Hilo

I was sitting on the back patio of the Hotel Naniloa two Friday nights ago. An eternity, to be sure. Clear night. Warm breeze. Fabulous entertainment – a local singer with a guitar and a dry sense of humor. I’m going to play a song that everyone knows – and it’s not Happy Birthday! American Pie – you had to request the longest song of all time! Tremendous range – who else could credibly perform My Song, Old Town Road, and Hotel Naniloa (California)? I was enjoying my pizza and taking in the vibe. Hilo Bay behind me. Calm as could be. Forget about the past, don’t worry about the future, just soak in the present.

A high school reunion – Hilo High, Class of ’87 – to my right, enjoying the music and each other’s company, showing some wear and tear – but, then again, I’m Class of ’91 (San Francisco), so not too far behind, and showing some wear and tear as well. Hilo High, by the way, is a few miles from the Hotel. The intermediate and elementary schools are nearby as well, as is the University of Hawaii, Hilo campus. Small world. 35 years later, and there you are – full circle, almost. Surely, some, if not many, ventured far from home, but, invariably some did not. I have lived in California for the past 42 years; venturing far from home is, apparently, not my thing.

This was my fourth visit to the Big Island and my first stay in Hilo – Hawaii as it used to be, slow, relaxed, genuinely friendly, intentional (but in a good way). 90% of the Hawaii coastline is volcanic rock, and in and around Hilo that number is probably closer to 100%. Put otherwise, Hilo is not the place for beaches. It is, however, the place for incredible coffee – Paradise Coffee Roasters (pictured below) and Kilauea Coffee (home to the world’s best iced Americano) are just a few of the choices, waterfalls, botanical gardens, a Japanese garden, kayaking par excellence, banyan trees like you have never seen, a farmer’s market selling $1 papayas and $5 golden pineapples (the white pineapples are interesting, but not worth the price), exotic shaved iced, and Carlsmith Beach Park (pictured below as well), where you can enjoy a sandy ocean bottom, after the obligatory, but smooth, rocks. Enjoy the visual tour! Mahalo.