Hawai’i Day Eight: the Last Day

Last night we went out just for dessert; we’d been too full to contemplate “afters” when we had dinner at Huggo’s On the Rocks the other night, but I had sworn I’d be back to try their Kona Coffee Cheesecake—with a cup of Kona coffee, naturally! Two words: Worth it.

Today is a balance, of getting the things done that need to be done for tomorrow’s departure, and also making the most of one last day here, with the sound of the surf and the soft feel of the air and the salt in my hair! (Like my visor says: “Salt Life”!)

I’m on a mission to notice every moment. I’ve been imprinting them on my brain as we’ve gone along, so I can keep them, so I can call them up again and enjoy them over and over. It’s the greatest gift of Travel, that your experiences become part of your “mental repertoire” forever.

I will admit I was into my swimsuit before the sun rose, and the skirt I pull on with it until it’s time to swim. And then had to content myself with drinking more coffee and listening to the surf, what hardship.

Jon made us breakfast sandwiches again, then we folded up all the beach towels that were spread drying around the condo, grabbed our “go” bag for the beach, and hit the road south.

I almost forgot to say: I saw my first wild Hawai’ian boar the other day! Unfortunately it was in the road, killed by a car (which it might have half-killed in return, by the look of it)…

Honaunau Bay, where we’ve spent the majority of our water time, is a traditional fishing community, where they also (wisely) take parking-money from us tourists, who flock to its flourishing reef and its easy step-formation entry/exit. It’s also known as “Two Step,” and is even listed as such in the Snorkel Hawai’i book at our condo—but I noticed a hand-written addition to the “educate yourself” sign-board set up at the shore. The addition, in emphatic block printing, said: “Honaunau Bay, NOT Two Step.” I can understand insisting on a place’s Right Name.

We spent almost the whole morning snorkeling, getting out to warm in the sun, and then going back in. And again. And one more, one last time.

And finally even I had to admit that we needed to head home. Needed to wash our dive gear and give it time to dry. Needed to run a load of laundry—swimsuits & beach towels encrusted with salt water—because we’ll get home after one in the morning, and have to hit the ground running for work Monday. Needed to clean out the Jeep and clean out the fridge and gather up all our things from all around the condo that we’ve been living in as if we lived here. Needed to shower off the salt and sand and sunscreen. Needed to pack our bags.

Now all our chores are done, and I’m hungry—it’s time for an early dinner! Jon’s doing a fry-up, and we’ll treat ourselves to breakfast out, before we turn our steps toward the airport in the morning.