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Have dogs, will travel to Kona

By Catherine Toth Fox • January 9, 2012 • #CatTravels

It sounded like a bad idea.

We wanted to see if our dogs, Sunny and Indy, could travel. So we booked our flight to Kona to visit family — and made reservations for the dogs, too.

It was the first time either of us had traveled with pets, dogs or otherwise, and we weren’t sure what we’d be in for.

First off, it costs more. On Hawaiian Airlines, we paid an extra $35 per dog each way. So that amounted to $140 for both dogs, both ways. Which wasn’t too bad.

Then, you have to figure out a way to get them into enclosed bags and under the seat in front of you.

Two words: Rescue Remedy. This totally safe and natural anti-anxiety treatment literally saved our trip.

And it was quite a trip.

Though we were only in Kona for two nights, we managed to tour an ukulele shop, kayak in Kealakekua Bay and drive to the end of the road in Pololu Valley.

And all with the dogs.

Here’s what our trip looked like:

Checking in

Checking in
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Picture 1 of 36

It was our first time taking our dogs with us to Kona — and we had no idea what to expect. We were just glad our pooches didn't mind being in these carry-on bags.



Find out where I got this slice of buttery apple pie on the Big Island in tomorrow’s blog

Big IslandDerek TairaHawaiiIndyKonaSunnytraveltravel with dogs
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Today's happy shot
Holy apple pie!

About the Author

Catherine Toth Fox

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12 Comments

  • Reply oldshoes January 9, 2012 at 2:50 am

    you’re wearing a Wisconsin hat and yet didnt melt a slice of cheese on your yummy apple pie?

    • Reply Catherine Toth January 9, 2012 at 8:12 am

      You know, my mom was talking about melting a slice of cheese on the apple pie. I think that’s sacrilegious!

  • Reply oldshoes January 9, 2012 at 2:53 am

    Will you one day stop at OTEC and buy some of those fresh lobsters,and abalone?

  • Reply David Jackson January 9, 2012 at 3:41 am

    Holy cow that Holy Apple Pie looks heavenly… ugh must be early. Love picture number 1, makes me think of the movies. Instead of Have Guns Will Travel… Have Dogs. Looks like you are ready to draw on someone. Watch it pardner, these doggies will tear your leg off.

    • Reply Catherine Toth January 9, 2012 at 8:13 am

      RIGHT? I’ll blog about Holy Bakery tomorrow. Good stuff.

  • Reply eddyo January 9, 2012 at 6:28 am

    Happy New Year, Cat

    Didn’t walking down the “gangplank” at Kona Airport remind you of days before jetways? My colleagues on the Hilo side think it’s so retro cool, but that tarmac can get really blazing with the heat from the lava fields & jet blast nee.

    Glad you enjoyed Kona. For your future trip, try Patz Pies in Capt. Cook–pasta & pizza. Pat is originally from NY so the food is not what you may expect on the Big Island. Do you folks fish?

    • Reply Catherine Toth January 9, 2012 at 8:14 am

      YES! Actually, I think that spooked the dogs the most, since it’s so noisy. But I love walking on the tarmac. Such a throwback!

      Patz Pies — it’s on the list!

  • Reply WildeOscar January 9, 2012 at 7:13 am

    Spectacular pics. Thank you for sharing your trip and these moments of your life via the blog.

    I have noticed from my own photos that power lines disappear from view in person, but the camera image is unforgiving. I think our eyes can imagine them away in person, but no matter how beautiful the scene, hanging power lines always ruin it in pictures.

    • Reply Catherine Toth January 9, 2012 at 8:15 am

      That’s so true. I did notice the power lines in my photos, but I couldn’t recall them. It’s like people wearing glasses. I would be a BAD crime witness.

  • Reply Ihilani January 9, 2012 at 8:26 am

    Looks like fun! I grew up in Hilo and it was always a treat to head over to Kona side. I’ve never stayed in Holualoa though and that hotel looks rad. Looks nice for a weekend getaway.

  • Reply M January 9, 2012 at 9:24 am

    Hello Cat,
    I took my dog once to Kauai but because she’s a large dog, 75 lbs., I had to get a kennel and she went with into the cargo.

  • Reply Tania January 10, 2012 at 8:07 am

    Aww…cuties. Reminded me of the days at UH Hilo when I used travel home to Maui with my bunny Ogie (pronounced OGee, not oogie). Fortunately, Ogie, by design, can’t speak and happily gazed up and wiggled his whiskas at security as they opened up my straw hula basket like contraption lined with a million newspapers and a towel. Lots of oohing and awwing ensued. Nowadays I think they’d tell me I need a real bag.

    The pie looks great…much betta than stone cookies 😛

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About Me

About Me
Born and raised on O‘ahu, Hawaiʻi, Catherine Toth Fox has been chronicling her adventures in her blog, The Cat Dish, for more than a decade. She worked as a newspaper reporter in Hawai‘i for 10 years and continues to freelance—in between teaching journalism, hitting the surf and eating everything in sight—for national and local print and online publications. She’s currently the editor of HAWAIʻI Magazine.

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