Travel Agent Visits Hawaii's Big Island

sunrise

Sunrise on the Big Island

Even at night, Hawaii (really, I feel like I should be spelling it Hawai'i) is exotic and exciting. The air is rich and fragrant, and breezes sound different when they rustle palm fronds instead of oak leaves.

After flying 12 hours from New York (I can now quote every line from United Airlines' entertainment selection), we landed at Kona Airport and enjoyed a limousine ride to Hilton Waikoloa Village.

The sun was setting as the group set out, so we couldn't see much, but perhaps the most interesting thing about the ride was that there was so little to see. There is very little development on the Kona side of the island, and the lava fields are largely flat. The highway has no billboards. Locals use white coral pieces to write messages against the black earth--environmentally friendly vandalism, as one member of the group called it. Waikoloa Village's Director of Public Relations Leanne Pletcher said that locals don't want their views obstructed, and developers have largely left the landscape in peace. It's an impressive sight by sunset, and I can't wait to see more in daylight. 

room

View from Travel Agent's room at the Hilton Waikoloa Village

Oh, and Hilton Waikoloa Village is so big that the property has trains and boats to bring guests from one area to another. Just to put everything in perspective

Tomorrow: snorkeling and swimming with dolphins.

Right now: Sleep. It's 3:38 a.m. New York time as I write this. What am I still doing up?