KAILUA-KONA TO HONOLULU

Kailua-Kona is also known as Kailua and Kona Town. The community was established in 1795 by King Kamehameha the Great, who was the King of the Big Island before he set out to unite the state. With 19,173, has the second most number of people next to Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii. Actually, down from the 2010 census of 11,975. The volcanic eruption that began in 1983 still continues, bringing voggy weather, resulting in a compromised economy and not so high real estate prices.

This town is dry and hot because ventilation is low. Kona is the city with highest record low in the USA at 56F.

Home of the Ironman World Triathlon since 1981. However, beginning this year, while the women will continue to have their championship in Kailua-Kona on September 14, the men will go to Nice, France on October 2023. They will flip in 2024, with women in Nice on September 24 and men in Kona on October 26. Read my story on how I almost killed it. No kidding.

Also has the annual Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, November 3-12, 2023, and Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament, August 5-13, 2023. Kona is known for coffee, as fortunately the upper slopes get a daily fog and more moisture, where the crop grows.

Ali Drive is the main drag. At the downtown end is the Marriott King Kamehameha Hotel, which starts the Kailua-Kona Pier, where the tender docks. Read about our stay here nearly a third of a century ago for the total eclipse of the sun. And, incidentally, the next total solar eclipse will occur on 8April2024. Hawaii will not see a total, but there is a track through Texas and up to the Northeast. There are various churches, shopping areas and beaches along the roadway.

So on our final day, we had lunch and walked around Kailua-Kona.

Second course of fish,

After lunch we caught the tender to town.

Walked through the Marriott King Kamehameha Hotel. They had various displays.

Ship left Kailua-Kona at around 5PM.

We had reservations for Thomas Keller's The Grill, but decided that the American Market Dinner Buffet in the Colonnade looked more promising. The problem with The Grill is that they rarely vary the dishes, and if those are indicative of his French Laundry, then I don't want to go all the way there and spend so much money for that.

Beef.

Salads.

Parma ham.

Lobsters and crab legs.

Sushi.

I love red wines from Paso Robles, especially the Petite Sirah. Note that this is a totally different grape from the Syrah or Shiraz we were drinking from Australia. The Cabernet Sauvignon is not as good as the Petite Sirah, but sufficient. This Herzog Lineage can be bought in a market for less than $20, if you can ever find it. Our favorite wine on this cruise was the Raymond Family Classic Cabernet Sauvignon, which sells for $20-$25 in the market. Raymond is from Napa Valley.

Here are some photos of our buffet, beginning with the end, which is always a Baked Alaska. Not quite 2 feet high, but this shot does not do it justice.

Our dinner. We were joined by Jay of Hawaiian Airlines.

Thought I'd take shots of what was left of the beef and Baked Alaska. Does not look so, but this Baked Alaska must be two feet tall.

Then a frantic rush to pack and leave our baggage outside in the hallway.

Day 53, arrival into Honolulu.

Last breakfast.

Diamond Head.

Customs and Immigration check? Nothing. Can't believe it. All they did was look at our passport in Lahaina, and there was no desk, even, in Honolulu. No forms to fill. Nothing. We could have walked out with a case of expensive scotch.

Goodbye Seabourn Odyssey.

Final pedometer view: 3076 steps.

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