It's a sunny morning in Kona

I've got a couple of days off, the ears are feeling better, hopefully I'm completely over the crud by the time I'm back to diving. Today's a run-around day to get errands done and then start cleaning our vacation rental for the next group.

I've got my full timer hired. I'm excited. He's got a decade of full time guiding and teaching experience in Hawaii so he'll be a nice addition, I'll talk more about him when his two weeks notice is up.

We did the manta dive the other night again, 19 mantas at the site this time. It was cool, even for me on the boat. We were tied off to another boat and as their divers were getting in I could hear them hollering. I could see 6 or 7 mantas swirling next to my boat in the shadows, in addition to the mantas under the divers and those over my group which was already down at the site.

The photo above was taken at the "end of the road" up north of Kawaihae and Hawi. There are a series of valleys on the north end of the island which streches from Pololu Valley to Waipio Valley. I really like Pololu Valley. At the end of the road there is a steep, but relatively short (15-20 minute) hike down into the valley. It's a nice way to get some great sightseeing and a bit of a hike in without traveling all the way to the other side of the island, or trying to walk the Captain Cook Monument trail which is a little more serious hike - I do need to try that monument hike again just to see if it kills me as much as when I was 30 pounds heavier a few years back. I'll post a pic or two of Pololu Valley at a later date.

Aloha,

Steve