Hawaii 2019: Captain Zodiac Raft Expeditions

If you visit Hawaii, It is mandatory to explore the Pacific Ocean. We booked a snorkeling excursion with Captain Zodiac Raft Expeditions. We took a midday tour, meeting at the Captain Zodiac tour office in Gentry’s Kona Marina. The marina was easy to find and offered free parking.

We were offered a warm greeting at the tour office as we signed our waivers and were fitted for equipment. Upon booking the tour, I asked about a changing room, as the excursion was far from our hotel and I didn’t want to be stuck in my bikini all day.

It turned out that the “changing room” was actually a small bathroom that all of the local businesses use, including a bustling restaurant. It was awkward to change with a queue of women waiting to use the toilets. If we take this excursion in the future, I will definitely just wear my bathing suit under my shorts.

Make sure to wear sunscreen and make sure that it is designated “reef safe.” It’s also not a bad idea to bring a hat with a tight strap and sunglasses. The sun is intense and we all returned pinker than we left.

As soon as the other guests arrived ( about ten of us in total, including several older children) Captain Rick and his assistant, Amanda, walked us over to our zodiac boat.

At first, the ride was a lot of fun. I was laughing and having a great time. I hadn’t been on a zodiac raft in many years and I forgot how bumpy the ride can be, especially when we hit open water. We had to lean forward and keep a minimum of one hand gripped on the safety rope as our feet were tucked under a different rope.

After about twenty-minutes the ride turned from thrilling to uncomfortable. I was white-knuckling the rope. If you want to feel old ( I was forty-one at the time) go on a zodiac raft ride. You will feel every ache and pain in your body. The following day, Dan and I could barely move. There are warnings regarding this not being a great excursion for people with neck/back conditions and other medical problems that might be aggravated, but for us, it was simply being in our 40’s. Ouch!

That said, the ride had beautiful views and it’s always a joy to be out on the water soaking up the sunshine.

And we saw dolphins…loads of dolphins!

We stopped at Kealakekua Bay for about two hours to snorkel. We were told that Disney animators came here to get inspired for Finding Nemo. It’s a calm snorkeling spot with plenty of fish.

It’s not easily accessible by land, so the bay was filled with various excursion operators. There is a trail that takes approximately 2.5 hours to the Captain Cook Monument, a memorial with an obelisk for the explorer that is said to be on the spot where he died. This tiny area of land is technically British soil. Cook is a highly controversial historical figure, having bullied his way into many indigenous populations, causing them harm. He met his demise in Hawaii, when the Hawaiians fought back.

Captain Rick and Amanda gave us our life jackets and snorkel gear. They also had pool noodles for anyone who wanted extra floatation help. Despite having little snorkeling experience, Zoe and Dan jumped right in. I was nervous. I have no fear of swimming in the ocean and I’m a strong swimmer, however, I had a claustrophobia issue the last time that I went snorkeling and panicked. Amanda was very kind in talking me through my panic attack and I felt brave enough to give it a try. Felix and I jumped in the water at the same time and started exploring.

The minute I hit the water, I felt confident.

Colorful fish were everywhere! These pictures absolutely do not do it justice. It was far more bright and magical. I clearly remember the underwater crunch sounds that I was later told were fish eating sand.

Before our bouncy ride back, we were given snacks: fresh pineapple, chips, cookies, juice and soda. On the way back, we took a slightly different route, so that Captain Rick could show us some special points of interest. We went near sea caves, saw teenagers cliff-jumping into the ocean, and visited some rock faces where Disney animators found inspiration for Moana. I think Disney animators are just finding excuses for Hawaiian vacations!

I can’t remember if the rate is the same as what we paid in 2019, but the current prices for this tour are 125.00 for adults and 90.00 for kids. Plus, don’t forget a tip! My only negative was the aches and pains from the zodiac ( I think Dan would agree), but the kids thought it was fun. Captain Rick and Amanda did a professional job and the tour included many wonderful experiences. We recommend Captain Zodiac Raft Expeditions.

Hawaii 2019: Mauna Loa Factory and Hilo

After leaving Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, we started our journey back to Waikoloa Village, but rather than cut through the center of the island as we did on our morning drive, we went north to enjoy coastal views.

We were surprised to discover the Mauna Loa factory.

I love Mauna Loa chocolate covered macadamia nuts. As an adult, my best friend’s parents would give me a box every year for Christmas and I would devour it in a single sitting. I’m powerless to resist the chocolatey-macadamia nut goodness!

We took the detour to the factory, driving along a beautiful road through orchards.

The Mauna Loa Factory is small and offers a free, self-guided tour. We walked to a second floor exterior ramp, which allowed us to peek into the factory. Our family enjoys factory tours and even more so, when the factory is operating. We were able to see the machines running at full-steam, packing those nuts!

We went inside the store for product samples. Obviously delicious, but we also had a nice surprise when my stepson, who can be a picky eater, enjoyed the chocolate covered macadamia nuts. In fact, he loved them enough to spend his own pocket money to buy a bag! This is a kid who had never tried nuts, so quite a big deal. There were a few moments when he tried new foods on our vacation and we know it’s hard for him, so we were proud that he took the challenge.

The Mauna Loa Factory was our best unexpected surprise on the trip.

Afterwards, we drove to Hilo, which is the most populated area on the eastern side of the island. We found a cute fish & chips shop called Mohala’s Bayfront, where we ate dinner.

The restaurant was very family friendly and one of my favorite touches were these conversation-starter napkins.

Just down the street we discovered a local ice cream shop for dessert. Makani’s Magic Pineapple Shack has an adorable tiki theme and delicious mango ice cream.

Our drive took us past lush greenery, waterfalls, and ocean vistas. The landscape was dramatically different from the moon-like rocks of the Kona coast. The east side of the big island is certainly the landscape that most people would associate with Hawaii. We even saw a rainbow!

Just as we were a few miles from our hotel, we ended the day with a gorgeous sunset.

Hawaii 2019: Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes are one of the most iconic elements of Hawaii and they are most prominent on the big island. Located on the Hilo side of the island, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is massive and contains two of the most active volcanoes in the world: Kilauea and Mauna Loa.

The entrance fee was a reasonable 25.00. We spent about four hours exploring the park, but we could have easily spent an entire day ( more than a day) if we had intended to hike. We mostly drove and hopped out of our car at the various points of interest.

Our first stop was the Kilauea Visitors Center. I’m ashamed to admit that the primary purpose of our stop was for a toilet break, however for most people, the visitors center is a place to learn about volcanoes and Hawaiian culture. It is filled with educational exhibits and knowledgable park rangers.

We had a disappointing reality check when we learned that there was no current molten lava activity. When planning our vacation, we looked into tours to view lava activity, all of which were dying down from a previous eruption in 2018. We missed experiencing molten lava by just a few months.

Although it was certainly something we wanted to see, we also had to think about the destruction that it caused. We saw that until shortly before our trip, private tours were being conducted of a local housing estate that had been destroyed by the previous eruption. It was a form of disaster tourism, akin to people visiting Katrina sites after the flood. Many people are interested in witnessing the wrath of nature, but there also has to be a sensitivity and compassion towards those who have suffered, whether it be property loss or worse, the loss of a loved one.

No lava, but we did have steam coming from steam vents. This was as “active” as it got, but still neat to experience. It’s sad to see signs to remind people not to throw things into the vents. The way some people treat nature is appalling.

Speaking of nature…

I visited Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park when I was about ten years old (didn’t see active lava then either) and one of the parts that I remember the most is The Devastation Trail. This short hike shows the destruction from volcanic activity. It is just as barren and desolate now, as it was in the late 80’s.

The coolest thing we did was just to pull off and walk amongst the lava rocks. It seems strange, but it is allowed, although good shoes are recommended. We picked up a few lava rocks to admire, but we certainly did not remove them from the park. That is not only illegal, but according to Hawaiian superstition, very, very, very bad luck! You know the episode of The Brady Bunch with the tiki idol? Kind of like that, but worse.

We discovered a Nene Goose that was actually crossing!

Our final stop was a scenic overlook with breathtaking views of the ocean.

No trip to the big island would be complete without a stop at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Since it was on the other side of the island, it was a very long day for us. I wish we had thought to pack a lunch and maybe dressed more appropriately so that Waikoloa Village to Vwe could have gone on a hike. We enjoyed it, but only in a superficial way. If we do it again, I’d plan the day better and maybe even consider a tour to gain a deeper perspective on the experience. That said, although we were exhausted, it was a successful family outing. My step kids (9 and 12 at the time of the trip) were able to enjoy this new and very different experience. The landscape is like something from another planet!

On my next trip report, I will detail our unexpected adventure that we had in our evening after our day at the volcanoes..