Kahaluu-Keauhou, Hawaii - Sunday, March 9, 2025

Day 1 of our Hawaiian vacation: This morning we slept in to make up for the long travel time yesterday, along with the change of time zone. After breakfast, Darren left the timeshare early to rent snorkel equipment from the resort activity center for him to use during the week.

We all went to the Kona Farmer's Market. All the yummies were there. We came home with strawberry papayas, Maui Gold pineapple, broccoli, leaf lettuce, tomatoes, apple bananas, and a huge butter avocado.

Next stop, Long's Drug Store to buy reef-safe suntan lotion and other items. We drove across the parking lot to Sack and Save for ahi tuna and mixed greens.

Once we put our purchases away in the timeshare, we walked one-half mile to Kahalu'u Beach Park. The weather was perfect, the water was clear, and there were warm-water areas in the bay. The tide was coming in so the water level was good for snorkeling. 

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chips and salsa, and apples were gobbled down after snorkeling. The guys napped while I identified fish on the internet.

The fish I identified were Yellow Tang, Moorish Idol, Bullethead Parrotfish, Reef Triggerfish (humuhumunukunukuapua'a - Hawaii's state fish), Black Triggerfish, Boxfish, Stripebelly Pufferfish, Sailfin Tang, Convict Tang, Hawaiian Sargeant, Saddle Wrasse, Spotted Coral Blenny, Squarespot Goatfish, Damselfish, and Ember Parrotish.

In the evening, Darren treated Bob and me to tropical drinks at the resort's pool bar. He had a virgin Chi Chi or Pina Colada. Bob and I had Blue Hawaiis.

Darren and Bob enjoying tropical drinks
at the pool bar, Kona Coast Resort, Big Island.

The view from our room at Kona Coast Resort.

This pool below our room is supposed to be the "Quiet Pool." It was for a couple of evenings, but then families on spring break descended upon it and it was quite noisy! The pool at the pool bar is supposed to be the noisy one because the rooms aren't very close to it. However, it was very crowded and some of them discovered the uncrowded "quiet" pool.

The view from our balcony. 

We finished our ahi dinner and enjoyed
the sunset.

The sunset from our balcony!

This was a lovely, relaxing, first full day of vacation. The rest of the week will be hectic for Bob and Darren. Bob is so excited to show Darren all the sights!

I plan to stay at the resort, use the hot tub, read magazines, and see movies! I've already been to the places Bob and Darren are going. I'll go out with them in a few days.