I will add images as soon as I get back to CA because I am an idiot when it comes to using my wife's MAC.

The flight here, van rental and scooter transport to Kona have created quite a story, which I will get into once it is all resolved.

Cindy once said that for every day you play, it is one day that you pay. Well, after taking 21 hours to get from LAX to Kona...you can imagine that i have had to count that as a day of "play". Hence, I just sat in the condo all day yesterday to revive myself.

Today, we are going into town to get some java and goof around a lttle before it gets too warm. The humidity is already 89%, so I suspect that it will rain in the next couple of hours...and I am looking forward to it! The last place I felt warm rain was Williamsburgh, Virginia a short time ago. So, this will be neat! My coolvest awaits me.

This trip to Kona is actually a business trip, wherein a client wants to build a golf course/resort but wants help in creating a design that will have a positive impact on the island, unlike most typical projects.

Our goal is to convert 240 acres of non-native grassland and volcanic rock into viable habitat for native flora and fauna. We will do this. We did it three times with similar projects in CA and so there is not reason that we cannot do it here!

Back later with an update.

Also, I juest learned that taking even a small volcanic rock as a momento according to local lore will create bad "mojo" for the person that takes the rock and the one the receives it. Hence, I am not going to add it to your package, Beth!

-Vic

Yay, Vic! I'm glad you posted! For more on the curse of the traveling volcanic rock, take the rim drive over at the big one. You'll see a bunch of those really cool little prayer bundles all along the rim. They take their queen seriously over there.

For help posting pics on your (VERY SMART, SAVVY) wife's Mac, just find a 9-yr.-old and it will take 20 seconds.

Hey Vic!

Glad to hear you made it!

TWENTY ONE HOURS from LAX to Kona???? What did the pilot do?? Get lost??? ( was the pilot named Amelia? )

Looking forward to pics from you too!!

Gee, Vic...not sure what happened, but I love Kona! It's the only place in Hawaii I will go now. The town of Kona-Kailua is wonderful and if you want a great place to eat, Kona Inn has the best calamari burgers in the world!! (if you like calamari, that is!)

You can sit in the outdoor bar, have a MaiTai and watch the sunset...I love that place!

I hope the rest of your trip goes better than the beginning.

WooHoo...I'm glad you both got there safe and soundd. Now rest up and then have a good time...

Oh goody, a business trip. I love it, when you can write, a fun trip, off..LOL.

Sounds like a wonderful business trip!!! Have fun, can't wait to see those pictures!

It is Sunday night and the family is out on the town while I try to recouperate and my FIL snores away on the couch.

We spend the day driving to the Botanical Garden and goofing off with a client about his project.

Amazingly, the Botanical Park is not ADA compliant. If you have a scooter or a wheelchair then your are stuck in the parking lot until you family returns from the Botanical Park. Fortunately, all of my meeting time was spent in the main facility and not in the specimen area.

My client, whose wife is in a wheelchair is filing a complaint with the appropriate federal authorities about this issue.

I have about 200 more photos from which to pick as soon as I can hire a 9 year old to help me with this hideous MAC.

My large scooter is still in the repair shop and the loaner is doing OK, but is making it impossible for me to help my client on the project site. So, it looks like I will have to return to Kona in a few months to continue my advisory work.

Island weather is fun. Hot...yes. Humid too, but manageable.

Tomorrow will be a big day for the project and several other issues related to the scooter, airline flight and the "ramp van". My attorney is on the case and so I can't say much more about it ... yet.

Cheers, all!

The beach is great!


-Vic

Good morning from Kona!

It is a balmy but cool morning, and we have a long day ahead of us.

Let's see if I can post some images...

I will try to put them in my Profile, since the attachment section is not present on this page for some reason.

I hope that you all have a great day!

-Vic

PS: Do you hear all of the strange bird calls out here? Amazing species indeed! An Ornithologists dream...

Vic

Love the pictures! I am assuming the Botanical Garden is the one in Hilo? I've been there...breathtaking but agree, it is NOT ADA accessible. I was there in January and the humidity was incredible. I cannot imagine what it is like now. I had to be practically carried out and then we got the car started and the A/C on full blast and I still ended up in bed for a couple of days....not good.

So are you staying in Kona and your project is in Hilo? Where is your project? I love the area near Kona-Kailua.

Great pictures Vic. Despite the mishaps, I hope you have a good time and can be somewhat productive.

Additionally, I think it is very kind and sweet of you to think of our Beth on your trip. With all that you have to do on this trip, you still thought of her and I admire you for your thoughtfulness.