Hapuna Tuesday.
A hike across a sort of no-man’s lava land between our Hale and Hapuna Beach started our day, followed by a glassy swim to a cave, then along the beach to another cave, then back to the first cave (sort of) then a hike back. During the swim, Ryan picked up a few items of trash, which he calls “dolphin bucks”, a sort of good luck chit to be paid back in the form of a dolphin sighting at some future date (check tomorrow’s blog to see if it worked).
Hapuna was flatter and more clear than we have ever seen it, giving us access to a cave we’ve never been able to get to before.
Soon we found ourselves doing Yoga with our instructor Amanda. She’s been with us a few years now, and has done a great job developing sessions for tired swimmers in need of a good stretch and some balancing. We gather on the hale lawn under the Kiawe trees, with sounds of the ocean gently lapping at the shore. It was a pretty powerful session, and I felt like a million bucks afterward. A nap didn’t hurt, either.
Yoga with Amanda on the lawn was just what everyone needed.
I reviewed stroke videos with our guests, and we discussed ways to improve technique. Sisters Kimberly and Angie have a strikingly similar (and beautiful) stroke, which made me wonder how much of that was due to having the same coaches or the same parents. Each guest gets a copy of the analysis session, where I make audible and graphic comments right on top of the video. I must say, it’s pretty slick.
After a big start to our week, everyone was pretty beat, so our afternoon swim from Beach 69 varied from around a half mile in choppy conditions to playing around in the waves. Cocktails soon arrived, pupus, and a dinner of surf and turf, with shrimp and tenderloin playing those roles.
This group of guests is such a delight to guide and host. I can’t wait to bring them out on a boat tomorrow to explore some of our favorite places south of Kona.
Hopper
Kekau made this sweet little time lapse of our time on the beach this evening, watching the sunset into the Pacific.