Our home - now a vacation rental!

Our Family Home of 17 years has now become a vacation rental!  We've loved fixing it up, getting ready to show it off and let others experience the rest and peace that we've enjoyed here.  Because we travel 230+ days a year, we'll be moving into a condo near the beach for the days that we are home.  And because the Family Home is a vacation rental, we can reserve it for us when we want to!

If you're interested in renting it, please visit Kona Coast Vacation Rentals.

Aloha!

Why I like the "A" seat...

North Kohala Coast

I have been away from home so many days this year!  I think I counted 240+ days away.  And these last few weeks, we've been on a roll!  Two weekends ago, Bob and I were in Nigeria.  One week ago today, we arrived home from Singapore for a couple of days before heading to Reno for last weekend.  Just got home today for about 36 hours, and head back to Singapore for next weekend, then to Manchester, UK for New Years, back to Singapore, on to California, and finally HOME in mid-January for a short break.

With the flights we took today, Bob is figuring he will have just passed 3,000,000 miles just with United Airlines / Star Alliance!  I'm a ways behind, but well past 1,000,000 miles.  That's a lot of "bottom time" on a plane!

So, it's always a treat to come back home.  When we fly in from LA or San Francisco, I like to reserve the "A" seat to get a front row view of my approaching home.  About 45 minutes out, I can begin to make out Mauna Kea, towering nearly 14,000 feet.  Today was a stellar day approaching the Kona airport (even tho we WERE delayed four hours out of San Fran!).  This blog has shots from the last 10 minutes or so of the flight, from North Kohala, over the Kohala mountains, the South Kohala and Kona Coasts with the mountains of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa in the background, and their black lava flows etching the landscape.  Lastly, the beautfiul Makalawena Beach just before landing.  Oh, I LOVE being here, if even for a heartbeat!

The Kohala Mountains (with one of my favorite all-time drives).  Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa and Hualalai volcanos in the background

The Kohala Mountains with the very distinct rainy / dry markation zone

The bend of the island with the deep port of Kawaihae

With Mauna Kea in the background, the ancient lava flows from Mauna Loa and Hualalai volcanos enter the sea

The beautiful Makalawena crescent beaches

Gardens By The Bay, Singapore

Singapore - one of our most beloved places to be!  We've been coming to this tiny jewel of an island nation since 1990 (well...Bob since a few years before that).  In the past few years when we've visited, we've seen the sites in this blog rise from the sea as reclaimed land, and developed into the beautiful, modern, extravagance that Marina Bay has become. The Gardens By The Sea are highlighted by the solar powered Super Trees, and two biodome conservatories: The Cloud Forest, showing tropical biodiversity, and The Flower Dome which features Mediterranean plants.  I was more taken with the Cloud Forest on this visit: its waterfalls, brilliant flowers and the imaginative walkways soaring in the highlands of the man-made tropical mountainside kept my camera firing away.

Kite flying at the Marina Barrage

The Singapore Flyer

The ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands

The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands

Anthony and Kara's Wedding

After falling in love many years ago at nearby Hawaii Preparatory Academy in Kamuela, Anthony and Kara sealed their relationship with vows to each other on September 1, 2012 at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel. 

So much thought went into preparing such a loving celebration.  Among many other things, Kara, of Japanese descent, made 1000 gold origami cranes for the traditional family crest that was displayed at the reception.  And finding their parents' wedding photos, the florist recreated their mothers' wedding bouquets, which were presented to them at the reception.

Their gentleness and obvious love and passion for each other was soul-filling.  Such an honor to be part of the day that launches a new history-in-the-making.  Richest of Blessings and Aloha to you both!

Bridal Gown: DaVinci
Groom's Suit: Astor and Black
Bride's Shoes: Lulu Townsend
Grooms Shoes: Cole Haan
Wedding Rings: Blue Nile
Florals: Ilima Flowers
Catering: Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel
Cake: Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel
Musicians: Lorna Lim
DJ: 808 Hype
Lighting: Hawaii Event Lighting
Bridesmaid Dresses and Groomsmen Shirts: Banana Republic

A special thanks to Psalm for your friendship and ever-beautiful photography as my second shooter.