Hawaii Part Deux

These are the Akaka Falls in Hawaii on the Big Island. My travel agent calls the Big Island, Kona, but in fact there is Kona (City and airport) on one side of the Big Island and Hilo (City and airport) on the other side. This falls is on the Hilo side. One of the travel guides on the internet said it is such a long drive, that you should spend half of your vacation on the Kona side and half on the Hilo side. So I suggested this to the travel agent who suggested it to the tour company that she deals with in Hawaii. They must be located in (and get their profit from) Kona, because they said, no, no, no. It's only a two hour drive and the hotels are awful on the Hilo side--you won't be comfortable. Ok. So even though the main reason (besides relaxing and its Hawaii and comfortable ocean view, etc., etc.) for going is to see these falls, I have to drive to the equivilent of going to Santa Barbara to see them and come back the same day. Ok. Not that I ever drive to Santa Barbara for the day now, but it's not impossible.

I went on my iphone map to see how far it was and it refused to give me directions. Refused. On the map it looks like a very big volcano is right in the middle of the Island making it rather impossible to get from one side to the other, but I am assured by the tour company that there is a two lane highway to take me there.

The internet picture on the webcite for the hotel looks cheesy, so I was somewhat sceptical. However, the internet picture on GoHawaii looks awesome. A trick of the camera? A little airbrush here and there? Who knows--and really who cares. It's Hawaii. The garbage dump in Hawaii is still in Hawaii. Even the warehouse that I worked at in Hawaii was in Hawaii--it was dark when we left, but the air was so sweet and lush. I was still in Hawaii.

So yes, I'm going and yes, I'm probably going to be disappointed by some things, but I'll be disappointed in Hawaii. Big fat hairy deal--I'll be in Hawaii. I can't stop grinning.