JEMS Return to Big Island: Day 4

Wednesday, September 6: Hulihe'e Palace, Mamalahoa Hot Tub & Massage, Final Sunset

Another leisurely morning with breakfast on the lanai, again with our amazing oceanfront view and entertainment provided by surfers and folks in the saltwater pool playing with the waves. 

Each day when I got up, I went for a short walk and often explored the different Shoreline Access points that are available to the public in between private properties. This morning, I was a little too close to the water while climbing on some rocks to admire the view and got caught by a wave. Oops. Good thing our cavern hike was yesterday or I would have had very soggy socks and shoes for that adventure!

This morning's destination was Hulihe'e Palace, just a short drive north along Ali'i Drive. We lucked out with a free parking spot on the street to avoid paying the $14 (!) for a public lot. We opted for the self-guided tour of the palace and really enjoyed exploring the two floors and examining all of the objects that denote much of the history of the building and the culture. The site itself is right on the coast, and with all of the windows and doors open, the tropical breeze was quite strong and kept the indoor temperature relatively comfortable, especially since there was a bit of cloud cover.

We had time for a snack and some joint reading time at our hotel before heading to our afternoon appointment at Mamalahoa Hot Tubs & Massage. Our package started out with 30 minutes in a private hot tub for two followed by a 60 minute couple's massage in a lovely outdoor partially covered terrace. The location was quite hidden off a side road with lots of beautiful foliage and landscaping, making it feel very peaceful and tranquil.

On our way back to the hotel, we stopped at Discovery Antiques to browse and then at Safeway to pick up some fish for our final grilled dinner. Our last sunset with snacks and beverages was the most stunning of all thanks to the continued cloud cover that provided an amazing canvas for the brilliant streaks and patches of color that evolved over time from soft gold to orange to bright pink to crimson and finally to indigo. Stunning!

We did our best to finish up our veges and greens and frozen treats and anything else that we couldn't take along on our return home. I wish we had one more day to stay!!!