A weekend in Waikiki

Even though our blog is about Big Island, we do occasionally get off the island. Last weekend we flew over to Oahu to attend the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Hawaii Free and Accepted Masons. We spent the weekend at the Ilikai Hotel in Waikiki. Naturally we went to our favorite restaurants while we were there.

The restaurant we always make sure we visit is Sarento’s at the top of the Ilikai. It is on the 30^th floor and offers a spectacular view. As usual we start with a dram of single malt before dinner. On this occasion it was The Macallan 18 year. The bar at Sarento’s is very knowledgeable and heated the glass with hot water before pouring the dram. That procedure enhances the nose and produces an exquisite drink. Aside from the knowledgeable bar, we return every year for their delicious food and excellent service. We have been going there for years and are never disappointed. We always go on a Friday night and between 7:30 and 8:00 PM there is a fireworks display from the Hilton Hawaiian Village which is next door. The great thing about viewing the fireworks from Sarento’s is that you are either looking down on the display or even with it. It is an experience you don’t get anywhere else.

The next night we ate dinner at Michel’s at the Colony Surf. The restaurant is right on the beach which provides an ideal Hawaiian setting and a great view of Waikiki. This is another restaurant, famous for its French cuisine, that we make sure to schedule during our yearly trip to Oahu. The food and service is definitely first class. The Saturday night dinner was so good we even went back for Sunday Easter brunch. For dinner we both had the Ocean Bounty which contains fresh fish, lobster, shrimp oysters, and abalone. If you love seafood this is a dish not to miss.

This was our last trip to Oahu for a while as the next Grand Lodge Annual Communication will be here on the Big Island next April, highlighted by a luau on Saturday night. Our taste buds are salivating already.

The total lunar eclipse

We have just witnessed the first total lunar eclipse of 2014. There will be another one in October. Tonight was cloudless and we could stand at the front of the house and watch the shadow of the Earth pass across the Moon, until the color of the Moon was much like the copper color of a worn penny. With the full Moon essentially turned off for a while, Mars, Saturn and Jupiter were very visible. Couple the clear night with the convenient timing of totality occurring just after 9:00 PM and we had an ideal occurrence.

Although totally different, it reminded us of the total solar eclipse we witnessed in Hawaiʻi in 1991. At that time we had a tour group with us on Oahu. We flew to Kona early in the morning since the path of totality was across the northern part of the Big Island and stayed at the airport to watch the eclipse. The areas both north and south of us were clouded in and missed the eclipse. Even the telescopes of Mauna Kea did not get a good view. However, our group at the airport had a tremendous view and we even captured the whole event on video.  Everything went dark and the birds came in to roost, thinking nightfall was occurring. That truly was a once in a lifetime event.

You have seen Kilauea, now what?

After you visit Kilauea Volcano, which is the primary visitor activity on the island, do you just loll at the beach or do you really want to see what this magical island has to offer. While Kilauea draws thousands of visitors to Hawaiʻi Island, there is so much more to see. It is generally believed that the early Polynesians made their first landfall on this island which, as a consequence, is rich in the early history of human occupation of what is now the State of Hawaiʻi. Add to that the fact that Kamehameha I, who unified all the islands, came from here and you have the makings of a great adventure in history. In addition, that history took place in what can only be described as spectacular scenery so you have the makings of an unforgettable trip through over a thousand years of history in a beautiful setting.

If you go north to Hawi you will be entering the area where Kamehameha I was born. There is a jeep road along the coast that takes you to his birth place. The story of his birth and early years is detailed in our book which can be downloaded at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GYJRJ6Y.  Farther up the road past Hawi is Pololū Valley which is the type of terrain in which he was raised.

Of course there are the fantastic vistas of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. Both mountains are accessible to those who desire to explore something other than a beach. The entire Kona coast is rich in archeological sites which can be readily explored. There is so much to see on the island that each day can expose you to something that is different from the day before and truly spectacular.

Will the snow affect Lake Waiʻau?

This week marked the second significant snow that occurred on Mauna Kea this year. If you have read about Mauna Kea in my book, you know that there is a lake at an elevation of 13,400 feet – Lake Waiʻau. You will also know that as of last summer the lake had almost dried up, largely because there has been no significant snow on Mauna Kea in several years.

There have now been two storms which dumped enough snow at the summit so that the skiers have once again taken to the slopes. As strange as it may seem, there can be the opportunity to ski in tropical Hawaiʻi. However, the more meaningful aspect of the snow, to me at any rate, will be its effect on Lake Waiʻau. The lake is a sacred spot in Hawaiʻi and is revered in many religious rites. Thus the big question becomes: will the snow make a difference in the existence of Lake Waiʻau?

I will have another post on this subject in the not too distant future. After the snow season is over we will hike into the lake to see what changes have occurred over the winter. Hopefully, the amount of water in the lake will have increased, although it probably will not be back to its former level. One year of good snow probably did not undo years of drought. So, until we hike in, keep your fingers crossed.