The Trip Of A Lifetime To The Aloha State

If you thought I was sad yesterday, imagine how I feel today. Today is the final day of my six day vacation to the aloha state. One thing is for certain, I will definitely be coming back to this incredible state. Who knows, maybe I even decide to say screw it, pack of my belongings, and move here. It was that good of a vacation.

We didn’t do a whole heck of a lot on Thursday, so I decided to combine Thursday and Friday’s events all into one post.

Thursday morning, we woke up and went to a breakfast with thirteen governor’s from across the western part of the US. Some people were there for the political talks, but I was just there for the food and have no shame in admitting that. The nice thing about going to political conferences, there is always great food.

Following breakfast, we drove into Kona again, made a quick stop at Target, and returned to the hotel. It was time to just sit outside, and soak up the sun for as long as I could. How long you might ask? Yeah, I sat in the sun with absolutely zero sunscreen on for six consecutive hours. I went from looking as white as a ghost, to looking as red as a cherry tomato. But that’s what you’re supposed to do on vacation, right?

To top off a great and sun-filled day, my parents, two of their friends, and I went out to eat as Ruth’s Chris steakhouse. The food was amazing, but fifth wheeling with forty and fifty year olds is not really my cup of tea.

Friday: the day that I never wanted to come – the last day on the island. We woke up at around 8am, went to the same buffett breakfast that we had gone to the day that we arrived, and then my dad and I hit the links.

Every single day on the trip, we passed the same five golf courses that looked absolutely incredible. So, we decided to rent a set of clubs, and give it a try against the Hawaiian winds. Honestly, this was the first round in a while where I have not focused on score, but instead, simply soaked up all of the beauty around me, and just had fun.

After golf, we got back to the hotel room, packed up our belongings, loaded up the Jeep Wrangler, and went on an exploration to the northern part of the island. We drove to the absolutely stunning Hillawe Falls in Waipi’o Valley. Never in my life have I seen anything as stunning as the waterfalls.

Like I said in a previous post, I am normally one who can’t sit still for long periods of time, but I could have sat and stared at the waterfalls all day long. The sounds of the water falling, the birds chirping, and the ocean waves hitting land, it was almost as if the waterfalls came straight out of a fairy tale. It sounds weird, but that is how unreal it felt to be there.

The beautiful scenery of Hawaii helped to occupy my boredom during the two hour drive back to Kona. Once in Kona, we decided to make a stop at the Kona Brewing Company. All trip long, I had been drinking Kona Longboard’s, so it was only fitting to go to the brewery itself, and have one final beer.

The beer, though, was just the appetizer. For dinner, we went to Umeke’s Restaurant to get out final fixing of fresh poke. One of the governors from the conference told us that it was by far the best place for poke in Kona, and it did not disappoint one bit. I know it isn’t saying much coming from a Minnesotan, but after eating poke at least once a day on the vacation, Umeke’s was definitely the freshest, and the best tasting.

So where does that leave me now? Saddened at the airport as I am waiting to catch my return flight home. That’s where. To the Aloha State, thank you. Thank you for the trip of a lifetime. There is no other place on earth that is as beautiful, and as amazing as Hawaii.

And to my parents, thank you as well. Thank you for taking me on the trip of a lifetime to see the Aloha State and all of its beauty. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to travel with you. And thank you for allowing me to share amazing experiences, and incredible memories with you.

Now, it’s time to sleep.

Michael Bonnell

12/15/2018

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