summer 2019

Maka’eo Botanical Gardens walking path

 in General Fashion / Travel  tagged hawaii / hawaii big island / outfits / summer 2019 / travel style / travel tips / vacation outfits by

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wearing: pearl earrings (purchased in Hawaii-similar here) / sunglasses / summer lipstick / print dress / multi-strand bracelet / woven handbag / summer nail polish / espadrille mules / gold ankle bracelet /

One of the beautiful facts about Hawaii is that they have large, beautiful flowers! Our hotel was located in a rather urban setting, but one mile away, there was a botanical garden filled with samples of all the beautiful flowers and plants native to the Big Island.

We put on our walking shoes and walked a little over a mile to the Maka’eo Botanical Gardens. It is a beautiful walking path adjacent to the Kailua beach. This is a beach area which attracts locals instead of tourist, so the path and beach were quiet and serene. My son even found a coconut on the beach! He was so happy!

The flowers were really pretty, and my son loved all the different types of cactus. We had to keep reminding him not to touch the needles!! Eeeek! Haha

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After touring the beautiful gardens, we walked along the beach before heading back into town for lunch.

My favorite beer to buy a case of back home is from Kona Brewing Company. So I was thrilled to learn we were so close to actual brewing company! On our way back to the hotel from the gardens, we stopped into Kona Brewing Company for lunch.

kona brewing company beer flight

There is nothing like tasting beer straight from the brewery. It is smooth, fresh, and puts anything bottled to shame. I enjoyed a four beer sampler with my lunch, which was incredible. My favorite beer was the Porter which was made with 100% Kona coffee beans! I could taste the coffee, and the smell was out of this world. If you ever visit Kona, don’t miss tasting beer at Kona Brew Co.!

Shop my Hawaii sight-seeing outfit:

This outfit was perfect for walking two miles round-trip to Maka’eo Botanical Gardens, as well as walking in the gardens and along the beach. It kept me cool despite the humidity, and these shoes were just as comfortable to walk in as a pair of sneakers. Yay for comfy and cute shoes!

Thanks for stopping by, and stay tuned for more from our Hawaiian adventure!

Aloha!

Cathy

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Shades of blue on a Hawaiian summer evening

 in General Fashion / Travel  tagged beach / chicos / hawaii / hawaii big island / outfits / summer 2019 / travel / travel style / vacation outfits by

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wearing: bold silver earrings / sun hat / sunglasses / summer lipstick / bold silver necklace / blue ombre dress (on major sale!) / floral blue scarf / summer nail polish / blue bracelet / woven handbag / ivory wedge espadrilles /

One of the beautiful things about Hawaii, is how blue the water is! At home, our skies are often overcast or grey, so the water doesn’t look very colorful. In Hawaii, the close proximity to the equator, coupled with the crystal clear water, creates the perfect environment for incredible shades of blue.

This blue ombre dress I picked up from Chico’s was perfect for a Hawaiian dinner near the water. It evoked the same shades of blue seen in the Pacific Ocean waters of Hawaii. This blue floral scarf paired with the dress gave the look it’s overall island vibe. This was my favorite outfit of the trip!

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I love blue, but I also love dressing in theme with my surroundings. This dress evoked the perfect vibe for strolling on the streets of Hawaii during sunset, as well as dining by the beach.

Since this dress mimicked the ocean blue hues, I wore it for our family dinner at The Fish Hopper. This incredible restaurant is famous for it’s clam chowder and Mai Tai’s. While I skipped the Mai Tai, I did enjoy a cup of clam chowder, which for the record, was out of this world!

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The Fish Hopper sits across the street from the beach just a few steps away from our hotel in Kona. It offered a beautiful view of the ocean, and an incredible menu. My scallop risotto was out of this world, and everyone in my family really enjoyed their meals.

As it turns out, they have a location in Monterey! Who knew! So we can re-visit this delicious Hawaiian meal back home. Yum!

Shop my blue ombre dress and outfit:

Thanks for stopping by! Stay tuned for more from Hawaii!

Aloha!

Cathy

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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

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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.

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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!

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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

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