The Big Island

Painting trip to Hawaii's Big Island. . .

Mahalo!

Painted 'thank you' cards for friends

The Big Island

This years' Hawaiian trip was to Hawaiʻi, The Big Island.  The island has very contrasting regions-rainforest, dry lava beds, active volcano craters!  The two biggest towns, Kona and Hilo, are populated by magnificent ancient banyan trees-which are all related apparently.

This giant banyan hangs over the north end of the beach at Kona on the west coast.

Of course huge hotels still dominate the shoreline.  The tourists stand out in their floral shirts.

We stayed further up the coast in Puako where the secluded beaches allow sea turtles to nest and interesting driftwood and tsunami debris form natural sculpture.

 Sea turtles are really tough to draw but endlessly fascinating-every evening I'd go down to the shore-line to sketch them resting after struggling to come ashore and drag themselves up the beach.

Flocks of wild turkeys ranged around the neighborhood. This guy was chasing them off the immaculate lawn of his beach front property one morning!

This beach house was in the shade of these twisted, sea-bleached trees and palms. Doesn't that hammock look inviting?

Aloha!

Aloha!

An added bonus of living in California is that we're only a 5hr hop from tropical paradise The Sandwich Isles (as Hawaii was christened by Capt. Cook).  The pace of life is so leisurely over there a long weekend felt like 2 weeks! Possibly the most relaxed place I've ever been.

First stop Waikiki Beach with the famous view of once volcanic Diamond Head Mountain

Honolulu tourists

 Turtle Bay

The macademia nut farm & Kualoa Ranch tour was one of the highlights. The presentations afforded me time to sketch the chickens and Japanese tourists.

The stunning scenery looked so familiar since it has been the backdrop in Lost, Jurassic Park etc.

In Haleiwa my girlfriend surprised me with a cage-diving trip amongst sharks! 

These islands are known as 'Chinaman's Hat' and behind it 'Turtle Island'

The Polynesian Cultural Centre is a must-see attraction; we spent a whole afternoon there exploring the authentic tribal huts and watching the dancing and demos.

In the evenings they put on a dance extravaganza show 'Hā- The Breath of Life'

So that was my first Hawaiian vacation on Oahu. Next time I'd like to see what the other islands offer-Kuai, Maui and the Big Island.