Jan. 31, 2006 - Relaxation on the Beach in Kona Village

I preferred a beach chair, but Lily was setting the tone for our 7 days of fun in the sun and the sand. They have done a great job with sunscreen too, because nobody got burned....except for some posteriors of the gals (Leah, Dawn and Judy) that went snorkeling and forgot their behinds!!!!

Jan. 30, 2006 - Whale Watching from Kona Village

The glass bottomed boat went out 4 times a day and was included in the amenties at Kona Village. We saw dozens of whales. While we could watch them breeching from shore everyday, it was fun to get up close. We missed the dolphins this year. Last year there wer hundreds of spinner dolphins, jumping and spinning in the air. One day we didn't go out in the boat, they showed up, but, alas, we were busy playing tennis and missed it.

Brother Andy played on my team and he and I beat Bub one day!

Jan. 30, 2006 - Kona Brought Coco out from NY

It was really nice nice to catch up with what Coco is doing changing the world one business at a time. She is coaching small business owners in making a huge impact and living extraordinary lives! Here she is with her Dad!

Jan. 30, 2006 - Kona Village Days

Lily loved Kona Village so much she asked me if she could stay until she grew up! She never missed the fact there were no TV's or phones and neither did the rest of us (OK....I did sneak out and download my email daily :>) shhhh...don't tell!

Jan. 29, 2006 - A Whale Tale

Jan. 29, 2006 - A Luau at Kona Village

Coco Fossland and Judy Jones(my sister in law) enjoy the music and the food at the best luau on the Island! The finale was 3 firedancers. Lily waited all night to see the man who ate fire! Definitely not something to try at home!

Jan. 28, 2006 - Bub Cooks Kids Breakfast

Rick and Dawn Yellott and Coco Fossland at The Outrigger. The Villas were wonderful. We had 2 bedrooms and a loft. The kitchen had every appliance you could imagine. The balcony overlooked the golf course and the pool and spa were beautifully inviting. We used the barbeque and the boys (Andy & Richard) cooked us dinner after we picked the girls up at the airport

Jan. 25, 2006 - Honolulu Realtors have the Aloha Spirit and Share it with me!, Day 8

I fly off to Honolulu to do another ePRO Presentation. Bub drives me in to the airport and gets to spend the day exploring Kona on his own before picking me and Richard up this evening. Rain, rain, rain. But in paradise, it really is quite nice. I think when you are from the desert, water is always a bit of a novelty and welcomed for the good it does the parched earth. Son, Richard, is back from a Thailand trip and comes to the presentation to help.

Again, I am welcomed with a huge turnout (over 130) and a warm, friendly reception. Thank you all for coming and for making my experience one I have appreciative thoughts! Hawaiian Realtors are evidently ready and hungry for any technology tips and tools to make them more profitable and successful. Shannon and the Honolulu staff were also exceptionally helpful as we also had to change venue because of the response! I cannot express enough thanks!

Son, Richard helps with the equipment and Realtor Stan Poppvich extends more Hawaiian hospitality by taking us back to the airport in his limo!

Bub meets us at the airport. We have moved to The Outrigger Fairway Villas at Waikoloa Beach Resort , a newer and upscale gated property in the Waikoloa resort area of the Big Island. This begins the transition from the business and quiet, laidback part of the vacation to my Christmas gift to the family: a week together in Hawaii in memory of my Dad, who passed away in May.

Son Richard and me EATING AGAIN!!!!!!!

A good dinner at The Kings Shops, The Big Island Steak House revives us and warms us up. Bub had a good day walking all over Kona, but even his surveyor legs that walk all day were tired!

Jan. 24, 2006 - Kona ePRO Event, Day 7

The Kohala Coast past  Kapaau  is where the road stopped and the wild cliffs prevent much tourist traffic!

It didn't matter because we headed in the other direction today!

The ePRO Presentation in Kona has us up and on the road at 6:30 to beat the traffic and get all set up. Over 80 people have made reservations and the Board had to move the venue from their office to the Outrigger Keauhou. I dont think I have ever made a presentation where people were so excited to be there and so NICE!!!!! Before I began, people were welcoming me warmly. I had some technical difficulties with my speakers and video presentation and everyone was patient as we transitioned to Plan B: No video-just me and a PowerPoint Presentation. Ah, having a Plan B is one of those lifesaving fallbacks that have saved me more than once! Life just doesnt always seem to follow my well-thought out plans….go figure! Many, many thanks to everyone at the Kona Board for helping me throughout and for all the work they did before the event to make it available to their members! You ladies are THE BEST!!!

And, thanks to everyone on the Big Island who signed up, who came and who made me feel so very special! The Aloha spirit is truly wonderful and I even liked the concept of Kona-time, explained to me as to why some people were a bit late (sorta like our manãna  concept back home in Tucson). I COULD live like this!

On the way home we celebrated and treated ourselves to lunch (and yes, a Mai Tai) at the Bamboo Restaurant and it was every bit as good as the advertisements have promised. I get the appetizer for 2 plate and eat it all up as my lunch, while Bub gets some great Ono and chips!

Jan. 23, 2006 - Kohala Coast Big Island, Day 6

Bobi Morenos Kohala Country Adventures Guesthouse has been the perfect, quiet, nuturing hide out for this first part of the trip. An artist, substitute teacher and wonderful hostess, Bobi has lived here for 32 years and has shared with us the insider secrets of where to go, what to eat.

She had to teach this morning, so we had breakfast in Kapaau at the Nanbu Courtyard Cafe. I had a yummy quiche with maui onions and cheese and ham. Bub indulged in one of the largest and gooiest cinnamon rolls I have ever seen. And, weve been having Kona coffee daily! We sat on the patio, casually reading the paper and enjoying the sounds of birds chirping all around us.

Located right across from the statue of  King Kamehameha, we read all the history of this part of the island.

The largest used book store in Hawaii is also located here, the Kohala Book Shop featuring 25,000 books. This is definitely our kind of place. Thoughts of buying a piece of it are tossed about!

We make the trek back to Waimea for Bubs hula girl, only to find she is priced at $480-not quite what he had been thinking. Great vintage Hawaiian Shirts are also in the shop but start at $350. A little (actually a lot) pricey for our pocketbooks!

I stop by a few real estate companies hoping to bring a few more to the presentation in Kona.

I lose 6-4 today in tennis but worried him a bit.

The North part of the Big Island is called Kohala and looks a bit like my back home desert. Here are prickly pear cactus just like home. Lots of cows live here! And it is the land of rainbows! I think we saw one almost every day!