Spring Break at the Beach in Kona, Hawaii

Kahalu'u Beach Park.

Magic Sands Beach.

(photos by Randy Magnus)

Car Show in Kmart Parking Lot in Kailua Kona, Hawaii

Attended a car show recently - old cars, new cars, fancy paint jobs, custom work, souped up, complete with live music and give-aways, and people walking around.

(photos by Randy Magnus)

The Blue Dragon in Hawaihae, Hawaii

The Blue Dragon is located across from the Hawaihae Harbor at the north end of the Island of Hawaii. Its a enclosed courtyard, open air, clean, newly remodeled nightclub with a small stage in one corner. We thought the drinks and the Caesar's salad was excellent.
(And seeing the Hot Lava 808 girls perform made the trip all the better.)

(photos by Randy Magnus)

SPAM is on Sale

Spam is on sale at the Kailua Kona WalMart for $1.75 a can.

(photo by Randy Magnus)

Something to Drive Around The Island of Hawaii In

Alfa Romeo C8

Lamborghini LP 560

Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano

For the past week I've been seeing these exotic sports cars out my window. For a couple thousand you could drive them around the island in a controlled situation with this group called "World Class Driving, US Tour."

(photos by Randy Magnus)

Sunrise Over Mauna Kea on Island of Hawaii

The start of the last day of winter.
Mauna Kea webcams.

Soliciting for Prostitution Sting Going On

Watch out. I've heard of two stories in which a cute girl comes up and starts talking to these guys. Once in Hilo, and one in Kailua-Kona.
After a while she asks if you have any money? Then asks if you want to have sex.
If you say that you have a little amount of money, and sure, I'm game for a little sex.
You are then busted for soliciting for prostitution.
So if some girl that you do not know comes to and asks if you have any money. Say no, because its none of her business. And for the second question, say "No thank you."
It'll save you from a lot of problems later.

Watch Out: More Stop Signs on Ali'i Drive

This past week they have added three more stop signs along Ali'i Drive, causing for long backups during certain peak times.
I was heading south at 8am the other day, and the new stop sign at Lunapule Rd. created cars to be backed up all the way to Royal Sea-Cliff Resort (about a mile) for the cars heading north.
And what this stop sign does is to acknowledge the shortcut between Ali'i Drive and Kuakini Hwy, creating more traffic through this little side street neighborhood.
Other stop signs include ones at Royal Poinciana Drive, and down by the Sheraton Resort in Keauhou, which will back up when people use the newly opened bypass road to Honaunau in the afternoons (good luck getting to the Sheraton from 3:30 to 6:30pm.)

(photo by Randy Magnus)

Empty Storefronts at Ali'i Sunset Plaza in Kona, Hawaii

I had to deliver some photos to a client at Lava Java the other day, parked in back, and walked through the Ali'i Sunset Plaza to meet my friend. And to my surprise, many of the storefronts were empty.
The Korean Karaoke Restaurant, Scrapbooks, the Christan Reading Room, Vacation Rentals, Joe's Pizza, Pineapple Princess, and others are gone.
Someone mentioned that the out of state landlord raised the leases, forcing many people to close or to move elsewhere. Too bad, its like a ghost town back behind Lava Java. Thank goodness U-Top-It is still open for an excellent breakfast.

(photos by Randy Magnus)

New Bus Stop Sign on Ali'i Drive in Kailua Kona, Hawaii

At first when I saw this sign I thought that the county was getting real cheap with their bus stop labeling, but after thinking about it, the sign is opposite the Royal Seacliff Resort, and the resort probably put it up to reserve the space for their tour buses.

(photo by Randy Magnus)

Japanese Television Crew in Kona, HI

A Japanese TV production company, Zippy Production is in town working on a documentary featuring Mrs. Teshima, who is approaching 102 years old.
I lend them some Daifukuji Bon Dance footage for possible inclusion, and it looks like they are going to use a brief portion of my footage.

When I took this photo of Mrs. Teshima, she was holding her hearing aids which were squawking like crazy, and she responded calmly with, "Yes, I'm having a little problem with them."

(photos by Randy Magnus)

Tasty Thai Not Really All That Tasty

Went to check out the new SuperCuts location in the Kona Commons Shopping Center.
It was the shop's grand opening, complete with a reggae band.
While I was waiting for my turn to get a haircut, I got a bite to eat at Tasty Thai. Ordered one of my favorite Thai dishes - red curry with chicken. And what I got was strips of chicken in a heavy curry gravy and lots of rice.
Later in the week I went to Kona Taeng-On Thai and ordered the same, and what I got was a light and tasty red curry sauce with lots of vegetables (carrots, broccoli, cabbage, bamboo sprouts, etc.), chicken, and a little Thai Basil for that added flavor with rice.
So I've decided that Tasty Thai is kind of "plastic," and if you want good Thai food, go to a restaurant that a Thai family owns and runs. It still won't be nearly as spicy as what you get it in Thailand, but it will be fresh with a wide variety of flavors.

(And the haircut was a good one.)

Making Chocolate in Hawaii

Freshly harvested cacao pods at The Original Hawaiian Chocolate Company.

Bob getting ready to cut open the pods.












Ready to ferment before drying.

The cacao beans are purple inside before drying in the sun.

The nuts after fermenting in the sweat box for five days.

(photos by Randy Magnus)