Wood Valley

Last week I was invited to a party in Wood Valley. Wood Valley is a delightful valley tucked in behind the old plantation town of Pahala, approx 20 miles south of Volcano. Pahala is home to Tex's famous malasadas ( portuguese doughnuts) . This sleepy town has some excellent old plantation homes from the islands Sugar Days . You must drive into Pahala on the main road, then take a right at the stop sign at the intersection where Tex's is. This road will take you into Wood Valley, after you pass a long stretch of Macadamia nut orchards. Pretty 10 and 20 acre+ farms dot the valley which is a mix of pasture land and jungle like landscape of tall trees and fragrant white ginger. Wood Valley is also home to a colorful Tibetan Buddhist Temple, where the Dali Lama came to visit and speak a few years ago. The public is invited to tour the grounds and step inside the temple. There are cushions you can take and sit on while you drink in the peaceful quiet of the surroundings. Monetarty donations are appreciated to keep the temple open to the public.

Fruit Stand in Waiahinou on the Road to Kona

Today I stopped at a little fruit stand off Hwy 11 in the town of Waiahinou. It is an orchard with fruit and mac nut trees surrounded by picturesque lava rock walls, and some crude signs that say "espresso" and "organic fruit" . Under an ohia post and metal roofed pavillion owners Barney and Elizabeth have a selection of seasonal and organic fruits, packaged, dehydrated macadamia nuts, an assortment of honeys and Ka'u coffee. Todays selection were 2 kinds of grapefruits, organic white and ruby reds, avocados, limes, and bananas.
Now Kona has the name associated with Hawaii coffee, but personally I find the coffee's grown in the Ka'u region of the Big Island to be more flavorful. Many people don't realize that coffee grows in all districts of the island, not just Kona.
Barney complained that too many new people are moving into the area and would like to see fruit stands like his taken down so they don't detract from their land values. It would seem that new people coming here want to destroy the very character that charmed them in the first place. (only they don't realize it until its gone) I say hats off to all the little entrepreneurs like Barney that are out there trying to make a living and keeping Hawaii a colorful place to visit.
By the way this Southern route of Hwy 11 is fantastic to drive in winter as the poinsettias ( yes they do grow somewhere besides pots covered in colored foil at Wal-Mart) are in full bloom and the vivid red spilling over the black lava walls is truly worthy of your digital camera.

Ohelo Berry Harvest 

Best Of Hawaii Island

Welcome to the "Best of Hawaii Island" , our blog featuring all the cool places we know of on this island...places off the beaten path or well worth the trip, the things we think are a rip-off and things that guests to our Bed & Breakfast have discovered during their stay here. Our guests give us a unique perspective of our island, things we often miss or are jaded about. You see actually living in Paradise is not all the easy street you think it is....we do work for a living...but its not bad either!

We are in Volcano, just outside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and living on a volcano can be pretty interesting at times. Friday we had a 5.1 Earthquake that hit about midnight. It shook the house pretty good, and several guests were disappointed that they slept thru it!