Kona-Journal entry's

December 1st

Sarah’s Entry

    Got a late start but it was very easy getting the rental car.  Not so easy finding Mountain Thunder coffee.  I found their website on my phone and got the directions to get up there.  Upon reading the directions “past the third Hao road” we understand the confusion.

    When we arrived there really wasn’t any one out to greet us.  A girl did come out and make us our coffee which was the best I had ever had.  Judy our guide arrived at 10.  She was running late and didn’t really seem in any real hurry to get started.  She was really sweet though so we worked on our patience and waited.  It was well worth it once she began her talk she had planted some trees up near the road so they would be more accessible to people who couldn’t get around well.  She talked about being organic, about the growing cycle of the beans(cherries).  About the new found benefits in the antioxidents in the cherries themselves and of Hawaiian red tea. 

    After that we went in and learned the whole roasting and sorting methods and then we actually watched while she roasted at medium roast.  She said it is actually better to wait 3-4 days for the flavors to finish developing before drinking. 

    We bought our coffee and headed toward cook monument and the painted church.

    Better research could have gone into this… the painted church was ok, but I didn’t know you had to kayak out to cooks….ooops.  So back on the windy roads we go to bind Kona brewing co.  The brewing company was good, we had a coupon for free breadsticks if you bought a beer sampler which Derek wanted anyway.  I tried the lava red which I didn’t like.  We also ordered nachos with pulled pork, very good.  We found out they had wifi so Derek can back to the car for the netbook and we tried a video chat with the kids, but the microphone wasn’t working on the laptop at home.  It was still good to see their faces.

   
    Back on the ship we went to the Honeymoon/Anniversary champagne and cake reception, only four couples showed up so we ended up having four glasses a piece.  For dinner we headed back to the Liberty for beef Wellington, glad we didn’t miss that.  After dinner we headed to the hot tub before showering and getting ready for the White Hot Dance Party, of course we hit the martini bar for happy hour first.  My dress was way to big and kept slipping so I ended up changing an going back.  It was a goodtime and the dancing was fun.  Back to sleep!

Derek’s Entry
    Got to sleep in a little bit today, off to find a coffee plantation to make my brother happy.  Have to come home with some Kona coffee.  After quite a bit of driving we made it to Mountain Thunder plantation.  Got there too early for the tour, but they offered us a fresh cup of coffee, that was amazing.  I drank it black and it was so smooth.  Learned a lot about coffee and after spending $70 on coffee we hopped back in the car in search of cook’s monument and the painted church.  More long windy road driving. 

    After driving for about 45 minutes we found the painted church.  I was expecting amazing.  It was a cute little church with a painted ceiling.  There is historical significance behind it, plus it is still a functioning catholic church.  If I were catholic, I probably would have enjoyed it more.  Next up, Cook Monument.  When Cook landed on the island by accident the first time he was accepted as a god.  He left and landed there again and the natives killed him.  The monument marks where he was killed.  The only way to the monument is by kayaking or boat, since we didn’t have either we took a picture from a long way away.  Without a doubt it was my most disappointing day in Hawaii, but that is our own faults for not researching Kona well, plus it was still better than being home at work.

    Back to the ship for the Honeymooners/anniversary reception in the Lanai bar.  They had glasses of champagne poured out from 5 bottles, well only 4 couples showed up.  Had 4 glasses a piece and a piece of cake that wasn’t worth eating.  Off to check on what is for dinner in the main dining room(Liberty).  Noticed Beef Wellington on the menu which is one of my faves and oh yeah, we are in!  Got to finish it up with some Crème Brulee and I was one happy cruiser!  Afterwards off to the White Hot Party.  Mostly everyone wore white and we had a good time.  Danced some of our food away and had a couple more drinks.  On the way back to the room we walked through one of the closed restaurants as a shortcut back to the room.  More on that tomorrow