Hawaii 2010
87 miles and 2 hours from Kailua Kona to Akaka Falls on the Hilo side, plus a detour back to Tex's for more malasadas (mmmm!) and then another bit of a detour as we turned off one turn too early for Akaka Falls.
The wrong turn was worth it, though, as we had some amazing views of plantations, of Mauna Kea, and of the coast from the beach below at Kolekole Beach Park.
Akaka Falls is 442 feet of cascading water. Well worth the visit, and the very short hike to see it. The nature surrounding it is almost as pretty as the waterfall itself. Hopped down to Hilo afterwards for shaved ice from Wilson's and a little shopping, then we immediately turned around and headed back to Kailua Kona to be ready for Ray and Molly's wedding.
Held at Sunset Cove at the Royal Kona Resort, it was a beautiful ceremony held before the setting sun, the guests, and sand beneath our feet.
We ducked a few feet behind us into the reception room and the dinner buffet on the Alii Surf Terrace, where the newlyweds performed the Argentine Tango for their first dance (!), cut the wedding cake, and even had a few hula lessons aranged for their family and friends. We capped things off by going back out to the Sunset Cove to dance on the sand.
Congratulations, Ray and Molly!