Christmas in Hawaii 2011 - Day 5

Wednesday morning Rod, Alex and I headed to Kealakekua Bay which is a beautiful bay about 10 miles south of Kona. This is where Captain Cook got slaughtered and there is nice British monument on the site in his memory. To get to the monument, you have to rent a kayak and paddle your way there. It is about a 20 minute kayak trip there.

After a shady group of local pot head people trying to get you to rent their kayaks at the close-by parking lot, we decided to search for a better parking place. We found one just a little ways off and noticed a little old friendly guy renting his kayaks, right from his house.

Alex pulling the blow-up kayak from the condo to the water.

Alex is ready to get on the kayak.

Just look at the colors of the sky and the water. If that is not inspiring, what is?

Alex is kayaking fast to the monument.

Rod is paddling behind me.

Alex is paddling....and paddling.

Check out Alex's back muscles. Very impressive.

When we reached the shore on the other side of the bay, this little friend was swimming among the rocks.

Rod is going snorkeling. Wasn't the snake just there where he is standing?

Alex is having a great time snorkeling among the colorful fish.

Alex is on his way up to the surface.

Fun fish.

Yellow fish. According to my handy fish chart, these are called Lau'i Pala or Yellow Tang.

Coral

Alex is getting warm on the rock after snorkeling.

It is time to get back to the other side of the bay. Rod and Alex are now sharing the double kayak and I'm on the blow-up kayak.

Captain Cook Monument at Kealakekua Bay.

Rod and Alex are paddling back to the other side. Yes, a rope is hooked onto my kayak. I was paddling fast as well.

On the way back to the condo, we stopped by at the Donkey Ball Factory. I bought a couple of bags of monkey balls. They were very yummy.

We drove to Kona and met the Brailsfords who were on a cruise around the Hawaiian islands at the same time. Today they were at port in Kona so we met them at a nearby beach where they were having a great time in the shore break with their boogie boards.