Public Market in Hilo

Today I needed to be in downtown Hilo by 8AM for an appointment. The commute was awful! According to GPS it should only take 40 minutes to get downtown to the harbor area but at that time of the morning it actually took a little over an hour. Let me tell you—if these islanders drove like we do on the mainland I would have made it a lot quicker. They truly are islanders: very laid back and easy going! I turned off the AC, rolled down the windows, and listened to some good tunes. If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em!’

For lunch I wandered through the public market. I didn’t take too many photos but oh I DO love a good market!

I can’t remember what they call these here but its something like “wanapau” anyway this one is sweet potato both in the dough and in the middle–yes that lovely purple is a yam. It was delicious but high in gluten so my stomach didn’t thank me for tasting this.

Here are the full “Rollinia” fruit. You really need to try this — it is delicious. The flavor of it reminded me of the “marrang” fruit in the Philippines–only the flavor.

The best Dive Shop on the island! Bill is quite the guy. He’s been teaching diving here for 32 yrs and he is a great instructor.

Yes!!! The lovely anthuriums—-in lots of different colors.

Young ginger. Can’t you just imagine all the stir-fry you could enjoy with this?!

Bread Fruit

I was happy with my choice—the coconut juice. YUM! Not sweet at all.

Green coconut. Hacked open right on the spot.

Loved this park. During the lunch time part of the day folks just sprawl under these trees on the grass. What a lovely spot!

Photos of Pahoa Old Town

So… These didn’t turn out so great as I was driving and taking photos–not really recommended! But I liked the bikini sale sign. You can layaway your bikini for Christmas!

I had coffee at Sirius Coffee Shop and Hot Spot and I wasn’t quite ‘hi’ by the time I left. ;-). Then I wandered over to Island Naturals and had some delicious nutritional yeast tofu. It was phenomenal! I gotta perfect that recipe at home!

So Beautiful!

These flowers fascinate me here in Hawaii. They almost seem unreal and I just can’t get enough if looking at them.

Discovering new fruits

So the neighbor gave me fruit and among them is this new thing–to me anyway. It’s a rollinia. She gave me a slice and here are some photos. It’s kind of tart-sweet and quite nice. She says if you freeze it and then put it in the blender with orange juice that it makes a perfect “orange Julius”. I don’t have a blender so I’m just going to eat this one for dessert after my tofu kimchi noodles. I can’t wait to discover more fruit I’ve never eaten before!

The town of Pahoa

I wish you could come for a visit to the town of Pahoa. Every town here in Hawaii, like everywhere, has its own unique personality. Pahoa (puh-ho-ah) is a little hippy village. I love it! Your neighbors here talk freely of smoking a little weed now and then and on the way to meeting this morning, in the car, I was given a little lesson regarding various Hawaiian words and if I was invited to sample them just what I might be consuming. I wish I could remember all of them but….maybe better that I can’t on a public website. :-). One thing I know now is to be careful about what brownies I eat as I might get a little extra ‘lift’ other than the chocolate.

Anyway, as I was driving through Old Pahoa Village this afternoon I saw a sign that made me think fondly of some of my good friends in WA. In the door of a cafe there was a sandwich board that read, “Kombucha on tap!” I think that’s the first time I’ve seen that. So….all you Kombucha lovers—-come and visit, you’ll be able to get a fresh tall glass and then wander with me down to ‘The Natch.” That’s what the locals call the “Island Natural” store which carries everything you could imagine and more for the ‘natural’ lover.

I’m having so much fun exploring.

Island Hair!

Wha-ha-ha! This is a silly post for those of you who liked ‘the curly look.’ Island hair! After sleeping in this humidity it’s scary for some of us to suddenly come upon a mirror!

A quiet day enjoying the house….

I can’t express my thankfulness to Dennis and Susana for letting me stay in their new home. This truly is their own little (not so little) piece of paradise.

Today my energy hasn’t been very good so I’ve just wandered the property and enjoyed the place to my heart’s content.

From my breakfast out on the lanai to checking out the outer perimeter….I could happily spend my days here and never leave! 🙂

My first 10 mile run here….Flowers everywhere!

When you think ‘wild flowers’ certain images come to mind–daisies, Indian paintbrush, buttercups. How about orchids? It took me quite a bit longer to get my 10 in today because of all my stops to admire and take photos. Enjoy! Also—I never sweat SO much! Yuck, I know.

Island Impressions

In no particular order, over the next couple months, my posts will share various and sundry impressions of my island experience.

I didn’t feel any particular enthusiasm when I embarked on this journey to Hilo and beyond but I knew my body and mind needed rest and ‘down’ time. Now that I’m here I realize just how low I was and in discovering this paradise around me–with all its flaws and foibles–I’m putting life in perspective again. I’ll never be perfect, as hard as I try. And in the trying so hard I only make others, and myself, more aware of my innumerable flaws. Ha-ha! “Live and let live.”

I want to have eyes that see the best, a heart to forgive the worst, a mind that forgets the bad, and a soul that never loses faith.

Scone Research

In the past couple of days I’ve amused myself checking out two different scone recipes. The first I made was billed as “World’s Best Scones–from Scotland to the Savoy to the US”. The second is called “Dreamy Cream Scones” by America’s Test Kitchen. Hands down the second is the best. They are truly dreamy made with very simple but the best ingredients. If you want the recipes just google those names. Enjoy!