Aloha!

Just a few days after I got back from San Felipe in Mexico, I flew to Hawaii for another "vacation from my permanent vacation."

There were lots of masked people on the flight.

We had a long layover in Honolulu -

Then finally arrived in Kona on the Big Island.

The next day, we did a tour of the area north of Kona. Our first stop was the cute little cowboy town of Waimea. There's a beautiful statue there dedicated to Ikua Purdy, a world champion roper way back in 1908!

You can tell you are in cowboy country by the unique stop signs.

After seeing the town, we drove out to Parker Ranch, where we went through old house where they lived. Outside is a statue of Diana, the Roman Goddess of the Hunt!

The interior of the house is made entirely of Koa, a very rare and now expensive Hawaiian wood.

And of course there were horses outside.

We also drove out to some overlooks on the north shore. First up was Waipio Valley overlook -

And then Pololu Valley overlook.

And then on the way home, we stopped to see the original King Kamehameha I statue from 1880. It was made in Italy and Paris, and lost at sea on its way to Hawaii when the ship caught fire and sank. Amazingly, it was recovered and made its way to Hawaii.

OMG, every time I come to Hawaii, these guys try to sell me insurance!

Our first sunset view from our condo in Kona!