John and I had a few days between guests, so we treated ourselves to the Saturday night all-you-can-eat crab legs buffet at the Imiloa Science Museum & Planetarium, where we are now members. The crab legs were longer and skinnier than we get from the west coast, but a great meal anyway.
On Sunday evening, we began our several-day experience with old plumbing in the parsonage! The garbage disposal backed up. The church uses an 84-year-old plumber and a rather "interesting" helper who came out the next day. They "discussed" things in a form of pigeon that we couldn't understand, but could certainly hear them several rooms away! They fixed things enough for us to use the sink. Next day came back and replaced a long pipe under the house, with lots of banging. We left for the day. Next day I started a load of wash and left to do some work at the church; when I came back, the washing machine had backed up and water was all over the floor. So again, the plumbers were called. We're good for now!
In the middle of all of this, we welcomed as our guests, Larry Trent & George Splane, formerly of Santa Rosa, but presently living in Tucson Arizona.
Akaka Falls, Hawaiian Botanical Gardens -- we went on the one sunny day Larry and George were here. They were beautiful!
So far, they get the prize for being here during the wettest week!
We all went to the Volcano Winery one afternoon on the way to Volcano National Park. Not quite up to Sonoma County wineries, but we did like their Volcano Red (blend.) It was pouring rain the day we went to Volcano, but we wanted to be sure to get in before the potential shut-down of National Parks. Luckily, the government is still open for business (for the time being!)
Larry and George went back another day, hoping to see more of it without rain. Nice try -- it rained again on them!
On Saturday we took a drive to the northern most part of the island -- the Kohala area. There are beautiful views at look-out points, but difficult to get to the beach itself without a 4-wheel drive, or a more strenuous hike than we wanted to do. We saw the original statue of King Kameamea and tried to find a marker for his birthplace, but ended up on the worst road on the island. Larry was driving, and luckily their rental car seemed to hold up bouncing over the potholes. Never did find what we were looking for (according to the guide book), except a marker where Puerto Ricans had died during a shipwreck.
We had a wonderful lunch at the Bamboo Restaurant in Kawi, a town that used to be filled with sugar cane plantation workers. No sugar cane plantations on this island anymore, however. Lots of art galleries and little shops in a couple little towns. We also passed through Waimea, home of Parker Ranch -- used to be the largest cattle ranch in the United States.
We ended the week with a super meal at the #1 rated best restaurant on the Island -- Hilo Bay Cafe. Larry and I each had the ono (white local fish) on mashed potatoes, artichoke hearts, dried tomatoes, capers, spinach. It was delicious!
But before they left, I asked Larry to sing "You Are Mine" during the middle of my sermon on Sunday. He and I used to enjoy making music together when we worked together at Christ Church, Santa Rosa, and that hymn has special meaning. He has a beautiful voice and I enjoy accompanying him. The congregation loved it! He also led them in "Santo, Santo, Santo--Holy, Holy, Holy" in Spanish and English. A great way to end our time with them.
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