Super J's

After checking into AirBNB #2, we continued south a bit to visit Super J's Authentic Hawaiian Food.  While I can't remember now, I'm pretty sure this restaurant popped up on a blog or one of the travel books we checked out from our local library to help with trip planning.  Super J's was also featured on the Food Network's "The Best Thing I Ever Ate".  We were in search of laulau, a hawaiian dish with meat (in this case, pork or chicken) wrapped in taro leaves and then cooked. 

When we arrived, we were still before the dinner rush and the only people in the store aside from the proprietor.  We enjoyed chatting with her and stayed to try our food at the tables provided.  By the time we were finished and heading back out, many more folks were beginning to arrive with their orders of multiple laulau for the evening meal.  

Apparently the patrons of Super J's are about half local half tourist.  On this afternoon around 4:30 pm, i believe it was much higher skewed to the locals.  

Above the plate - Aloha strawberry orange soda; Kalua Pig & Cabbage

From left clockwise on the plate .... pork laulau; steamed rice, lomi salmon, macaroni salad. 

 

Hamakua Macadamia Nut Company & Pu'ukohola Heiau

We visited the Hamakua Macadamia Nut Company & Pu'ukohola Heiau.  These are both located a bit north of the Hilton resort.  I took some pictures.  :) 

 

Kailua-Kona AirBNB

Our first three nights in Hawaii we stayed in an AirBNB close to the airport.  Given similar needs we'd stay here again.  The AC unit only cooled the bedroom/living area, not the kitchen dining.  The property was clean and met our needs and the location was perfect since in the 62 or so hours this was our home base, we flew in or out of the airport 3 times.  

This space is also where Kee first used a plug-in electric burner to cook.  We made sausage, fried eggs, and chocolate pancakes during our stay here.  It was lovely.  

Also - after we checked out, we had a not-so-great trip to the ocean, and our host let us come back, shower etc and re-start our day clean and sane.  

Coffee Tours

Wednesday we had the opportunity to tour two Kona Coffee Farms.  We toured Greenwell Farms and Heavenly Hawaiian Farms.  Both were enjoyable, though if I had to choose one ... i'd choose Heavenly Hawaiian.  It felt a hint less corporate, though both were quite large and structured.  

 

Fruit Break

After hiking the Waipio Valley, we loaded back into our car and headed back south.  We had passed several fruit stands on our what up and decided to stop for some fresh coconut at one.  

We ended up not ordering the coconut but instead an exotic fruit plate.  It was preparred upon order so we had to wait a bit.  We were able to pass the time on swings under the nearby tree!  After a rather tough hike, this was very enjoyable.  

Once our plate was prepared, it did not disappoint.  We actually ate on it for the next several days!  

While we were enjoying our fruit plate, the proprietor asked if we'd like a coconut as well (apparently she had accidently cut one open).  Yes Please!  

 

Waipi'o Valley

 Our first hike on the Big Island was into the Waipi'o Valley!   This valley, also known as the Valley of the Kings is towards the northern end of Hawaii and we drove through ranch country to get there.  The drive was beautiful if frustrating .... Hawaiians love their slow speed limits apparently.  :)  

In preparation for the trip, Wifey packed a 'sack lunch', plenty of water, our camera gear, and some water shoes.  

Upon arrival at the lookout ... Russ saved the day with his parallel parking skills.  Kee would have just had to turn around and go home.   

The lookout includes facilities .... and the folks managing it much be quite wealthy .... this is COVID gold:  

Before we began our hike, we walked over and snapped this view of where we would soon lunch:

The hike down begins on a paved-ish road and then reaches a fork. 

At the fork you turn right to reach the black sand beach at the mouth of the valley and turn left to reach a dead end.  We turned left.  But we were rewarded for this minor error with a stunning view of the waterfall at the end of the valley opposite of the beach!  

We also saw some wild horses in the interior part of the valley.  

Unphoto-ed - we reached a dead end, consulted our map, turned around and eventually found the beach!  

It's blurry, but we're in this.