I am writing this from the kitchen in Kona--all alone after dropping Dean, Donna, Deanna and Tim off at the airport.  What a great vacation!  I enjoyed spending time with Deanna's friend, Diana, and with her boyfriend, Tim.  He's a quiet man and also quite creative, thoughtful and caring.

Dean and Donna are more like friends than "family" and isn't that the best?  I really enjoyed our time together.  We hung out, played cards, snorkeled, hiked, fixed things around the house, fixed drinks and dinner for each other...everyone pitching in in the easiest manner. 

Quite fun.

There is a storm approaching the Big Island and renters for Hale Honu arriving tomorrow, so my solitude will last about another 14 hours and then I'll be on Aloha Airlines going home to Dan (!!) and to Laguna Niguel.

Yesterday, we walked to a beach called Kekaha Kai.  We were surprised when we arrived that the chain was across the access road...and we'd originally planned to go to Makalawena Beach (which was a mile or so from the end of the access road).  When we got to the pretty beach at Kekaha Kai (after walking about 1.3 miles across rough pavement and stones) we decided that pretty was just fine.

We hung at the beach for about 3 hours...swimming, sunning, reading and (in my case) snorkeling.  There were some really large Unicorn fish there and a few humu-humu (and assorted wrasses)...but the water was murky and a bit rough.  I much prefer Kahalu'u.

Deanna and Tim tossed around the baseball using his custom designed baseball mitts.  Then we trekked back up the road and dined at Killer Tacos in the Old Industrial Park, Kailua-Kona.  Well deserved calories, indeed.

After that, we came home and showered!  Then we enjoyed steaks, a last (for this trip at least) sunset on the lanai, and wonderful baked potatoes.  After dinner, Deanna took us all to the cleaners in an extremely competitive "short" game of Monopoly.  I say "short" because we used the "short game rules" and were supposed to be done in 60-90 minutes.

Two hours later, Dean and I desperately formed a conglomerate after Tim turned all his property and cash over to Deanna.  Donna somehow finagled free rents from the mega-corporation of Baldridge and Morefield, so we limped to ignominious defeat.  I must say that I saw a completely different side of Deanna.  All sweetness and light on the outside but a shark when it comes to, as she put it, "business."

So, that's it from Kona for the Hale Honu vacation of 7/07.  Back to reality after a travel day tomorrow.  Can't wait to see that man of mine!

Aloha, Hale Honu...until next time!  (Lord willing!)

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