Growing up, I wasn’t a huge fan of Kona.

I used to dread the drive from Hilo — yes, I never flew into Kona until I was in college — and when we got there, I didn’t know what to do. It was hot. It was desolate. It was so… touristy.

But when you venture beyond the resorts and Alii Drive, there are vibrant and interesting pockets of communities all over the island’s western coastline. And after years of visiting the coastal town, I’ve grown to really love it.

Maybe not enough to move there, but enough to visit several times a year.

This time, though, I wanted to see things and place I had never been to. That included Kaaloa’s Super Js, Standard Bakery, Punaluu Bake Shop and the new restaurant at the updated Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa.

So here’s what the first day of my quick jaunt to Kona looked like:

Farewell, Oahu

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I left Oahu on a mid-morning flight on Hawaiian Airlines and was lucky enough to sit by a window with views like this. #luckywelivehawaii

Sorry this post is so late. I’m already back in Honolulu! The Internet service wasn’t fast enough for me to upload entire photo galleries, so it had to wait until I got back home — and to better WiFi. Thanks for understanding!