Big Island, Big Celebration

T and I flew into Hawaii on Thursday for Vincent and Allison's weekend wedding celebration in Kona. Our Island Air flight from Honolulu to Hilo on the opposite side of the Big Island was spectacular. The pilot of the two propeller, 30-seat island hopper flew low enough along the northern shoreline that we could make out each person, each horse, each banana plant, and each dramatic coastal waterfall (and there were many). Hilo is a lush green, tropical paradise, and the flight into the airport was a visual feast. Driving over the mountain pass to the Kona side was another story. The barren expansive fields of lava rock made us feel as though we were roving on the moon's surface. And there were very few "locals" in the coastal Kohala district as most of the area is comprised of isolated and gated resort hotels, including the Marriot where we stayed (link here). Great hotel though and the private beach alone was worth the trip. Ah, reclining on a lounge chair inches from the clear blue ocean surf, the sweet murmur of lapping waves. Nirvana. Other than a few side trips including a tour of the Greenwell Farms plantation in the coffee growing district of Kona, much of our time was spent at one of the many wedding events during the three-day celebration. The rehearsal dinner at the estate house of the Parker Ranch in Waimea (link here) was beyond words. From the demographic of the hundred plus guests, the gathering straddled members of the Princeton Alumni Club of Northern California, seemingly all Ivy League-educated venture capitalists in the Bay Area under thirty-five years of age, Vincent's Kim clan from the East Coast, and Allison's Hostetter clan from the Midwest. The open mike speeches and toasts were all quite memorable and some of them absolutely hilarious. Exactly how did the two of them meet again? Even the Hawaiian pastor ribbed them about that one. The ceremony on Saturday afternoon was held at the small but historic Imiola Church in Waimea (photo here). The New England-style wooden structure supposedly dates back to the mid-nineteenth century. During the ceremony, gusts of ocean wind caused the planks to creak every now and then much like the inner hulls of a wooden ship. Despite the very traditional surroundings, the officiant kept the program short and light-hearted with a refreshing mix of sincerity and humor. Afterwards, we made our way to the reception which was held on the lawns of the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel facing both the white sand shores of Kauna'oa Bay and the deep orange hues of the Hawaiian sunset (link here). It was a quite an evening to cap off the weekend. Disco dancing notwithstanding. We wish V & A a happy life together as well as a safe trip back from their African safari.