Big Island, Hawaii

Kona-Kailua

19.6400° N, 155.9969° W

We made our annual trip to The Big Island, Hawaii. It is always time for us to reconnect, relax and reenergize before we dive back into a busy schedule of work and school. We spend our time on the Kona-Kailua side of the island. Aside from gorgeous beaches, there are many things to see and do in Kona……. Enjoy some shave ice, take a tour of Coffee or Chocolate farms, and Historical sights such as Hulihe’e Palace and Mokuaikaua Church to name a few. The area along Ali’i Drive was once the home to Hawaiian royalty and it’s easy to see why with it’s pristine beaches and mountain overlooking it all —- I often find myself imagining what the island looked like before tourists and development.

It’s amazing how quickly this summer unfolded. Sadly, I feel like we blinked and now it’s Labor Day Weekend —- put Summer ‘19 in the books. Our family savored the last nuggets of summer making memories with extended family on the Big Island, Hawaii. If you have the opportunity to travel with family, do it — It’s a gift! Ours was a multigenerational group of grandparents, sisters + brothers, Aunts + Uncles and cousins. We traveled from California, Delaware and Louisiana. We shared laughs, played dominoes on the beach, swam, ate and thoroughly enjoyed each others company.

We spent our first day at Magic Sands Beach not far from our condos on Ali’i Drive — home for the week. Magic Sands is in Kona-Kailua at La’aloa Bay. Magic Sands is also called Disappearing Sands Beach and White Sands Beach but, no matter what you choose to call it you’ll find this to be a wonderful place to spend the day. This small beach can be rocky and the tide strong but, we continue to return here because there is a lifeguard on duty and the boogie boarding is great. I love to walk to Magic Sands in the early morning and watch the foamy tides come in —- there are usually few people in the early hours and the glow of the rising sun on the waters is beautiful. This is a great time to see gentle sea turtles gliding in the shallows of the water.

This beach is very popular with boogie boarders — it’s fun to watch the experienced locals do flips and spins on the crashing waves. Kevin and Elijah both took them on like champs. I get a kick out of watching them ride the turquoise waves before they fizzle into foam at the shore.

Next-door is the Magic’s Beach Grill. Last summer, their restaurant was being remodeled and they served their flavorful meals out of a food truck. We were happy to see that construction was complete and they are now a full restaurant with dining both indoors and outdoors. They are open for Brunch, Lunch and Dinner and everything is really delicious with a heavy use of local ingredients —- there is something for everyone on the menu. If you are looking for a quick snack I suggest you try the ‘Ulu Fries with the trio of sauces! ‘Ulu is a variety of breadfruit grown in Hawaii — it is starchy like a potato but, healthier. Give it a try!

‘Ulu Fries served with a smile.

Colorful bowl brimming with seasonal fruits.

We ended our first day cooking by the BBQ grill, sharing what we did for the day and playing a few rounds of the trivia game Heads Up. It was a day filled with memories.

Just a reminder to keep our beaches clean!

Happy Travels!