beach

Beautiful white sand beach on the Big Island of Hawaii

 in General Fashion / Travel  tagged beach / hawaii / hawaii big island / outfits / summer 2019 / swimsuit cover ups / swimwear / travel / travel style / travel tips / vacation outfits by

makalawena beach hawaii big island beautiful beaches hawaii big island kona travel tips hawaii big island kona

Our trip to Hawaii’s Big Island was filled with a lot of sight-seeing, but we also made sure we had time to relax on the beautiful beaches near Kona. Since we were looking for beaches which were both relaxing and beautiful, we did a lot of research! We learned that one of the most beautiful beaches in Kona is Manini’owali along Kua Bay. It has white sand, black lava, and promises turtle and dolphin sightings. The beach is relatively straight, and offers an incredible view of the crystal clear blue waters of the Pacific Ocean.

This is a well maintained beach with restrooms, showers, and free parking. The sand is white, the water offers beautiful shades of blue, and the lava creates a fabulous contrast between the white sand, blue waters, and black rocks. The parking is along the road into the beach area, so be sure to wear flip flops or shoes from the car to the beach.

beach flip flops

There isn’t very much shade, but if you are lucky, you can grab a spot under the one tree we could find. It was directly in front of the picnic benches when you walk onto the beach, you can’t miss it! We sat there with two other families, and it was perfect!

The waves at Manini’owali Beach get stronger as the day progresses; so it’s calm in the morning, but after lunch, don’t try to swim or boogie-board unless you are an experienced swimmer. While there were plenty of visitors at the beach, I did not see a life-guard on duty. Make sure you can handle being in the water; especially with waves!

swimsuit outfit ideas hawaii over 40 hawaii travel style over 40

While we didn’t spot any of the promised turtles or dolphins, there was a seal lounging on the beach, living his best life. The rangers even made sure his area was blocked off, so he could truly live the VIP life on the beach. Must be nice to be a seal! Haha

I was feeling a little bit tired, so while my husband took the kids swimming, I took a nap on the beach, under the tree. It was incredibly relaxing.

Shop my Hawaiian beach outfit / tankini and cover-up:

Sometimes when you go on vacation, you just need to relax! That is exactly what we did at Manini’owali Beach. We swam, napped, and lived our best lives; just like the seal. We just didn’t have the roped off, VIP area like he did. haha

Thanks for stopping by!

Aloha!

Cathy

beach shoes blue waters hawaii big island

The most beautiful beach on the Big Island

 in Travel  tagged beach / family / hawaii / hawaii big island / summer 2019 / travel / travel tips by

aiopio beach hawaii travel guide hawaii big island beaches

One of the most beautiful sights to see in Hawaii is the large network of beaches. So when I was planning our family vacation to Hawaii, I knew I needed to research where to go, and plan ahead!

In the Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, there is a beach which is not only beautiful, it is sacred ground filled with history. What we thought would be a hike through lava, turned out to be a short walk to a beach that was hidden behind a marina; and has to be the most beautiful beach I have ever seen in my life. Ai’opio Beach, you have to go there!

best beach hawaii historical beach hawaii

After walking on a trail, and almost overheating, we suddenly came upon the beach. We knew it was there, but we had no idea how dreamy it would be. There was a hut, which we later found out was a sacred and historical fishing hut. In the water, there were what appeared to be short walls made from lava rocks. They turned out to be ancient foundations for sacred buildings and fishing huts.

There was also a short wall which was an ancient fishing area that fishermen used to trap fish, and then capture them with nets. It was a  beautiful little cove, and the ancient foundations and history made it all the more beautiful.

It’s always fun to learn more about the local history of the places we visit. It is not only educational for the kids, it helps us understand the local area; plus it’s super interesting!

aiopio beach kona hawaiiturtles beach hawaii

In addition to history, we had a turtle sighting! There were two swimming in the water where it was really shallow. One of the turtles stuck it’s head out when we were watching it; as if it were saying “Aloha!” We were so excited to see the turtles.

Shop my Ai’opio Beach look:

If you are traveling to the Big Island, this beach is a must-see! You can park in the Marina, and then follow the signs to the shore which will lead you on a path to this amazing beach. It’s a must-do!

Thanks for stopping by, and stay tuned for more Hawaii coverage!

Aloha!

Cathy

fishing hut hawaii beautiful beach hawaii

Summer 2019 shoe wardrobe

 in Shoes  tagged beach / espadrilles / flip flops / hiking gear / summer 2019 by

summer 2019 shoe trends

Summer 2019 must-have shoes from top: black espadrille mules / black platform flip flops / ivory wedge espadrilles / beach theme flip flops /

Summer is here! This means warm weather, beach days, outdoor fitness, and casual ensembles to match our summer fun activities. When the weather heats up, I tend to leave my leather shoes in the closet, unless I need to get dressed up for an occasion. Instead, I opt for natural fabrics, or wide open shoes which can keep my feet cool when temperatures soar.

For summer 2019, the trends in shoes are roughly the same as last year. We are still seeing wedges, mules, and smaller platforms when it comes to standard, summer staples such as flip flops and espadrilles. So hopefully some of your shoes survived last summer’s heat, beach, and water activities. If so, you won’t need to replace what survived, only fill in the holes in your wardrobe.

You know I love espadrilles! They are comfortable, easy to wear while walking on the beach, and dry off easily when splashed by pool water. The natural fibers keep feet cool, and they always offer a vacation vibe; no mater the occasion or outfit. Don’t we always want to feel like we are on vacation, even when we aren’t? haha, I do! It’s so relaxing!

This summer season, I am sticking to wedges and mules when it comes to my espadrille wardrobe. I have a few pairs I bought in the spring season, and for the summer season, I added a new pair of higher wedges, and classic black mules. This is a versatile espadrille wardrobe to carry me through the summer.

Flip flops for summer 2019

flip flops summer 2019

flip flops for summer 2019 from top left: beach scene flip flops / black platform flip flops / black palm print flip flop /

Flip flops are always a must-have when it comes to summer shoes. I like having two pairs of flat flip flops for the pool, beach, and for hot days. One pair always either breaks or ends up missing a shoe, which is why I make sure I have two pairs of flop flips on hand at all times. This beach scene pair give off a relaxing vibe, while the black palm print pair evokes visions of a tropical beach getaway. Since I am leaving for Hawaii in a few days, I thought these two pairs of flip flops were perfect for summer 2019.

Of course, sometimes we need a pair of flip flops that match our cute summer outfits. This is why I decided to add a pair of black flip flops to my summer shoe wardrobe. These one inch platform flip flops are perfect for going from the pool to the street; simply because they are classic black! There is something about black, no matter what type of clothing or accessory it is; if it’s black, it’s OK to wear anywhere. haha, love black! The cute little Tory Burch symbol by the toes doesn’t hurt either. I have always loved the design of her logo.

Hiking boots for summer

best hiking boots women

The summer season is the driest season here in the San Francisco Bay Area. This means we can go outside more. My family loves going on hikes together; so a sturdy pair of hiking boots is a must-have for the season. This pair offers ankle support, and really good arch support. It is great for rough trails, hills, and steep terrain. I can’t wait to put them to use all summer long!

Also, a good pair of sneakers is a must-have for the summer season. I love the adidas Parley running shoes pictured below. They are really comfortable, and they are made from recycled beach plastics; so they help keep our beaches and oceans clean. Ocean plastic is a huge problem, so it’s nice to know adidas is doing something about it. I will wear these all summer long when I go to the gym, go on long walks, and anytime I need to wear sneakers! Love them!

Shop summer 2019 shoes online:

These are the shoes which will carry me though the summer season, and which fit into the current shoe trends. What are your favorite styles of shoes for summer fun?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy

recycled sneakers adidas