Today was our first port day - Hilo, Hawaii. We had arranged to take a tour titled ‘Highlights of Hilo’. Before the tour, we hopped on a bus and went to Walmart. Can you imagine that? Going all the way to Hawaii to go to Walmart. :-) We realized that we needed to get a few things and this was the perfect opportunity to do so. After that, it was a quick lunch as it was soon time to get ashore for our tour.
We had a lovely coach bus ride with a very informed tour driver. He took us around the city of Hilo while he explained its history. We made three stops along the way - the first was at Akaka Falls which ‘plummets 422 feet over a volcanic ledge’. We had to ‘walk through a lush rainforest to view the falls”. Although it was a very tall falls and was among lovely vegetation, it wasn’t anything compared to Niagara Falls - we really are spoiled in Canada when it comes to waterfalls.
The next stop was to “Nani Mau Gardens - a 20 acre repository of native Hawaiian flora.” We boarded a tram “for a narrated ride” through the gardens. They had some really beautiful flowers and plants/tree in the garden and it was interesting to learn about them as we went along.
Our last stop was at the ‘Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Factory’. They said there was a self-guided tour of the factory, but we were really disappointed in that. It was really just us walking along sidewalk and looking in at workers doing their jobs in the plant. Originally, it appeared that there had been pre-recorded information about each station, but they no longer worked. We were treated to a taste of three macadamia nuts when we got off the bus and they were amazingly delicious. I think it’s smart of them to give these free samples as it makes you want to buy some more in their store. We ended up buying some chocolate which had macadamia nuts in them.
When we got back from the cruise, we went straight to dinner and had a delicious chateaubriand with potatoes and vegetables. I had a chocolate souffle for dessert and it was the first time I had tried one - it really is a nice light dessert.
After dinner, we went to the show which was a comedy show with Canadian David Aiken. His comedy was based around juggling with some other body humour thrown in such as shooting ping pong balls from his mouth, balancing on a ladder while juggling and making things with balloons. He really got the audience involved in his show which was fun.
Hawaiian dancers meeting us as we came off the ship in Hilo, Hawaii.
Sue and Mike on the tour bus for the 'Hightlights of Hilo', Hawaii.
Scenic view in Hilo.
Our ship in the harbour at Hilo.
Garden park in Hilo.
Scenic view of the harbour at Hilo.
Beautiful trees in Hilo.
Scenic view in Hilo.
Sue at Akaka Falls in Hilo.
Akaka Falls.
Mike in front of Akaka Falls.
Beautiful scenery near Akaka Falls.
Interesting tree in Hilo.
Tree lined street in Hilo.
Nani Mau Gardens in Hilo.
Nani Mau Gardens.
Sue in front of waterfall in Nani Mau Gardens.
Man sorting macadamia nuts in the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Factory in Hilo.
Canadian physical comedian David Aiken catching a ping pong ball in his mouth which had been thrown by a volunteer from the audience.
David Aiken on top of a ladder juggling 'juggling clubs' (like elongated bowling pins).
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