Sick of being in the car we decided to find some sights closer to us to check out for the day and have a more relaxed/resting day. I hadn't found malasadas yet and had read they were a "must try" Hawaii food so that was my first agenda for the day.
We got some freshly baked malasadas from Standard Bakery; sadly they only had plain or Bavarian cream filling (I was hoping to find coconut or POG filled). I ate mine on the deck watching the waves while reading my book. It was heavenly.
We packed up and headed down the road to Greenwell Farms to learn all about how coffee is grown and processed. They have been open for over 100 years and are still owned by the same family. They started out with orchards of citrus fruits and while they are mostly known for their Kona coffee they still have lots of different types of fruits and things they grow.
Kona coffee is only grown in a small strip of land in the Kona region of the big island. If it says 100% Kona coffee it is grown here in this region.
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| Lava flowed around a tree; encasing the print of the bark in the lava |
We were told at the coffee farm to try some Lau Lau-- pork and salted cod cooked overnight in taro leaves served with rice and a bit of macaroni salad (and poke-- a raw fish "salsa" of sorts). We got 2 meals to share on the way back to the condo and it was pretty good even if it doesn't look like much.
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| This is often referred to as a Hawaiian "plate lunch"-- a meat (usually pork) served with rice and macaroni salad. |
After lunch we walked down to a local mini beach area near the harbor and put our feet in the water.
We walked back to the condo and spent some time in/by the pool too. We preferred the ocean pool where we could watch and hear the waves too.
We ended our night with some gelato from Gypsea Gelato.
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| 1/2 Mauka Trail (coffee & chocolate base with chocolate drizzle and macadamia nuts) 1/2 Oreo. |
Linking up with: Thinking Out Loud,
Neat tour! I can see how staying close to your condo for a day would be nice.
ReplyDeleteIt was a nice break from all that sitting in the car. As much as we loved driving around seeing the various parts of the island it was nice to have a more laid back day.
DeleteThat tour looks great!
ReplyDeleteWe really enjoyed it a lot; and we don't even like or drink coffee!
DeleteI know need to add a coffee farm to our itinerary when we go to Hawaii next year!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Oh yes, you really should. It was so interesting to learn about.
DeleteIt's almost too much to see this beautiful weather when it is so cold here, right? That pastry looks delish! The plate lunch is interesting.
ReplyDeleteIt's supposed to be very economical too and a staple of most diets since it's usually served "on the go."
DeleteI had forgotten papayas grew on trees! It was really cool to see the different fruit trees! I loved the coffee tour in Costa Rica: it was so interesting! Hope to make it to Hawaii one day.
ReplyDeletewww.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
I hope you get to there one day!
DeletePu' uhonua O Honaunau, the historic park looks and sounds like a wonderful place to learn more about the history of that area and the land. This was amazing to read about, thank you for sharing this, it's somewhere I would love to visit.
ReplyDeleteWe really enjoyed our time there so much. I love learning about the history of the various places we visit.
DeleteWhen I was there I wasn't a coffee drinker! Now I really need to get some kona coffee.
ReplyDeleteNone of us drink coffee but they did have lots of free sample and Alec and I both took a sip of one of their seasonal "favorites." We were not fans but, again, we don't like coffee! LOL.
DeleteNow I know where my Kona coffee comes from!
ReplyDeleteYes! It's a very small region called the Kona Coffee belt and both the climate and the volcanic soil is what gives it its unique flavor. That and the fact they are hand-picked, sorted, and adhere to strict certification guidelines accounts for the higher price point.
DeleteWe also did a lot of driving on the Big Island - everything was so spread out. We also enjoyed that historical site.
ReplyDeleteYes, I felt like everything was so spread out too and with so few roads crisscrossing the island we were always taking the long way 'round.
DeleteLook beautiful and delish! What a trip of a lifetime :)
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you!
DeleteI would love to visit a coffee farm! Wow! It looks so lush there. It is so cold and icy here. I need to go back to Hawaii pronto!
ReplyDeleteCarrie
curlycraftymom.com
I am really missing that warm, sunny weather!
DeleteSeeing how coffee is made is incredible. We did that when we visited kauai.
ReplyDeleteWhat an incredible time
Xoxo
Jodie
It really was such a neat and completely free experience!
DeleteThis is marvelous, Joanne. From that good looking breakfast treat to the water play to ice cream! Looking at this when it is so frigid here is like looking at a dream!
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you! I keep joking with my husband that escaping the cold for a tropical paradise has made winter seem that much colder and that much longer. I really miss my shorts and flip flips and wish we were back there. Especially with the freeze we're having.
DeleteWhat a great day exploring and it's always so nice to have some time left in the day to relax. The pool by the ocean looks perfect!
ReplyDeleteWe usually try to have one afternoon each week (usually in the middle somewhere) that we can rest and relax since I often make the mistake of always being on the go while on vacation. I like to try and see it all but have learned that downtime is important too.
DeleteLooks like a wonderful trip! I'm a lot close to Hawaii than you are, but have never been there. I'd be all in for the gelato! Wonderful pictures!
ReplyDeleteI really liked getting a nightly gelato! They had so many yummy flavors.
DeleteYou must have spent hours planning this trip, Joanne! You definitely made sure to hit all the best places. I think it's funny macaroni salad is considered part of a traditional lunch. Did the coffee farm smell good?
ReplyDeletehttps://marshainthemiddle.com/
Aw, thank you! I probably did spend hours but it was spread out over much of the year so it didn't feel like much. I just had a list of possible things to see and do on each island and then left it up to the family to decide what they wanted to do each day (though I did tell them the 2 national parks were a must see!). I just remember the air smelling really fresh and tangy. But not really like coffee.
DeleteLooks like a chill and fun day!
ReplyDeleteThe malasadas sound yummy, and the coffee farm tour is interesting.
That plate lunch and gelato look awesome too!
Definitely adding Big Island to my list!
Happy Friday, Joanne!
Oh I bet you'd love it. We had so much fun exploring.
DeleteThis looks like such an incredible trip with your family! Your photos are gorgeous. I want some of that gelato!
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you! We really did have a great time.
DeleteI went to the historic sight. It's so interesting and beautiful (a photographers dream). Such a great spot! #TrafficJamReboot
ReplyDeleteIt really was so interesting; I was so glad we added it to our list and made sure to stop there.
DeleteI would really love to visit a coffee farm someday. And to see other things growing too -- how cool! I never thought about how avocados grew... :)
ReplyDeleteIt was really interesting!
DeleteSo very lovely.
ReplyDeleteIt really is such a beautiful chain of islands.
DeleteI don't know what coffee cherries are either. Adding that to my list of things to google. You have some beautiful photos!
ReplyDeleteI had never heard that term before but then when we were able to see them ourselves it was easy to see how they got their name. The "berry"/soft part on the outside is removed and the coffee bean is inside.
DeleteIt's so neat to see all of those different fruits growing on the trees. I've never heard of coffee cherries!
ReplyDeleteWe never had either! It was really interesting to learn about the whole process.
DeleteI have been quite the armchair traveler with this series! And yes, I do want to visit the Big Island. Thanks for sharing this with all of us!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! This was a fun series to write and put together.
DeleteSuch a wonderful trip. And the memories you will forever treasure! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteTake care and best wishes.
Aw, thank you!
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