I will miss this view when taking my morning shower.
As check-out was 11am and check-in at our next destination not until 3pm, we had time for a few more Hilo hot spots before the drive to Puna. First we drove toward the University of Hawai`i-Hilo campus, the only major University on the Big Island. It seemed, though, that a parking permit was required so we just cruised through in our rental car before circling back to the `Imiloa Astronomy Center.
`Imiloa sits just above the UHH campus, a lovely and peaceful setting for this state-of-the-art facility. Part Hawaiian cultural museum, part Astronomy learning center, `Imiloa strives to bring science and technology to the forefront of the Hawaiian experience while spreading awareness and celebration of the Hawaiian way of life.
We watched a cool movie about Mauna Kea in the planetarium.
Mauna Kea, the largest mountain in the world when measured from the bottom of the sea, has inspired this dual-learning approach as it has become the leading location for viewing and understanding the cosmos. Housing the most powerful telescopes in the world, Mauna Kea allows scientists the opportunity to better understand the Universe, its creation and what is happening next in our ever-changing solar system. The telescopes have been met with much controversy, as they sit on precious Hawaiian soil. Thus, the delicate balance of scientific discovery and cultural reverence serves to make both sides content.
For lunch, we headed to Hilo's beloved Ken's House of Pancakes -- for an old fashioned plate lunch.
From there we headed to Big Island Candies. We used them last year for our wedding favors (their famous shortbread cookies dipped in homemade chocolate and beautifully packaged in tiny boxes for our guests). We didn't have much time then to explore, though, so this time we took our time and picked up some souvenirs (and snacks) and watched the workers on the assembly line. It is a dangerous place if you have a sweet tooth, but they are now offering some sugar free options and they also sell a few non-chocolate items such as wasabi and vanilla extract.
From there we headed toward old Pahoa town and picked up some groceries at the Malama Market. It was 3pm on a Friday, and the grocery store was buzzing. I'm not sure if it can be attributed to low employment or a non-conventional work week, but it seemed the weekend had already begun in Pahoa!
As we neared our vacation rental, I began to get a bit nervous as I always do when we first approach these places we find on the inernet. So far, using VRBO we've been able to find some amazing homes in Moloka`i and Pahoa (2007).
And we have another hit, which is really great since we'll be hear for the next two weeks. The house features a lagoon in the front yard with koi, tilapia and other fish - and we are allowed to swim in it! The yard also boasts a huge grill, hot tub, a dining area and enough tiki torches to have our own lu`au.
Today marked the end of our first week here in Hawai`i and also was the last day of our more structured itinerary. We tend to be laid back travelers, not planning much, and just doing what we feel like on the fly. However, because we were taking such a long trip we decided to make the first week a bit more planned so that we wouldn't put off doing things until the final week. It worked out well for us, and helped us slowly melt into vacation mode without the immediate whiplash feeling of "Now what do I do with my time?" We're also about 30 minutes away from Hilo now so seeing those sites will not be as convenient. There is still plenty left on our mental to-do list, but we now take things one day at a time, or even one second at a time.
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