Kona Relocation

CELEBRATE FREEDOM

On behalf of The Rotary Club of Kona and the Kailua-Kona Community Parade Association we are very excited to present the 13th Annual Kailua-Kona Independence Day Parade, Friday, July 4, 2008, starting at 5:30 p.m.

Last year, the parade honored our military veterans from the Middle East, featured 50 entrants with over 800 participants. This year the parade’s Grand Marshal will be Dr. Frank H. Sayre, a Vietnam war veteran and local dentist who has long worked behind the scenes for the good of the community. Dr. Sayre has been an active board member of PATH, Peoples Advocacy Trails Hawaii, which advocates for alternatives to highways by providing bike and pedestrian paths.

He and his wife, Laura Mallery-Sayre, founded the Daniel Sayre Memorial Foundation in honor of their late son. Daniel had a hiking accident in Waipio Valley, and the courage of the firefighters who attempted to rescue Daniel so impressed the Sayres that they founded the organization to purchase rescue equipment for the island’s fire and rescue teams, items not funded by the County budget.

The Parade will assemble at the Kona Kekua’okalani Gym parking lot no later than 4:30 p.m. on July 4. The Parade will start promptly at 5:30 p.m. and take the traditional Kuakini Hwy route to Palani Road onto Ali’i Drive to the Coconut Grove Marketplace. Musical entries and floats are encouraged.

If you would like to participate in this years parade or if you have any questions please contact me at 808-345-2108.

The deadline to submit an application to enter the parade is Wednesday, June 25, 2008.

Until the next time…A Hui Ho

Aloha Kakou

I have the good fortune to live right off Alii Drive here in the ever growing and ever popular town of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. The beautiful coastal drive along Alii Drive takes you along 4 miles of some of the most beautiful historic locations around the Kona area. Begin in the Kailua-Kona Village area around Hulihee Palace you are on your way by scooter, car, foot or bicycle to the resort area of Keauhou Kona. The four mile stretch ends at the old Kona Surf hotel and Keauhou Bay. I live about halfway down from the Village and love the central location. It allows me the luxury to be close to shopping, work, and family (not necessaily in that order). Since I work both in Kona and up the Kohala Coast Resorts the drive doesn’t bother me in the least. Why should it I live in paradise?

When you live and work in Hawaii you might think why would I complain about anything especially the weather? I’m not going to complain about the drive why include the weather. Okay this morning I honestly sighed when I saw a drizzly sky. Poor me. Yes we do get spoiled in paradise its true. Here is a snipet of my morning routine…I grab my newspaper, walk out into my livingroom, and I look out to the sea of plumeria tree’s and bougenvilia that canvas the incrediable pacific ocean. So yes this morning it was a little drizzly, but I’ve learned a little light rain in paradise is no big deal. right? Gosh I’ve been here in Hawaii my entire life. I think I’ve gotten so use to it thst when its just not gorgeous everyday the world is coming to an end. Yes spoiled. Then I drive out to work at the Mauna Lani Resorts where the skies were as blue as blue could see. The varying colors of the blue in the ocean was memorizing today. You got that right I’ll take this 20 mile drive through lava field after lava field in paradise to work anyday rain or no rain. There is something so calming in the spirit of our islands, and as I listen to some feel good island music eh Hawaii is so No Ka Oi.

Now if your not familiar with our Kohala Coast CLICK for a quided tour of all the Big Islands famous resort communities. Be introduced to what makes each so unique and so special. Step Inside and Discover.

Easily explore the neighborhoods within each resort, search listings for homes, condo’s and property for sale…getting to know the Kohala Coast has never been so fast so easy & so fun!

Until the Next Kona Relocation…A Hui Ho

Aloha Kakou and Happy May Day!

As a native of these beautiful islands it never ceases to amaze me how many people just love the Hawaiian Islands and desire to call Hawaii home. How can I blame them? I do know what longing means having lived away from Hawaii in Denver and San Diego from 1996-2003. Having spent sometime away from the islands was a great experience for me, but Hawaii is definately home plus I had to figure how to get back here too! The longing inside for the tropics, the warm breezes, the smell of a plumeria, feel good island music, the sand in my toes, dreaming of the ocean and the smell, and feeling the warmth of the sun on my face. When I returned I knew I would never leave again (at least not to move away again). I am blessed to have a profession that allows me to share my love and admiration for these islands. Imagine Statehood in 1959. The now worldclass and famed Kona Coast didnt exist, the new state was a new frontier and opportunity for many from around the world to call home. The Big Island has more than ever continued to show its popularity in population growth although its greatest climb during the decades has been over the last 15-20 years.

Like so many of us I have cherished memories of my childhood here in Kona…remembering the one and only trafic light in Kailua-Kona, swinging on the vines at the Banyan Tree out infront of Taneguchi’s the original KTA down by the pier while Mom and Dad shopped, Pay and Save no Ross, no Lanihau Center, no Borders, Sizzler Steakhouse no Starbucks, No Walmart, No K-Mart, No Kona Inn Shopping Mall, No Coconut Grove Marketplace, the ice cream parlor in the back of Kona Marketplace, getting comic books at Oshima’s in Kainaliu, finding old railroad nails in our front yard.

Our road in Sunset subdivision use to be an old railway tract. No cruise liner ships in Kailua Bay, swimming and playing all day at the pier while my Dad worked at the Kona Billfish Tourney with long time friend Peter Fithian, snorkeling at Kamakahonu where Kamehameha onced lived in Kailua-Kona Village. Working hard at the old Shellery store in the King Kamehameha Hotel Mall during the summers in high school and Liberty House was right across the way, no Ironman back then, landing at Old Airport, the mexican restaurant on Kuikini Hwy by Sunset, counting the cattle as we drove down the original old and windy road to Keauhou off Hwy 11 when the beautiful Keauhou Estates didnt exist yet, and there was no Keauhou Shoping Center, the old Kona Surf and the salt water pool with the volcano slide, swimming at Magic Sands Beach at La’aloa when Magic Sands was still a hotel, getting in the car having to hear my Dad say, “time for a ride to Mauna Kea and Hapuna Beach kids”, and thinking, “oh wow what a LONG car ride this is going to be” nothing nothing existed from Kailua-Kona to Mauna Kea Hotel except Mauna Kea Hotel. Infact, include no Waikoloa Village! Over the course of summers in the late 60’s and early 70’s my folks loved discovering new beaches along the Kona Coast. Now the worldclass resorts of Kukio, Hualalai, Waikoloa, Mauna Lani, and Mauna Kea are here. Wow has the Kona Coast grown! I love this place!

If your ready to make the move to Kona there are lots and lots of fun activities and memories to be made here. The Aloha Spirit truely lives and to anyone reading who is the seasoned visitor or malihini a.k.a newcomber I suggest to take some time and learn about the culture and history. Embrace Hawaii’s history and the lands with respect and to those who have walked before us so we all may continue to enjoy what Hawaii is all about. Perpetuate the aina. There is never a day that passes something about the beauty here doesnt get my attention! Today for example while previewing homes in Koloko Mauka silver ohia’s tree’s were pointed out to me. More commonly we see the red ohia our island flower…