New Chapter

Dear Travel Diary

Saturday, June 12, 2021

I woke up around 7:00 am and realized that a new chapter will begin today when I saw my packed suitcase. Since I was still so tired, I slept again until shortly before 8:00 am before the dogs fully woke me up.

After breakfast, I packed my last things and was ready to go. We made an appointment with Debbie to drive to the airport at around 9:00 am, as our plane will take off at 11:50 am. Finally, we said goodbye to Uncle Randy, Kaeo, and Sleepy, who let us stroke him for the first time. As soon as our heavy suitcases were loaded, we sprinted back into the house to say goodbye to Grandma as well. She then said that we should enjoy her island and wished us a lot of fun.

On the way to the airport, we were stuck in traffic for a while, so Tony took a shortcut, which was effective, but made me a bit dizzy. When we arrived at the airport, we said goodbye to both of them with a warm hug, and Tony even planted a kiss on my cheek. Oh, how much I have already grown fond of both of them in this short time.

However, the farewell was not as long and painful as I thought it would be, as we will see the whole family again on August 1st for dinner. Then we will briefly stop in Honolulu for transit, especially to pick up the rest of our luggage. They will pick us up, invite us for dinner, and drive us back to the airport.

As soon as we arrived at the check-in counter, my phone rang - it was Debbie. For a millisecond, I thought we had forgotten something in the car, but then she asked me if we had a COVID test. I then revealed to her that we got vaccinated here and don't need a test. Since the two of them are more skeptical about the vaccine and COVID, we never told them. Fortunately, it never came up until this last moment. Debbie seemed a bit caught off guard, but kindly said that her motherly instinct wanted to make sure that we can really enter Big Island.

Shortly after, Jasmin also appeared and we were able to check-in. Exceptionally, this went smoothly at the self-service kiosk, and we were able to move on to drop off our luggage. My suitcase weighed a proud 47 pounds. But everything was within the allowed limit of 50 pounds. We then went through security, where the man studied my passport very carefully and for a long time, and I already thought I had to wait 3 more hours for a few questions. But it probably didn't take longer than for everyone else, it just felt like an eternity to me.

We waited at our gate with an iced chai latte and sandwich until it was time to board. The pilot announced that it would be a 36-minute flight to Hilo. So up in the air and then down again. In the air, we saw Honolulu, Waikiki, our home, and several other beaches, areas, etc. We felt like real residents, naming and locating as much as we could. On the way, we flew over Moloka'i and Maui, and each of the two islands looked completely different from the sky.

Once we landed in Hilo, we had to show our QR code so that our information could be checked, and we could enter without a COVID test. When scanning Chantal's code, they also asked if she had a negative COVID test. That's when we thought: "Oh no, does it really only work with the vaccination certificate?" But it turned out that it was enough, and we could continue to pick up our luggage.

So far, so good, now everything just has to work out with the first car, and there will be nothing standing in the way of our stay. However, there were a few hurdles again because the car and the rental could only be paid with the credit card in the driver's name. So according to Chantal's paperwork, since she is already 21 and that's why we were able to rent a car at all. But since her credit limit is almost reached, we didn't know if it would be enough, and they didn't accept mine. But we tried it anyway, and fortunately, it worked.

After playing a little game of Tetris with the three suitcases, we were able to leave the airport at around 2:00 pm, and I drove to our new home with our Hyundai. After a good hour and a beautiful drive with many waterfalls, green forests, and red flowers, we arrived in Waimea, our place of residence.

Beverly, our host, warmly welcomed us and showed us the small kingdom. A cozy studio with a small kitchen, a bathroom, a bed, and a sofa, surrounded by a large garden. Since she lives right next door, she takes care of and maintains the garden every day.

Once we settled in a bit, we went shopping and came back with five small bags and 180 francs less. We always took the cheapest option and shopped sensibly, but this Hawaii is simply a rip-off!

When we got home, Chantal and I cooked an early dinner and planned the daily programs for the upcoming stay. Especially since Jasmin will leave again on Friday and, of course, wants to see as much of the island as possible. So we brainstormed the best solution and got ready for bed.

Sunday, June 13, 2021

The night was cozy and pleasant due to the cool temperature here in Waimea. However, the sunrays are just as strong and were already shining into our apartment in the morning.

Once everyone was awake, we pulled ourselves together and did a short workout in the meadow outside, which was rewarded with breakfast afterward. It was also a rescue mission for our food, as we unfortunately have an ant invasion.

Shortly after 10:00 am, we then drove to Kona to visit a coffee farm. Once again, the way there was beautiful and completely different. Open expanses of nothingness on the right and left - only volcanic rocks, dried grass, and goats. Lots of them. Unfortunately, some of them were run over on the road, and there were also wild boars with their young. No wonder there are signs everywhere saying "Animal xing".

During almost the entire drive, we could see the ocean and marveled at the blue colors. What's special about Big Island is that the clouds look like a canopy, as if we were in a box and they can't penetrate. So the kilometer-long clouds just lie in the air and don't move at all.

When we arrived at the farm, we were able to taste various coffees and register for the tour for free. Olivia then showed us around the farm and gave us some interesting facts and information about the coffee plantation, the roasting process, and consumption. For example, one cup of coffee a day for a whole year requires the harvest of eight to twelve coffee trees.

Since the tour took place around noon, we drove to Kona afterward to get some food. Kona, a town right by the water, offers a small charming old town. It's somehow a bit country-like and yet more like a fishing village. It's a bit undefinable but good to have seen it once.

For dinner, we went through the drive-thru at McDonald's and had the cheapest dinner here in Hawaii at Kua Bay. It is accessible through a volcano-like park and is beautiful with its black stones and gray-white beach. As if it wasn't beautiful enough, the sunset was fantastic. From blue to yellow, orange, red, pink, violet, and then blue again. A whole range of colors played out in the sky.

In the dark, I then drove back home, which turned out to be rather challenging. Unlike in Switzerland, the roads here are not lit, and these cars all have an incredibly strong headlight or use high beams. I had to concentrate quite a bit because it constantly blinded me. In the end, however, we arrived home without any further problems and looked forward to taking a shower and applying lotion to our slightly sunburnt noses.