 1 pm, after an easy five hour flight over the vast Pacific. We exited the plane to a blast of heat and humidity that wrapped around us and made me wish I'd worn a tank top and shorts.  The woman at the rental car agency suggested nearby spots for lunch and we wound our way to the Kona industrial area and the Kona Brewing Company, where we had excellent Puna pizza pie and some local brews. I had the Wailua Wheat, with passion fruit.  Benjamin had the Lychee Lager, with "50 pounds of hand shucked locally grown lychee fruit," advertised as the "perfect beer" to quench your thirst on a "hot Hawaiian summer day."

Selecting local brews and pizza at Kona Brewing Company.  Brewing tours also available. 

While waiting for our pizza, I caught up on the day's news, as reported in West Hawaii Today.  Hurrican Hector was expected to brush past  the Big Island, even though the acting mayor had declared a state of emergency yesterday.  (Spoiler alert: it swept past the island today, no harm done.)  Meanwhile, the mayor of Hilo was planning to ask the Hawaii state legislature for $550 million in volcano disaster relief.  And the 59th annual Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament was in full swing, though the hurricane was blamed for scaring away the blue marlin. And in the classifieds, "beautiful, healthy sheep for easy sale" were available in Waimea.

Aloha.