Breakfast in Hawaii

Sieglinde took this yesterday morning at breakfast. Who knew geckos like strawberry jam?

Sunset at 13,000 feet

What an amazing day. Great breakfast outdoors on a hill top overlooking Kealakakua Bay (Sieglinde has pics on her FaceBook page of a gecko eating breakfast jam), followed by a walk on the beach in 86 F weather, then watching the sun set and the rise of the full moon from on top of Mauna Kea (13,700 feet/4,205 m) in sub-freezing temperature, standing in snow and wearing an artic parka.

Our condo looks over a golf course, with Mauna Kea in the background. At sunset, we can see the sun glint of the observatories up there. Last week it snowed and left 18 inches of snow up there.

The picture of me is at 9,000 feet elevation and you can see one of the old volcano cinder cones in the background to my right. Awesome tour, driven right to the summit, then back down to 9,000 feet for a tour of the stars through some 14" telescopes. What a day!

More from Hawaii

Our first morning in Waikoloa we saw this amazing cloud in the sky and had to get a picture. Not sure if it's a fish, a whale or a shark. Very cool. The other pic is New Year's Day seafood lunch being supervised by Fish, the restaurant cat. Right at the marina with the freshest seafood in town. Menu changes daily.

Kona, Big Island of Hawaii

After being away for 12 years, we're back for another Christmas vacation in Kona. This time we're in a condo up the coast in Waikoloa. Fabulous view of Mauna Kea (13,000 foot) as the sun rises behind it. Had some great beach time, fabulous meals, an unplanned detour to check out emergency medical care in Honolulu (thank God for great travel insurance) and had lots of time together. Wonderful way to end 2011 and begin 2012.

The various pics are us on a snorkel cruise Christmas Day, at a luao in Kona and on the beach to welcome the first sunrise of 2012 in Waikoloa. Having a wonderful time!